Pre-qualification criteria
Before proceeding with the registration process, please ensure that you meet the requirements below.
Your baby’s age
To qualify to register, your baby must be less than eight months of age to allow for a sufficiently long period of availability to donate. Expressing surplus milk requires compassion, as well as time. You can express your surplus milk for the Bank until your baby is 12 months old.
Note that COVID-19 vaccines authorized by Health Canada do not involve a prohibition period from donating mother’s milk.
Natural products
These categories of natural products are not accepted for donations to the Public Mothers’ Milk Bank:
- Herbal supplements, such as fenugreek;
- Herbal teas containing fenugreek (i.e., Mother’s MilkTM Herbal Tea);
- Hemopathic products.
Medication
Taking the medications appearing on the following list is acceptable for donations to the Public Mother’s Milk Bank.
| CATEGORY | GENERIC OR TRADE NAME | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Antacids | Esomeprazole Famotidine Losec | Nexium Omeprazole Pepcid | Ranitidine Ulcidine Zantac |
| Anticoagulants | Coumadin | Heparin | Warfarin |
| Antidepressants | Aventyl Fluvoxamine Luvox | Nortriptyline Norventyl Paroxetine | Paxil Riva-Fluvox |
| Eye drops | All eye drops | ||
| Hormone replacement (taken for hormone deficiency) | Thyroid hormone (e.g., Synthroid) | Hydrocortisone (topical) or cortisone patch Note: Notify Héma-Québec if you are taking the oral form. | Insulin |
| Contraceptive medications (and methods) | Intrauterine devices (IUD) containing copper or progesterone | Progesterone only or low dose of estrogen (< 25 mg) | Spermicides |
| Inhaled medications (for asthma, cold and allergies) | All inhaled medications | ||
| Gastrointestinal medications | Antacids with calcium or magnesium | Stool softener Fiber | Simethicone |
| Topical medications (applied to the surface of the skin: e.g., cream, gel, ointment) | All topical medications Note: Remove all traces of topical medication applied to the breast before collecting your milk. | ||
| COLD – FLU – ALLERGY Medications | |||
| Acetaminophen Note: The medications must contain acetaminophen only. | Abenol Acet Acetaminophen Apap | Artritol Atasol Excedrin Fortolin | Gesic Taminol Tylenol |
| Non-drowsy antihistamines | Aerius Allegra Allernix Aller-Relief | Allertin Cetirizine Claritin Desloratadine | Fexofenadine Loratadine Reactine Rhinaris |
| Ibuprofen Note: The medications must contain ibuprofen only. | Advil Caldolor | Ibuprofen Motrin | Profen |
| Allergy shots (allergies) | All allergy shots | ||
Travel
You can not donate to the Public Breastmilk Bank if:
- You spent a cumulative total of three months or more in the United Kingdom between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1996.
- You spent a cumulative total of three months or more in France between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1996.
- You have spent a cumulative total of five years or more in Western Europe (outside of France and the United Kingdom) between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 2007 inclusively.
- You spent a cumulative total of six months or more in Saudi Arabia between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1996.
- You have received a blood transfusion (whole blood, red blood cells, platelets or plasma) in France, the United Kingdom or another country in Western Europe since January 1, 1980.
United Kingdom
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France
Except oversea territories, including:
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Western Europe
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If you meet these conditions, you may continue with the registration process.
Have questions? Need clarification? Want to talk directly with us? Feel free to contact us:
- By phone at 1 800 565-6635, ext. 5253
- By email at mothersmilk@hema-quebec.qc.ca