How to Freeze your Breast Milk
Liquid Gold!
A frequent question when I go to a postpartum visit is, "How do I freeze my breast milk?"
Here is the gist of it:
1) Collect it:
One of my favorite tips for breastfeeding mothers is to passively collect the milk leaking from the “other” breast while you are feeding your baby. Do yourself a favor and buy a Haakaa with a lid. The lid is important because, sure as nuts, that Haakaa might spill and then you will definitely “cry over spilled milk”. You will be shocked at how much milk simply “leaks” while you are nursing your baby.
Before combining milk from different collection times, make sure that they are at the same temperature. As you collect your milk, put it in the fridge in separate containers until you have about 2 or 3 ounces total. This means that you should not add freshly pumped (that is body temp) milk to cold refrigerated milk.
Haakaa Tip:
Don’t squeeze the Haakaa to apply it to the breast. That produces too much suction and hurts! Ouch! Simply roll the flange back and place onto your breast. That will be just enough suction to stay put and draw the milk out.
Watch the video below for a demonstration.
How to apply the Haakaa for passive collection of breast milk
2) Label it:
Don’t make the mistake that I made once! I went to write on an already filled bag and the milk all squished out… And Yes, I did cry over that milk!! Just use a permanent marker to write the date and time of collection on the bag BEFORE you pour the milk in. The time is helpful because night milk and day milk have different levels of melatonin in them but don’t get stuck on using milk at exactly the “right time”. Milk is milk and your baby will drink it!
3) Freeze it:
So, here’s how to get a lot more bags in a storage container. After you fill them, LAY THEM FLAT UNTIL THEY FREEZE so that you can stand them upright one frozen. (Tip: it is best not to store your milk in the freezer door)
4) Store it:
Place newest pumped milk at the back of the stash so that the oldest gets used first.