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With tons of advice and recommendations out there, knowing how to safely store breast milk can be confusing, and it’s one of the biggest concerns for new moms.
We spoke with Courtney, a professional midwife and designer and owner A Midwife in Your Womb on Pregnancy App and Online Store. The Pregnancy App offers guided lessons, weekly to-do lists and fetal development updates. App features include time tracking, results, photos and feeds as well as timers. Courtney breaks down the basics of breastfeeding using guidelines from the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) and insights from her clinical practice to help give you practical advice.
Why breastfeeding guidelines are important
Breast milk is often called ‘liquid gold’ because it is rich in nutrients and antibodies. However, like any other perishable food, it can spoil if not stored properly. The main purpose of breast milk storage guidelines is to ensure that the safety of breast milk and its nutrition are not compromised. Improper storage can lead to the growth of bacteria, which, if eaten, can infect children’s intestines, causing diarrhea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Australian guidelines for breast milk storage
Courtney shares Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) and Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) provides special tips for storing breast milk:
Storing and using fresh breast milk
A common question that new parents have is, if I’m pumping, can I leave my milk to feed again? Courtney explains that fresh breast milk can sit on the bench for 6-8 hours according to ABA and NHMRC guidelines. However, it is important to take care to keep the container of milk in the sun and keep it in a cool place so that the breasts do not overheat. Breast milk should be 26 C or lower. If it’s a very hot day, put it in the refrigerator and if you don’t want to use it for 4 days, put it directly in the refrigerator and don’t forget to put the date!
Mixing milk from different pumping stations
If you are using breast milk for pumping, you may find that the amount of one portion is not enough for a full feeding. You can combine milk from multiple pumping stations, or mix pre-frozen milk with fresh milk. The most important thing is to make sure the milk is at the right temperature before mixing it, and always use the milk by the expiration date of the oldest batch.
Best ways to reduce dry breast milk
There are several ways you can reduce or dissolve dry breast milk. The most common method is to simply place a bag of breast milk in a bowl of warm (not hot!) water until it reaches body temperature. If you don’t have a jug or container of warm water, just hold the bag of breast milk under the warm water tap. Courtney shares “you shouldn’t use hot water because it can destroy the nutrients in breast milk when heated, use hot or cold water instead.”
You can also take frozen milk out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw. After thawing it can be stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours or at room temperature for four hours. “Don’t use a microwave to thaw or heat breast milk as this can destroy important nutrients in the milk and cause hot spots to form.” he explains.
Top Tip: If you have a newborn and need to thaw a breast milk syringe: Try to put it under your breast if possible or in your armpit as it cools down with body heat – very useful for the first few days of the newborn!
Courtney’s top tips for safe breastfeeding
- Storage containers: Use food-grade, BPA-free, non-stick containers.
- Directions: Use a sealed container with a freezer pack or ice pack.
- Date of entry: Like cow’s milk, breast milk expires. Label each container with the best-before date. Remember the saying, ‘First things first.’
- Softening breast milk: Avoid using hot water or microwaves. Instead, place the container in warm water or under the tap. For breast milk injections, put it under your breast or in your armpit.
- Breast milk is used up: Don’t lose! Use them in a nourishing breast milk wash or as a moisturizer for baby’s skin. Some women choose to keep it in a famous jewelry box to keep it in mind.