2026-10-212026-10-212025MELO, Adriana Borges. Histórias de vida de mulheres doadoras de leite humano. Orientadora: Ivonete Vieira Pereira Peixoto. Coorientadora: Heliana Helena de Moura Nunes. 2025. 108 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Enfermagem) - Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, 2025.https://portaldaposgraduacao.uepa.br/handle/riuepa/377AbertoEnfermagemBanco de leite humanoMulher lactanteNursingHuman milk bankBreastfeeding womanDissertaçãoCiências da Saúde::EnfermagemHuman milk donation is a social pratice carried out by healthy women who have surplus milk and constitutes a fundamental condition for ensuring adequate nutrition, healthy development, and the survival of premature newborns. There are still few studies adressing the impact of such donation on women’s lives. OBJECTIVE: To narrate the experiences of women who donated human milk to a reference human milk bank in the State of Pará. METHOD: This is a descriptive, qualitative study developed using the life history method and supported by the methodological framework of Daniel Beartux. Data collection was conducted through the use of a form designed to characterize participants and gather data related to prenatal care, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Individual interviews were conducted with 14 women who donated human milk. Data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti®software, version 25, and thematic analysis was mployed. RESULTS: The age range of the donor women varied from 20 to 37 years. Most identified themselves as married, mixed race, evangelical, having completed high school education, unemployed, and with a family income above two minimum wages. Regarding parity, most were primiparous and received prenatal and childbirth care within the public health system. A higher ocurrence of cesarean delivery was identified, and most reported full-term births, breastfeeding within the first hour of life, and having received guidance on breastfeeding. Some donor women experienced difficulties with breastfeeding, and the majority were not advised about human milk donation. From the life narratives, three categories emerged: Category 1: Motivations for human milk donation; Category 2: Experiences during the human milk collection process; Category 3: Feelings expressed regarding the social practice of human milk donation. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: There is na urgente need for technical qualification of health professionals to support and promote breastfeeding and human milk donation. Furthermore, it is essential to raise awareness among women, families, and society through health education initiatives about the importance of human milk, to develop educational technologies, and to provide guidance on milk donation and human milk bank services. Additional research is needed on the experiences of donor women and behaviors related to donation.PPGENF - Educação e cuidado em saúde e enfermagem na Amazônia