Refrigerating and freezing breast milk allows you to store it for future use. This milk stockpile provides nutrients for your baby when you're not with him, allowing you to avoid the use of formula. Breast milk lasts in the refrigerator for about three to five days. In the freezer, you are able to store the milk for three to four months. Cleanliness is key during the pumping and storage process to provide your baby with a safe food source.
Step 1
Clean all components to the breast pump before expressing the milk. Attach clean, sterile bottles or collection containers to the pump.
Step 2
Pour the breast milk into sterilized plastic bottles, leaving about 1 inch of space at the top to allow for expansion as the milk freezes. Another option is to pour the milk into sterilized bags made specifically for breast milk storage.
Step 3
Write the date on the container so that you know when it was pumped.
Step 4
Place the container in the refrigerator near the back where it will stay the coolest. Place newer breast milk in the back with older breast milk closer to the front so you use up the oldest milk first.
Step 5
Transfer the milk to the freezer as soon as you know that you won't use it before it spoils in the refrigerator. Place it in the main compartment of the freezer rather than in the door. Like the refrigerator, place older milk closer to the front so you grab it first.
Step 6
Move the frozen breast milk back to the refrigerator when you are ready to thaw it. Once thawed, the breast milk can be kept in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Do not refreeze the milk once you thaw it.
Tips and Warnings
- Place the milk directly into the freezer if you don't plan on using it within a few days. This allows it to be frozen when it is fresh rather than after it sits for a few days. Store individual servings of milk in the containers to reduce waste. The milk will also thaw faster in small amounts. As your baby begins eating more at one feeding, you can increase the amount you place in the containers. If you need to thaw frozen breast milk quickly, run warm water over it or place the container in warm water. Be aware, however, that too much heat breaks down the nutrients in the milk.
- Never save milk that your baby started to drink. Discard leftover breast milk from his bottles as the bacteria from his mouth can contaminate the remaining milk.
Things You'll Need
- Breast pump
- Sterile plastic bottles
- Caps
- Breast milk storage bags
