Tips on Storing Breast Milk

• Storing breast milk properly takes time and a few tools. Air Rabbit/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Mothers choose to store their breast milk for a variety of reasons. Some are building a stash for when they return to work or as backup when their baby is not with them, while others plan to donate their milk to a milk bank. At first, storing milk may seem complex, but by following a few guidelines, you can safely and easily store your milk.

Reasoning

• Breastfeeding mothers may not always be with their babies, so they store milk in preparation. newborn image by Valentin Mosichev from Fotolia.com

  Understanding why human breast milk needs to be stored safely is important. The Le Leche League International (LLLI) states that "it is essential to store your expressed (pumped) milk properly to maximize its nutritional and anti-infective qualities." Although breast milk has anti-bacterial properties that help it to stay fresh, mothers should not assume that these properties will cover mishandling. Babies have delicate digestive systems, so always handle their food carefully. Finally, remember that giving babies the freshest milk you have pumped is best.

Preparation

• Just like any other refrigerated or frozen item, breast milk can retain surrounding smells. Before storing milk, clean your refrigerator or freezer. Placing a box of baking soda next to the milk helps, as does using a shallow container to hold the bottles or bags. This prevents other food from sitting too close to the milk.

  Before you express your milk, wash your hands. The breast pump parts, bottles or containers should be washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed. Stores also have a variety of freezer bags specifically designed to store breast milk. Whether you choose to use bottles or storage bags, you should always use storage containers specifically manufactured for breast milk storage.

  Clearly date the containers. Permanent marker works well on plastic containers. For glass bottles, attach a dated sticker. If your child goes to daycare, put his name on the container as well. While pumping, do not fill containers to the top, as liquids expand during freezing.

Storing

• LLLI gives guidelines concerning the length of storage and the necessary temperatures. Store milk at room temperature (66-78°F, 19-26°C) ideally for 4 hours, or up to 6 hours as acceptable practice.You can also store milk in a refrigerator (<39°F, <4°C), ideally for 72 hours, or up to 8 days as acceptable practice. Finally, you can store milk in a freezer (-0.4 to -4°F, -18 to -20°C) ideally for 6 months or up to 12 months as acceptable practice.

  Some refrigerators and freezers come with thermometers. If yours does not, buy one and keep it with the stored milk. Check it periodically, and discard milk that has been in a setting that does not meet the guidelines. Finally, educate others who may handle your baby's milk about these guidelines as well.