As a part of the screening process, donors may be asked if they have been hospitalized. While hospitalization alone does not rule out the donation of milk, hospital-acquired infections are common and may cause some concern for exposure to various pathogens.1 2 The risk of exposure is not limited to the donor (who was hospitalized), but the recipient is also at risk of being exposed to anything that may pass through breastmilk. If there is a possibility that the reason for hospitalization may impact breastfeeding, this should be disclosed to the recipient.
In addition, donors may have required certain medications depending on their treatment needed, see section discussion Medication.
More information in Surgery and the Breastfeeding Infant.
Please see also the section Anesthesia.
Please see How can breastmilk be pasteurized at home? for more information on heat-treating and pathogens.
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