We share instructions on how to collect, ship, and package samples for Mommy’s Milk: Human Milk Research Biorepository.  Since 2019, we have been instrumental in identifying exposures in human milk and helping to understand if there is a risk to child health and development. Our team is devoted to the science of human milk.

These instructional videos are designed to make it easier for parents to participate in our studies. Please see our how-to videos covering:

• Sample Collection
• Package Samples for FedEx
• Complete DocuSign

As well as our self-service Frequently Asked Questions written so current participants can get answers to their questions easily online. We hope these resources for study participants help answer your questions.

How-to Instructional Videos for Sample Collection

We share instructions on how to collect samples for lactation studies at Mommy’s Milk: Human Milk Research Biorepository.  

Instructional Video on How-to Package Samples for FedEx

Please see the video for instructions on how to package your sample(s) for FedEx shipping. Using these steps, will help ensure the research items needed will reach the Mommy’s Milk team in optimal conditions for research.

How to Complete DocuSign

In this video, How to Sign a DocuSign Consent Form, you will learn how to complete the electronic paperwork to participate in a Mommy’s Milk study.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to live in San Diego to participate? No. We enroll lactating women from the U.S. and Canada in our studies. Each study has its own criteria for enrollment. A staff member will screen you to see which study(ies) you may qualify for.

Will I get paid for participating? Some of our studies offer compensation and others do not.  A staff member will screen you to see which study(ies) you may qualify for and they will let you know about compensation at that time. The most common compensation is a $15-$25 Target gift card.

Will you ask me to take medication to participate? We do observational studies only. We do not ask you to take anything out of your normal routine.

What do I need to do to take part? You can let us you’re interested by filling out the interest form (link). We will send you an email after we receive this.

What are the steps to participate?

Once we receive your referral of interest, [link] we will:

1. Email you information about our studies and a 15-minute video to watch that explains what is involved.
2. After you watch the video, our study staff will schedule a phone call with you to see what studies you are eligible for. At the time of this call, we will also complete the study consent forms with you. We will process your enrollment and set up a time for you to self-collect your samples in your home or in person at our lab. If you self-collect at home, you will have another phone call with our study team. This is called an Exposure Interview and takes about 30-45 minutes of your time. We will then have FedEx pick up your samples at your front door and overnight them to our lab.

If you are not qualified for one of our current studies, you will receive an email with information to stay updated so we can reach out to you in the future with any new studies we start.

What is an Exposure Interview? This is a phone call with our team just after you self-collect your breast milk and/or other biological samples. During the Exposure Interview, we will ask for information about your demographics (your age, race, and ethnicity), your health history (medical conditions, exercise, and sleep), and your medication and lifestyle habits, which includes exposure to vitamins, supplements, prescription medications, over the counter medications, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drug, etc. We also ask about your child’s health, birth measurements, APGAR scores at birth from 1 and 5 minutes, breastfeeding patterns, and any adverse reactions they may have experienced. If you have a health chart app like MyChart, KP, FollowMyHealth, etc., you should be able to locate this information from your discharge paperwork or your pediatric follow-up visit.

What are APGAR scores? The Apgar score acts as a rapid health check to ensure a smooth transition for the newborn into the world. This would have happened by visual assessment from your Labor and Delivery Nurse. The total score ranges from 0-10. The higher the score the better the baby was doing with 1) color, 2) heart rate, 3) reflexes, 4) muscle tone, and 5) respiration. You should be able to find them in you or your child’s discharge paperwork (sometimes this is also located in the pediatric follow up appointment paperwork).

Do I have to release medical records? Medical Record release is optional. We ask for medical record release to gain better understanding about our participants and to fill any gaps that you might not recall during our interview about your or your child’s health history.

How do I collect samples? Please see our videos above on how to collect and package samples.

How do I package samples to ship back? The following videos will help with packaging for your return shipment [link]. The prepaid envelopes are identical. You will place milk and two ice packs in one prepaid return envelope and the remaining samples with the remaining ice packs in the other prepaid return envelope.

We hope these FAQs and resources for study participants have helped to answer your questions. If you still have questions, our study team is happy to help. Please contact us at 619.543.7623 or milkstudy@health.ucsd.edu