Milk banks exclude¹ donors who ‪regularly use most medications and herbal supplements. This may include vitamin-herb combinations, megavitamins‬, vitamin drinks, weight loss supplements, and cleanses including all shakes, drinks, and pills. Most ingredients in these products have not been researched well enough to know whether or not they are safe during breastfeeding. Milk bank guidelines are to protect premature and sick infants, but mega amounts of vitamins, high-vitamin drinks, herbs, etc. can also affect term infants.

Please consult a healthcare provider if taking herbal supplements and/or megavitamins and planning on donating to a (premature) infant in need. Please disclose any supplements to the recipient family so that they can also make an informed decision.

Also see Medications.

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1. Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Archived. HMBANA|Donate Milk The US milk bank guidelines are followed fairly closely by other countries. Wikipedia – Human milk bank ↩︎