Breast Milk for Surrogacy:
The Complete Guide
For Intended Parents, deciding how to feed your baby can be one of the first major decisions after birth. Many families want to provide breast milk provided by their surrogate while others explore donor milk, formula, or a blend of both (known as "combo feeding").
This guide breaks it all down: Your baby feeding options, how breast milk shipping really works, what to expect when using Milk Stork, and breast milk safety tips every family should know.
Whether you’re a surrogate preparing to pump or an Intended Parent preparing to receive breast milk, this page has everything you need.
Breast Milk for Surrogacy and Why It Matters
Breast milk provides unmatched nutritional and immune benefits that help nurture a baby’s early development.
As Intended Parents, you may want to consider how it can be part of your baby’s feeding plan, such as:
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Surrogate-provided breast milk: Your surrogate pumps breast milk after birth for a few weeks or longer.
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Donor milk: Families may use breast milk from a bank or screened donor.
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Formula: A safe and reliable option many families use exclusively or in combination with breast milk.
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Combo feeding: Many families mix breast milk (from surrogate or donor) with formula to balance immune benefits with convenience.
Every family’s choice looks different. The important part: your baby is nourished, and you feel supported in the process
Breast Milk Timeline for Surrogacy
Your surrogate's body will follow the same breast milk timeline as other birthing individuals.
Day 0–3: Colostrum
- What it is: Thick, golden “first milk” that’s small in volume but rich in immune-boosting antibodies and nutrients.
- Why it matters: Colostrum is often called “liquid gold.” A single teaspoon can provide powerful protection for your newborn.
- Volume: Only a few teaspoons at a time.
Day 3–7: Transitional Milk
- What it is: Breast milk shifts from colostrum to a creamier, higher-volume supply.
- Why it matters: The balance of fat, protein, and lactose evolves to fuel rapid newborn growth.
- Volume: Increasing noticeably. Pumping sessions begin yielding more ounces.
Week 2–4: Mature Milk
- What it is: Fully established milk supply. Looks thinner at the beginning of a pump (foremilk) and creamier toward the end (hindmilk).
- Why it matters: Provides complete nutrition, consists of proteins, fats, vitamins, and antibodies.
- Volume: Regular pumping yields enough milk for consistent shipments.
Beyond 1 Month: Stable Supply
- What it is: Breast milk production adjusts to a predictable rhythm based on pumping schedule.
- Why it matters: Consistency allows Intended Parents to plan breast milk storage and feeding confidently.
- Volume: Varies by surrogate, but typically stabilizes to steady milk shipments.
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How Breast Milk Shipping and Transport Actually Works
Every drop of breast milk is hard-earned. It’s called liquid gold for a reason! To keep it safe for your baby, it must stay properly refrigerated or frozen.
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Frozen breast milk is most common for shipments because it stays safe longer in transit and is easier to store once received.
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Refrigerated breast milk can be shipped too, but requires faster turnaround and more frequent coordination.
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Combo feeding families may request smaller, less frequent shipments if breast milk is being supplemented with formula.
Milk Stork’s surrogacy kits are designed to make breast milk shipping between surrogates and Intended Parents simple.
What’s in a Milk Stork surrogacy kit:
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A medical-grade cooler that keeps breast milk frozen up to 96 hours, without dry ice!
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Prepaid FedEx Priority Overnight labels
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Packing supplies and instructions
$200-300
For starter or single shipment kits
Send smaller amounts of milk more frequently
$300-500
Mid-sized, recurring shipments
Send repeat milk shipments in a mid-sized cooler
$900+
Comprehensive Surrogacy Bundles
Send recurring, large quantities of milk over several months
Exact pricing depends on the kit type and number of shipments you need.
FAQs – Milk Stork for Surrogacy
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How long will do Milk Stork coolers keep breast milk frozen?
Up to 96 hours when packed according to the cooler's instructions. Breast milk must be frozen solid before packing.
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Do Milk Stork coolers require dry ice?
No. Milk Stork’s coolers are designed to ship without dry ice and require no activation or prep. Just make sure the breast milk is frozen solid and follow the cooler's packing instructions.
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Does Milk Stork work outside of the U.S.?
Yes, Milk Stork currently serves 183 countries.
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I don't know how much breast milk my surrogate will pump. Which cooler size should I choose?
The Surrogacy Intro Bundle is perfect for families who are just starting their milk sharing journey and want to begin shipments with smaller quantities. You can always transition to a larger Stash Surrogacy Bundle later after milk supply is established.
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Should my surrogate send all the breast milk at once, or in smaller batches but more often?
It's totally up to you and your surrogate. Shipping large quantities is more cost effective, but as Intended Parents, you may want your baby to receive breast milk early on, rather than waiting for your surrogate to pump enough breast milk to fill a large Stash cooler.
Resources and Next Steps
Feeding after surrogacy doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you choose breast milk from your surrogate, donor milk, formula, or combo feeding, Milk Stork is here to support your family and make logistics seamless.
- Explore Milk Stork Surrogacy Kits
- Download the Surrogacy Milk Sharing Checklist
- Learn More about Combo Feeding (by Simplifed)
- Contact Milk Stork Customer Care for International Shipping Questions