Every year in the United States, nearly 10% of babies are born prematurely. These babies often struggle in the first few months of their lives, but thankfully, strides have been made in the way preemies are treated. Now, premature babies born as early as 25 weeks have an excellent chance of survival if they receive proper care. One company, Prolacta Bioscience, is helping premature babies get the nutrition they need with the help of breastfeeding mothers.
What Does Prolacta Bioscience Do?
Prolacta Bioscience recognizes that preemies often need protein and calorie supplementation in addition to their mother’s breastmilk. Prolacta “provide[s] hospitals with the world’s first and only nutritional fortifiers made exclusively from donor breastmilk instead of cow milk” (Tiny Treasures Milk Bank).
Studies have shown that babies who utilize Prolacta’s “fortifiers had fewer complications and went home sooner” (Tiny Treasures Milk Bank).
Donate Breastmilk to Make Money from Home
To make the fortifier for preemies and critically ill children, Prolacta Bioscience needs human breastmilk. They rely on donors to supply this milk.
If you have a baby, are currently breastfeeding, and have excess breastmilk, you may be able to become a milk donor. Because of the time and effort required to pump, Prolacta gives mothers $1 per one ounce of milk that they donate.
After you’ve pumped, you’ll need to follow strict protocols to keep the milk frozen so that it does not spoil while you store it or when you ship it out.
How to Donate Breastmilk
First, you must take a prescreening exam to see if you qualify. You’re likely to qualify if you’re healthy, don’t take medication regularly, your baby is healthy, you don’t smoke, and you have a freezer at home. However, you must make sure other variables don’t apply to you, or you may be disqualified.
Once you pass the prescreening, you must then have a medical review as well as undergo blood testing and give a DNA sample. You can read about the entire process here.
How Much Money Can You Make?
How much money can you make from donating your breastmilk? The answer depends on how large your milk supply is and how long you breastfeed your child. One woman said that she has donated 30,000 ounces and earned $30,000 from donating to Prolacta Bioscience.
Remember that any money you make from your milk donation is subject to state and federal income tax. Prolacta will not deduct any taxes. You will need to talk with your accountant to determine how much money you should set aside to pay any taxes on your income from donating milk.
Final Thoughts
If you are lucky enough to have excess breastmilk and you meet all of Prolacta Science’s qualifications, you may be able to donate your breastmilk to make money from home. Most importantly, you’ll play an important role in helping a premature infant survive and potentially leave the hospital earlier than other preemies who do not receive fortification.
Read More
How to Make It Through Your First Year of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Information at a Glance
Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.
