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Healthy babies thrive on only mom’s milk for at least the first six months of life. However, that doesn’t mean nursing moms have to be on call 24/7. Collecting your milk is an option nearly all mothers use so their babies can experience the benefits of breastmilk even when they are separated. Nursing moms pump for many reasons. Some are long term: Feeding a premature infant, or because of regular separations due to returning to work or school. Others are short term: Occasional separations, or being on medication incompatible with breastfeeding. Whatever the case, it’s important to know how to safely store expressed breastmilk. The Mayo Clinic offers some practical tips for nursing moms.
There are multiple ways to store excess milk. You need a clean, capped glass or hard plastic container. There are also plastic bags designed for milk collection and storage. Whatever you do, don’t store breastmilk in disposable bottle liners or plastic bags designed for general household use.Also, use waterproof labels and ink so you can tag each container with the date you expressed the milk so you can use the oldest milk first. Store your breastmilk in amounts you use every day to minimize waste and keep milk expressed on different days in separate containers. There may be different storage and handling requirements for milk that you would want to donate to a milk bank. Please speak with the milk bank about their specific requirements.
Cool your expressed milk in a refrigerator or other cooler as soon as possible. You can also freeze the milk if you don’t plan on using it right away. If you do decide to freeze it, keep in mind breastmilk expands as it freezes, so there’s no need to fill containers to the brim. Do not refreeze breastmilk and avoid adding warm milk to a container if it was previously refrigerated or frozen. It will cause the frozen milk to partially thaw. You can add freshly expressed milk to already frozen, just be sure to thoroughly cool it with ice packs before it’s added.
To thaw frozen breastmilk, put the container in the refrigerator the day before it is to be used. Never thaw it in a microwave because it can get hot and burn your baby’s tongue, plus it can damage valuable proteins. Once it’s thawed, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
The Centers for Disease Control has guidelines for storage duration, however, if you do decide to become a breastmilk donor, different milk banks also have different requirements. Check with your milk bank if you have questions.
There are many milk storage guidelines, and these are for mothers who have healthy full-term babies. If you have questions, be sure to talk with your medical provider or lactation specialist. Storing your baby’s liquid gold safely is key. Expressing and storing your milk will allow you to give your baby the best nutrition, even while you are away.