Storing Breastmilk - Springville,PA

A little late on the response but:
I use the Lansinoh storage bags and they are wonderful. I fill them pretty full when I will just be keeping them in the fridge and put around 3oz. in when I will be storing them in the freezer. They have a double zipper and double-thick plastic. I think they are the best and easiest to use. Good luck!

Hi B.,
Breastmilk usually only lasts 1-2 days in the frig. If you are not going to use it by then, freeze any milk you pump. The milk will keep up to 6 months frozen. And it thaws very quickly in a hot/warm glass of water. It would be best to freeze 4 ounces at a time. They have special bags for freezing, I believe, although it has been 7 years since I needed them.
M. P.

That's actually pretty normal! Unless it truly smells and/or tastes so foul that it makes you want to throw up, it's probably safe to drink. Some women just have more lipase in their milk, which makes it smell a bit "off".

Here is a GREAT link for you about it:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/lipase-expressedmilk.html

The storage guidelines are on there too, but I believe that it's safe to store breastmilk in the back of an upright fridge/freezer for up to 3 mos.

Good luck! Hope that helps!

I would freeze my breastmilk if it wasn't going to be used right away. I believe it can be frozen for up to 2 months (not 100% on that, it's been 10 years). It defrosts quickly by placing the sealed bag in a glass of hot water in no time. I used the playtex liners to store and everything worked out great.

Hi B.,

I only used Medela storage bottles for both refrigerator and the specially made Medela bottles for freezer use. The milk was pumped right into the bottles. Both types worked well, but I never went over three maybe four days in the refrigerator from pumping to using as I wanted my daughter to have as fresh a supply as possible. When we needed to supplement (I am a full time working mom) we used what had been stored in the freezer and I usually used the milk within 1-2 months of freezer storing. I had a great experience with the Medela products. Good luck.

I used to use the gerber bags and hated them. I found the Lansinoh (not sure how it's spelled) bags to be much better and kept the milk much fresher.

B. .. it's been a while since I've done that and you've gotten some great replies. If you're you're expressing for a feed that day .. it's fine in the frig. Otherwise, express a small amount in the gerber disposable bags ..seal and freeze immediately. The texture/consistency is a little different when you thaw/warm to feed baby .. but, it should be fine. Make sure to date it .. smaller 2 oz sizes are great for mixing in cereal.
good luck .. you are doing wonderfully for you baby! ~K.

Hi B.,

I find that amount of time that you can store your milk varies by person (and probably by what you ate recently too!) The general guidelines are: 5-10 hours at room temp, 4-7 days in the refrigerator, 3-12 months in the freezer. I found with my milk that it ALWAYS spoiled after 4 days in the fridge, but I could go 12 months in the freezer without a problem. Are you storing it toward the back of the refrigerator so that the opening of the door doesn't affect it's temperature? If it isn't lasting long enough in the refrigerator, try freezing it sooner and just thaw what you need. Always be sure to freeze in bags, not bottles.

J.

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Hi B.,
My little ones are 4 & almost 3 yrs old, so I haven't breastfed for almost 2 years, but I remember that the milk does not last very long in the refrigerator. When I was expressing milk, I would only keep it in the fridge for 48 hours maximum. I looked up breast milk expiration, because I noticed the amount of time other moms have been recommended really varied. So here is what I found:

Expressed breast milk is highly perishable. Milk should be collected in sterilized 4-ounce plastic bottles or plastic bottle liners. Immediately store the milk in the refrigerator. If you must take breast milk with you, carry it in an insulated cooler with ice or chill-packs.

Any milk that will not be used within 24-48 hours should be frozen immediately. Leave one inch of space at the top of the milk storage container to allow for expansion during freezing. Label the milk with the date it was expressed so that older milk can be used first. Frozen breast milk will keep for 3 to 4 months.

Thaw breast milk in warm water only - not in hot water or in a microwave oven. Do not refreeze breast milk. Shake the container of expressed milk before using it to distribute the fat within the milk.

I hope this helps you! Also, I always used the Gerber bags & liked them. I don't think the spoiling has anything to do with the bags, rather with the length of time the milk is being kept. After 2 days it's no good.

Good luck!

Hi! Here is a link that may help you: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/lipase-expressedmilk.html

If you follow all the guidelines on freezing milk, and it still doesn't stay fresh, it could be that you are one of the lucky women who product the enzyme lipase in your milk. The Kellymom site (above) explains it better than I could, and has tips for how to handle it.

Good luck!

You should be able to keep your milk fresh in the refrigerator from 4 days. I have a similiar problem and experimented with a few different containers. I found that after freezing my milk it had a strange oder when thawed and warmed to feed. Turns out that I make too much of a certain enzyme that causes the milk to breakdown quicker when stored. Despite this smell the milk is not spoiled, but my baby refuses it and I do not blame her. From my research the only way to deactivate this enzyme is to scald the milk right after pumping before storage. I have not tried to do this yet. It took me 3 babies that I nursed to find out that this was the problem.

I like the playtex milk storage system, you pump right into the drop in liners and cap it off with a screw on cap. They work great for me! Hope this helps!

I use mothers milkmate bottles which are great and have a rack to keep them in order by date. I keep a few bottles in the fridge and the rest go into the freezer. good luck

Silly question I know, but are you sure it's spoiling?

Breastmilk should be good for 8-10 hours at room temperature, 8-10 days in the fridge, 3 months in a freeezer attached to a fridge and 6 months in a deep freezer.

Whenever we're dealing with pumped milk, we always go by the smell/taste test rather than by the date on the milk. Both myself and my milkshare recipient have used milk stored in my regular freezer for 6 months with no problems.

I used the Gerber bags at first, but switched over to the Lansinoh bags, which seem to be a bit more durable.

Are you dealing with any issues like extra lipase?

S.

I used to freeze mine in plastic freezer bags, then thaw them in the fridge in a bowl (sometimes the bag gets a sharp edge in the freezer and breaks). Everything I read when I was doing it ( 3 kids for 8-9 months each) said that it was good for 6 months. I never had any that smelled or seemed spoiled.

Hi B.,

here is a web site.

http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/nursing/grosstasting.html

Hope this helps. D.

What I always did after pumping was if I was not going to use it by the next day I would freeze it. I wouldn't let it got past two days in the fridge. It takes no time to defrost. Good Luck>

I used 12-16oz glass canning jars. I would fill the freezer with them. Then when I had enough to fill the case box back up I did to keep storage nice. By using the case box if you run out of room you can take a box to a family members deep freeze too. When I used them the baby was drinking over 1/2 or nearly the whole jar.

I used the Lansinoh storage bags. I liked these the best since it had a double closure on it. I always tried to get as much air out of the bag as well before storage. I never let breast milk go longer than a week in the fridge or 1 month in a regular freezer attached to the fridge. Remember that breast milk will separate naturally so don't think it is spoiled because it has separated, just shake it up before warming.

Hi B.-

I have to disagree with the responses you’ve gotten saying to freeze your milk instead of refrigerate it. Unless it is going to be longer than 8 days before you use the milk, the fridge is the best place to keep it. Every time you alter the milk, you are breaking down the nutrients. Refrigerating and then only having to warm it a few degrees (or better yet, feed it to your baby cold if she will take it), will break down far fewer nutrients than freezing it and having to thaw and warm it.

Breast milk can look strange (separated, sometimes a little bluish or yellowish depending on your diet) and can sometime smell strange (again, depending on your diet) without having spoiled.

I’m not sure what kind of pump you have, but I have a Medela and I have had great luck with their plastic collection bottles. I find them much more convenient and practical than the bags I have tried, not to mention being waste-free! I believe Medela now makes some collection bottles that you can pop a nipple on and feed your baby right out of the container that you pump into!

Like one of the PP's, I also used the Lansinoh storage bags. I pumped and put it in the fridge if I didn't have enough to fill a bag and if I did have enough to fill a bag, it went immediately in the freezer. I don't think you mentioned how long you were keeping it in the fridge for, but it can only last a couple days in there before it will spoil. Also, put it towards the back of the fridge...not in the door or anything...too much temp fluctuation when you open and close the door. Before freezing, I also try to get the air out of the bag and lay them flat so they freeze flat.

Hi I was told & followed 6 months in the upright freezer & 12 months in the deep freeze. I froze gerber flat on a plate, marked them with the date & stored them upright in a shoe box so I could rotate them & read dates. Also remember that breast milk seperates much more quickly then cow milk. Unless it is giving off a wierd smell it may just need to be shaken up.

What makes you think it is spoiled? Likely the cream rises to the top, creating something similar to a curd. Its fine, shake it up and it goes back to normal. Fresh milk is fine in the fridge for 7-10 days, then should be frozen.

Hi B.. Congrats on sticking with Breast Feeding. That's wonderful. As far as storing breast milk, I didn't have great luck with Gerber bags. I switched to Lansinoh Storage bags. They have a 'double zipper' lock, that I found to be much better. The storage guidelines on the bags are:

Breastmilk can be left at room temperature (66-72°F, 19-22°C) for up to 10 hours

It can be stored in a refrigerator (32-39°F, 0-4°C) for up to 8 days

If you have a single-door refrigerator with freezer section, breastmilk can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 weeks (due to continous open/closing of freezer door)

If you have a two-door refrigerator/freezer, breastmilk can be stored in the freezer for 3 to 4 months

Deep freeze at constant 0°F (-19°C) for 6 months or longer

Sometimes thawed breastmilk smells a little funny and you should use it pretty shortly aftered being thawed. Fresh breastmilk should be lasting a few days in the fridge.

Hi B.,

I use those storage bags but I freeze them. Have you thought about that? Then when I need them I thaw them in the fridge or in a cup of boiling water if I need it quicker. It's supposed to be good for 6 months that way. :)

Hi B.,

The best way to store breastmilk is in the freezer. You should put a date on the bag before putting the milk in it.

Hope that helps.
A. D

Have you thought about freezing instead? Thats what the nurses had me do when my son was in the NICU for a few weeks after birth. It worked great and my freezer was pretty full. Just a thought. Good luck! :)

It is only supposed to be in the fridge for 2-3 days, freezer for 3 months, deep freezer (seperate freezer than one attached to fridge) for 6 months. In fridge, the milk will seperate after a few hours so you just have to shake it up. So you don't waste milk, freeze the milk and take it out and thaw it as you need it.

Are you sure the milk is spoiling? It is normal for it to separate - the more solid fat will raise to the top and the water/nutrients to the bottom. Ii used to be able to keep breast milk refrigerated for 2 or 3 days no problem. It also freezes well, and you can freeze it in the bags if you seal them well.

Hi! I am a nursing mom and a certified breastfeeding counselor. You should keep milk in the refrigerator for no longer than 6-8 days. At that point it needs to be frozen or thrown out (what a waste). Make sure that when you put the milk into the bag you get as much air out as you can before sealing. Once frozen, milk is good for up to 6 months in a regular freezer and up to a year in a deep freezer. I personally use Lanisoh or Medela bags (Medela's bags are thicker, but more expensive) Lanisoh's have a double ziplock seal, for extra protection. If you aren't going to use the milk in a day or two I would put it into the freezer. It thaws pretty quickly and then there is less of a chance of wasting it! Good luck!

You have several options depending on where you store the milk.

Room temperature: up to ten hours
In the refrigerator: up to eight days
Freezer within fridge: up to two weeks (temperatures fluctuate when you open and close door)
Deep freezer: up to six months
Please note that milk stored at room temperature or in a refrigerator will retain more nutrients than milk stored in a freezer. Again, storing milk in small amounts in the fridge will ensure that all those health-boosting properties of breast milk can still benefit your baby.
Get a tough plastic or glass container. Make sure that your containers have tight lids to keep your milk fresh. You can also purchase specially designed freezer bags made for human milk which I read you are. Some have even been specially designed to preserve your breast milk's nutrients which are the ones you are using..but there should be no air in the bag.. Be sure not to use disposable bottle liners to store your milk in the bottle... Lastly, either get containers with a labeling system or buy some tape so you can write down the date and stick it onto the container. Some of the special freezer bags have a place to write the date on the bag and come with plastic seals.