Ways to store and use breast milk

Breastfeeding is the most nutritious option for most newborns. It may also lower the chance of some health problems in both infants and moms. During maternity leave, mothers are able to feed their baby directly. Unfortunately, once mothers are back to the office, they have to store their milk.

Other contributing factors that lead to breast milk storing is if the mother needs flexibility in feeding or the supply is overwhelming. Below are some points to keep in mind if you are going to store and use breast milk.

Before you start, wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol. Make sure the area where you are pumping and your pump parts and bottles are clean. You do not need to wash your breasts and nipples before pumping. Make sure to pump during the times your baby would normally eat. This will help you to continue making milk.

Storing

To preserve expressed breast milk, use clean, food-grade containers or breast milk storage bags. Make sure the containers are made of glass or plastic and have tight fitting lids. It is important to remember that bottles with the recycle sign number 7, which indicates that the container may be made of a BPA-containing plastic, should be avoided.

• Keep milk at room temperature. Breast milk is OK for up to 4 hours after pumping at room temperature (up to 77°F).
• Refrigerate it. Breast milk is OK in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Place milk in the freezer. If you’re not going to use refrigerated breast milk within 4 days of pumping, freeze it right after pumping.
• Use cooler packs. You can put breastmilk in a cooler or insulated cooler pack with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours after pumping. After 24 hours in a cooler the breast milk should be refrigerated or frozen.

Freezing

• Clearly label milk containers with the date the milk was expressed. Include your child’s name if you are giving the milk to a child care provider.
• Freeze in small amounts (2 to 4 ounces, or ¼ to ½ cups) for later feedings.
• Leave an inch or so from the milk to the top of the container, because it will get bigger when freezing.
• Wait to tighten bottle caps or lids until the milk is completely frozen.
• Store milk in the back of the freezer, not on the shelf of the freezer door, so that it doesn’t start to thaw out.

Thawing

Use a bowl of warm (not hot) water to swiftly thaw frozen breast milk. If you monitor the water and change it as soon as it cools off, this procedure should take about 20 minutes.

• Fill a bowl or pan with warm water. 
• Place the frozen container of breast milk into the water. Be sure to keep the water level below the cap of the breast milk bottle to prevent contamination.
• As the water cools down, empty it and replace it with more warm water.
• Continue to do this until the breast milk is no longer frozen.

Another way to defrost breast milk is to hold it under a faucet of warm running water. 

• Start out holding the container (or bag) under cold running water.
• Slowly make the temperature of the running water warmer, but do not make it hot.
• Keep holding the container under warm water until the milk thaws.

If you’re not in a rush, you can refrigerate the freezed milk. This will take approximately 12 hours, so be sure to plan ahead. 

• Remove the bag or bottle of the frozen breast from the freezer.
• Place it into the refrigerator.
• Wait until the solid frozen milk turns back into liquid form.
• Once the milk thaws, use it within 24 hours.
• Do not refreeze thawed breast milk that is left over after 24 hours.

Thawed milk can be used directly or you can warm it up if you want to. If you decide to warm the breast milk:

• Keep the container sealed while warming.
• Hold it under warm, not hot, running water, or set it in a container of water that is warm, not hot.
• Never put a bottle or bag of breastmilk in the microwave. Microwaving creates hot spots that could burn your baby and damage the milk.
• Test the temperature before feeding it to your baby by dropping some on your wrist. The milk should feel warm, not hot.
• Swirl the milk to mix the fat, which may have separated. Do not shake the milk.

Important

• Once you warm the breast milk, you can give it to your child right away or it can be refrigerated again for up to 24 hours.
• You should not leave warm breast milk out at room temperature. 
• You should not refreeze it.
• If your baby does not finish the feeding, you should throw away the leftover breast milk in the bottle.  

Tips for pumping without your baby there

• Bring a photo or a blanket or item of clothing that has your baby’s scent on it.
• Apply a warm, moist cloth to your breasts.
• Gently massage your breasts.
• Visualize the milk flowing down.
• Sit quietly and think of a relaxing setting.

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