Breast Milk Storage

Most breastfeeding mothers have the need to store breast milk at one time or another. Whether you’re a working mom who pumps at work daily so that your sitter has milk for the next day, or you simply need a little breast milk on hands for nights when you’ll go out and leave your little one with a baby sitter, appropriate breast milk storage accessories are a necessity.

If you’re planning to use your breast milk soon after pumping, you can simply store it in a bottle. Breast milk will stay safe at room temperature for 4-8 hours, though doctors recommend that you put your pumped breast milk in the refrigerator as soon as possible. Breast milk will stay fresh in the back of the refrigerator for 3-8 days.

However, there may be times when you need to freeze your breast milk for later use. Breast milk can be frozen for up to three months. For these times, you’ll likely want to use breast milk freezing storage systems to ensure that your breast milk is safely stored to remain fresh.

Most storage systems come with plastic sterile bags and instructions on how to store breast milk properly. However, it’s not a difficult process. It’s recommended that you store breast milk in the amounts that you use regularly, to avoid waste. For example, if your baby takes six ounces at each feeding, store six ounces in each breast milk bag. Seal the bags according to the instructions and place them in the back of the freezer for maximum storage time.

It’s important that you use breast milk storage bags for storing your milk rather than regular freezer storage bags. This is because breast milk storage bags are sterile. In addition, most breast milk storage bags are double walled which helps prevent the bag from breaking and also keeps the milk fresh longer.

To thaw breast milk, place it in the refrigerator the day before you plan to use it. If you’re in a hurry, you can also thaw frozen breast milk by placing it in a bowl of warm (not hot) water. Never thaw breast milk in the microwave, because microwaves destroy proteins in the milk. In addition, microwaving the milk could cause it to get hot enough to burn baby. Once you’ve thawed breast milk, it can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, but it should not be refrozen.

Storing breast milk is an easy way to ensure that you always have enough milk on hand for baby, even when you’re not around to nurse. The breast milk storage systems on the market make freezing your breast milk easy and safe.