Breastmilk is liquid gold! You’ve worked hard to collect that milk and we don’t want to waste a drop. Whether you’re returning to work, exclusively pumping or choosing to pump to have extra supply on hand, it’s important to know how to manage and care for the milk properly! 

The Essentials

First things first, you are going to want to grab a few products to store your milk properly! You’ll want to grab storage bags that are for breastmilk specifically; I love these ones from Lansinoh! If you’re planning to store milk in the fridge for a few days, you need a food grade container that is glass and has a tight fitting lid. For freezing milk, it’s best to have somewhere to lay it flat while it freezes and then store in some type of container upright once it’s frozen. 

Freezing it Efficiently

Once the milk has been expressed, it’s good in the fridge for up to three days! You can wait up to those three days or freeze it right away; whatever works best for you! When it’s time to freeze the milk, use the flange from your pump as a way to transfer the milk to the storage bag (we don’t want to spill any!). Make sure that you remove all the air in the bag before closing it and lay it flat in the freezer to freeze. Once frozen, store the bags in the freezer vertically in a container! Lastly, put this in a location in your freezer that is going to be the coldest and most consistent in temperature (try to avoid putting it on the door).

Time Guidelines

One of the many questions I get as a Lactation Consultant is “how long is the milk good for?” Here’s a detailed guide for all locations and temperatures. I recommend making notes to put in your kitchen so you don’t forget; or even print this out and hang it on your fridge! 

Keep it Cool, Mama

When it comes to breastmilk storage, the key is to keep it cool. Like, cooler than your in-laws' opinion of your parenting skills. You can store breastmilk in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Pro tip: freeze your milk in small portions so you don't have to thaw more than you need. And don't forget to label your bags with the date and time - unless you're into playing "Guess the expiration date" with your partner.

Thawing it Out

When it's time to use your frozen breastmilk, you have a few options for thawing it out. You can let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, run it under warm water, or even stick it in a bowl of warm water. Just make sure you don't microwave it - unless you want to turn your milk into a hot mess. And if your baby is anything like mine, they'll want their milk ASAP, so make sure you have a system to keep track of which bags are ready to go.

As if breastfeeding isn’t exhausting enough, storing it properly can be just as overwhelming too! It’s important to have a good system in place when you’re sleep deprived or pumping in the middle of night; we don’t want to waste any good milk! If you ever have any questions, I’m always open to chat!