The woman undergoing radiation for breast cancer will *probably* (not for sure) be doing chemo as well, and a small group of friends wants to donate milk. Her midwife is coordinating it, and I'm trying to draw up reasonable guidelines for such a small donor pool, one that has no access to free supplies like sterile water bottles. Tell me what you think: 1) You and your child must both be healthy and not taking medications. You should not be using a nipple cream of any kind. If you become sick, don't donate the milk that you've pumped in the previous two days. 2) Sterilize your pump kit once a day by boiling for 20 minutes. Air dry, covered with a clean towel. 3) Wash hands thoroughly, using a nail brush, before pumping. 4) Pump directly into the container that you'll be freezing. Any kind of container that can be sealed is acceptable: plastic bags, plastic or glass bottles. The container should have been washed well with hot, soapy water if it has been used previously. 5) Label the container with your name and the date, store in the back of your freezer until you can transport it. 6) Transport the milk without allowing it to thaw. The donors have agreed to be tested for HIV. Are these guidelines adequate? Are any of them unnecessarily stringent (e.g. nail brush?). Thanks for your thoughts. Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, LLLL Ithaca, NY