Ways to store, freeze and thaw breast milk

So you are breast feeding  and you have to return to work. So how do you store and use your breast milk safely?

Expressed breast milk is the best food for your baby. You can store it for your baby when you are not around. But it is important to practise good hygiene to ensure that the stored milk is safe for your baby. Use only sterilized breast milk storage bags or clean breast milk storage bottle to keep your breast milk. Keep it frozen in the freezer and it can be stored for a long while.

How long can you store your expressed breast milk?

If you have properly expressed your breast milk and maintain good hygiene, you can store it at room temperature, in the fridge, or in the freezer, depending on how soon you want to use it.

Below are the guidelines:

If you’re refrigerating or freezing your breast milk, remember to label the bottles or bags with the date it was expressed. Always use the earlier stored milk first.

Breast milk usage guidelines.

Stored breast milk will normally separate into layers, with the fat or cream forming the top layer. Swirl the bottle gently to mix the layers before feeding your baby. Do not stir too hard or vigorous. It can damage some of the milk’s nutritional property.

It is best to discard any leftover milk within one to two hours of his initial feed because when baby feeds, bacteria from his mouth may end up in the milk. So it is best to store breast milk in small amount  and use only what is needed to avoid wastage.

How to freeze breast milk safely:

•    Freeze your breast milk immediately after being expressed.
•    Store your milk in clean breast milk bottles or storage bags  which are made from BPA-free materials
•    You may add expressed milk to already frozen breast milk, but ensure the expressed milk is cooled in the fridge before it is added. Do not add body-temperature milk to frozen milk.
•    Store your breast milk in small portions to avoid wastage. You can combine the milk after defrosting.
•    Use only good quality breast milk storage bags or bottles such as Autumnz breast milk storage bag or bottles.
•    Leave some space in the storage bag or bottles. Do not fill to the maximum  as breast milk expands during freezing.
•    Always store frozen breast milk at the far back of the freezer where the temperature is most consistent.

Defrosting breast milk correctly:

•    It takes about 12 hours to defrost breast milk in the fridge. If need to, you can hold the bottle or bag of frozen milk under warm running water. Don’t leave frozen breast milk to defrost at room temperature.
•    Place the breast milk bottle or bag into a cup or bowl of lukewarm water for a few minutes to bring it to body temperature (37 °C or 99 °F).
•    Frozen breast milk once fully thawed may be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours or at room temperature for a maximum of two hours.
•    Do not use a  microwave or boiling water to thaw the milk. The  nutritional and protective properties can be damaged and may be too hot and could scald your baby.
•    Once thawed, breast milk should be fed to your baby within two hours if left at room temperature. Otherwise it has to be thrown away.
•    Once thawed, you should never re-freeze the milk.

Why does my stored breast milk have a weird smell?

Refrigerated or defrosted breast milk may sometimes have a soapy or rancid smell. This is caused by an enzyme called lipase which breaks down fats and releases fatty acids. This process helps prevent harmful bacteria from growing. But if you’ve taken all the necessary steps and maintain your hygiene and safe-storage, it will be perfectly safe to use.
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