Recipient Prioritization and Use of Human Milk in the Hospital Setting

Donor human milk is used to treat and protect the health and development of preterm and term infants, and occasionally to treat illnesses in older children and adults. When donor human milk is in short supply nationally, decisions must be made with regard to the priority of recipients. This article reviews the importance of donor human milk in the hospital setting, describes the factors that are considered by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America when prioritizing eligible recipients if there is a shortage of donor milk, and discusses how human milk should be stored and handled in the hospital setting.