How Families Receive Donor Human Milk from Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas

Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas provides pasteurized donor human milk to fragile infants whose own mother's milk is not available. If you are a parent, hospital, or clinician in North Texas seeking donor milk, the bank's "Receive Milk" pathway is the starting point — but access typically runs through a hospital or prescriber rather than a direct consumer order. The bank, a nonprofit founded in 2004 and located in southwest Fort Worth near Benbrook, has dispensed more than 10 million ounces of donated breastmilk since opening.

Who the milk is for

The bank describes its mission as serving "fragile infants when their own mother's milk is not available." That framing matters: donor human milk is positioned as a medical nutrition resource for vulnerable newborns, most often those in neonatal intensive care, rather than a general-purpose alternative for healthy term babies.

If your own milk supply is unavailable or insufficient and your infant is medically fragile, donor milk may be part of the care plan. The decision about whether donor milk is appropriate is made with your infant's clinical team.

How the receiving process works

The website lists Receive Milk as one of its main entry points, alongside Donate Milk and Lactation Support. Based on how milk banks generally operate and how this bank describes its work, the pathway looks like this:

1. A hospital or clinician identifies the need. Because donor milk is dispensed to fragile infants, the request usually originates from the NICU, hospital, or a prescribing provider rather than from a parent ordering directly.
2. The request is routed to the milk bank. The bank supplies pasteurized donor human milk to hospitals and to families in the region it serves.
3. Milk is dispensed. Once approved, the pasteurized milk is released to the hospital or the family, depending on the arrangement.

The bank does not publish a self-serve online ordering flow on the page evidence provided, so the practical first step is to ask your infant's care team whether donor milk is indicated and how they obtain it from the bank.

What "pasteurized" means for safety

All donor milk from the bank is pasteurized — heat-treated to reduce the risk of transmitting infectious agents. This is the core safety step that distinguishes screened, processed donor milk from informal milk sharing. Donors are screened and approved before their milk enters the supply; the bank reports 17,514 approved milk donors since opening.

Coverage and location

The bank serves North Texas and is based in southwest Fort Worth near Benbrook. If you are outside that region, ask your hospital whether it works with this bank or another accredited milk bank.

Practical steps to take

• In a hospital/NICU setting: Ask your infant's nurse or neonatologist whether donor human milk is available and how it is requested.
• At home with a fragile infant: Ask your pediatrician or lactation consultant whether donor milk is indicated and how to access it through the bank.
• If you need lactation help: The bank also offers free breastfeeding support and lactation resources, which can help you build or maintain your own supply — often the first goal before donor milk is considered.
• If you are outside North Texas: Confirm with your provider which milk bank serves your area.

Common sticking points

• Donor milk is not a walk-in or direct-purchase product. Expect the request to go through a clinical channel.
• Eligibility centers on medical need. The bank's stated focus is fragile infants, not healthy term babies.
• Region matters. The bank's service area is North Texas; other regions use other banks.

For the current process, contact information, and any forms, use the Receive Milk section of texasmilkbank.org or call the bank directly, since procedures and eligibility can change.