Prolacta/IBMP offer $300 pump credit instead of breast pump to donors

The International Breast Milk Project, which collects breast milk donations for South African infants through a partnership with Prolacta (a partnership that sees 3/4 of the donor milk used in a product sold by Prolacta, and the rest processed and sent to South African milk banks) is drawing attention to a new Prolacta program. Prolacta is offering a $300 reimbursement for donors for the cost of their breast pump. Moms need to have donated 300 ounces in the last few months, or commit to donating that amount by the end of December 2011.

Why are they doing this?

"We truly appreciate the commitment our mothers make in donating their extra breast milk. Our policy has been to cover any costs associated with milk donation, including testing, breast milk storage bags, and shipping. In the past we have supplied a breast pump. However, we learned that many of our moms already had a breast pump. We are excited to offer our moms who donate a minimum of 300 qualified ounces, the opportunity for their pump to be reimbursed." - Q&A on Prolacta's pump reimbursement program

As noted above Prolacta "in the past" provided breast pumps. Prolacta was founded by Elena Medo, who was also the founder and CEO of White River Concepts which created and manufactured a breastpump, the White River Pump. Medo is no longer with Prolacta and now is an owner at North American Instruments, a company selling medical instruments including the Calais Human Milk Analyzer.

Cheap Similac Human Milk?

Facebook CyberMondayOffer - note title, "Cheap Similac Human Milk"

Apparently in the US you can purchase your own "human" milk fortifier - who knew? I thought it was only given out in hospitals to very low birth weight preemies. Here we see it marketed on a Facebook page called "CyberMondayOffer" as "Cheap Similac Human Milk."

It's time to stop calling this product "human milk fortifier." I can't tell you how many people I have encountered who think that it is made from human milk.

Let's figure out an appropriate name and petition our relevant government entities for truth in packaging and labelling. What should it be called?

-- Jodine

Milk Banks: more local partnerships like this, please!

This is a great way to buy local and support your local milk bank at the same time. These kinds of partnerships build support in the local community, raise awareness, and of course funds. More please!

Support Northwest Mothers Milk Bank with gift of Zenana Spa

Posted: December 12, 2011, 09:34 PM


During the month of December, Zenana Spa and Wellness Center is donating 3 percent of all gift card and boutique sales to Northwest Mothers Milk Bank (NWMMB), and on December 15, is boosting that to 10 percent. NWMMB is a non-profit organization that has received donated office and lab space by Providence Health & Services, but is still working to raise the funds needed to purchase equipment and therefore open.

Call for US moms to donate human milk to South Africa while US babies go short

US moms called on to donate for next shipment to South Africa.... let's see here.... we've got a shortage of donors for non-profit milk banks in the US and yet for-profit Prolacta is teaming up with a non-profit group and calling for more US moms to donate milk to South Africa? How many years has IBMP being doing this and why aren't there self-sustaining milk banks in South Africa? Prolacta benefits from the milk it keeps in exchange for processing the donor milk for IBMP - it turns that milk into a product it sells. Quick International Courier benefits - this is an excellent way for it to showcase its ability to provide cold chain courier services to the health care industry.

International Breast Milk Project donates bottled breast milk


IBMP, Prolacta and Quick Intl. join to help AIDS-stricken babies in South Africa; organization calls on U.S. mothers to donate milk for next shipment

The U.S.-based International Breast Milk Project (IBMP), Prolacta Bioscience, and Quick International Courier cooperated in a joint humanitarian effort that delivered 10,000 oz (2,500 bottles) of donor breast milk to be utilized by premature, sick, and orphaned infants in Cape Town and Durban, South Africa....