What Is The Best Way To Store Breastmilk In Freezer?

Motherhood is no easy feat. It doesn’t come naturally for everyone and not all women have the guidance and support they may need during their first experiences as being a mother. They may have so many questions regarding motherhood, like what the benefits of baby napkins are, or what’s the best way to store breastmilk in freezer. Well, we’re here to help you with those questions! 

Do’s and Don’ts of Breast Milk Storage 

If you are a new mommy and you’re unsure of what to or what not to do when it comes to breastfeeding your first baby, it can be confusing. You may consider using a breast pump if you are looking to go back to work soon or just want some flexibility with nursing and your time. 

So, What Is The Best Way To Store Breastmilk in Freezer? 

Firstly, before you express or handle your breast milk, you need to make sure that your hands are clean so wash your hands with soap and water. Make sure that the expressed milk is stored in a clean, sterilized and capped food-grade glass container or hard plastic container. If you are using a hard-plastic container, make sure it does not contain BPA (Bisphenol A). Do use specialized plastic bags made from breastmilk like this one from Lansinoh! 

Make sure you don’t use disposable bottle liners and plastic bags made for general household use. 

Do use waterproof labels and ink and label all your containers with the date that you expressed the breast milk. If you are storing your milk in a child care facility, you need to make sure you add your baby’s name to the label so that it doesn’t get mixed up!

Do store the milk bags in the back of the freezer or fridge where the temperature is the coolest, or if you are heading out, store the milk in an insulated cooler with some ice packs to keep it cool. 

Here are some more tips on storing breastmilk: 

• You can add fresh breastmilk to milk that has been frozen or refrigerated, but make sure to cool the fresh breastmilk in the freezer or fridge before you add it to the prior chilled milk. Adding warm breastmilk to frozen or chilled breastmilk will cause it to partially thaw. 

• Freshly expressed breastmilk can be kept:
  – Room temperature: Up to 6 hours (Optimally used within 4 hours)
  – Insulated cooler: Up to 1 day (With ice packs)
  – Fridge: Up to 4 days (Use or freeze within 3 days)
  – Deep freezer: Up to 12 months (Optimally used within 6 months)
  
• The longer you store the breastmilk, whether it’s in the fridge or freezer, the milk will lose more vitamin C. 
• Your breastmilk will change to meet the needs of your baby. So the first time you express breastmilk and when you express milk a few months later, the milk does not have the same nutrients anymore. Therefore, you have to see the best storage methods according to your baby and your suitability.