Guide to Proper Breast Milk Handling and Storage

Breast milk is a crucial nutritional source for infants often referred to as ‘liquid gold’. Many breastfeeding mothers may find themselves needing to express with the aid of breast pumps to save the milk for future use.

Things that you should do before and after pumping milk

Before pumping or handling breast milk

1. Thoroughly cleanse your hands with soap and water.
2. Examine the cleanliness of your pump kit and its tubing.
3. Immediately replace tubing if mould is found.

After pumping breast milk

1. Rinse away remaining milk in the disassembled pump and feeding parts with running water. To avoid contamination, do not wash them directly in the sink.
2. After rinsing, clean the parts that come into contact with your breasts in a dishwasher if they are dishwasher-safe.
3. To clean the parts that touch your breasts, you can clean them using a dishwasher if they are dishwasher-safe or wash them by hand with hot water and soap in a sanitised wash basin, which should only be used for cleaning the pump parts and nothing else.
4. Rinse everything completely under running water after washing.
5. Let the parts air-dry on a clean dish towel or paper towel.
6. Make sure to keep the dry parts in a clean, protected place with clean hands to maintain hygiene.

Methods and storage duration for expressed breast milk

Use suitable containers.

• You can store expressed breast milk in hard plastic containers that are clean and sealed and free of bisphenol A (BPA). These are ideal for shorter storage periods.
• Food-grade glass is also good storage option. Glass is also more suitable for long-term storage because it does not leach chemicals.
• Storage bags that are specifically designed for breast milk are convenient and good for saving space.
• Avoid general household-purpose containers such as disposable bottle liners or plastic bags to avoid contamination and render the milk unhealthy for consumption.

Store in small quantities.

• To prevent wastage, milk should be stored in amounts as small as 2 to 4 ounces (60-120ml).

Record the date of each expression on the containers.

• With waterproof labels and ink, label the date the breast milk is expressed on each container.
• If you are keeping expressed milk at your baby’s childcare facility, write your baby’s name on the label so it can be easily identified by you.

Keep breast milk containers in the fridge or freezer.

• At 25°C or lower, freshly expressed or pumped countertop breast milk can be stored for up to 4 hours while a maximum of two hours for above 25°C.
  
• Keeping the breast milk at 4°C in the fridge allows a storage period of up to 4 days. Positioning them in the back of the fridge can keep the temperature constant. Once removed from the fridge and warmed, consumption must be done within 1 to 2 hours as any unconsumed milk after the time frame would mean contamination and should be disposed of.
  
• Breast milk stored at -18°C or colder in the freezer can be safely consumed for up to 6 months.

Ways to handle frozen breast milk

• Thawed breast milk should never be refrozen and should be used or discarded after being refrigerated for four days. While breast milk has some properties that stop the growth of harmful bacteria, these properties weaken over a few days of refrigeration. To ensure the safety of your child, it is best to freeze unused breast milk for longer storage and thaw it only when ready to use within several days.
  
• Avoid mixing frozen and fresh breast milk to prevent temperature fluctuations that are caused by mixing the warmer fresh breast milk with the colder older milk. This might compromise the quality of the milk. Always cool freshly expressed breast milk separately before combining with older, previously cooled, or frozen milk.
  
• Consume frozen breast milk within six months, However, it can still be kept in the freezer at 0°F/-17.778ºC or under for up to 12 months.

Steps to thaw breast milk properly

1. Put the container in the refrigerator during the night before you intend to use the frozen milk to defrost. Prioritise milk that was expressed on an earlier date.
   
2. To slowly warm the milk, submerge it in warm running water or place it in a bowl of warm water. Avoid using the microwave or stovetop to prevent nutrient loss caused by uneven heating of the breast milk.
   
3. Breast milk is not homogenised; therefore, the cream will float to the surface. If separation is observed before feeding your baby, gently swirl the container to mix the cream back through so that the important proteins beneficial to the digestive system of the baby are not destroyed.
   
4. Leftover unfinished breast milk by the baby in the container that has been left for more than two hours should be discarded.

Tips to identify spoiled breast milk

Like any other type of milk, human breast milk can spoil. When spoiled, it has a pungent, sour odour and taste and cannot be salvaged. Take a small sip of the suspected spoiled milk yourself to check.

Ways to store breast milk while travelling

When planning to travel with expressed breast milk, it is crucial to have a careful transportation plan as the transportation mode such as car, train, bus, or plane determines the policies that you should be wary of and adhere to.

Freshly expressed milk can be kept cool in an insulated cooler bag with ice packs for up to 24 hours. Once you arrive, you can either use it immediately, refrigerate it, or freeze it. To ensure there are no temperature fluctuations, make sure to keep the breast milk in a tightly sealed, sanitised container in the back of the fridge.

If you choose to carry frozen milk, store it in an insulated cooler bag or thermal tote with frozen gel packs or ice, and remember to check the milk’s condition when you reach your destination. If ice crystals are observed in the milk, you can still refreeze it for later use. For long journeys, pack additional ice or frozen gel packs to ensure the milk’s temperature stays cold enough.

However, once the previously frozen breast milk has completely thawed, keep it cold and use it within 24 hours. The thawing time will vary according to the travel duration and cooler temperature. Check the milk every few hours to determine if it has thawed, if the situation allows.

Ways to store breast milk at the workplace

Either you utilise the refrigerator at your workplace or prepare insulated cooler bags to store your breast milk. Any refrigerator that is appropriate for storing food can be used to keep the expressed breast milk alongside other foods.

Storing the expressed breast milk in an insulated cooler bag with ice packs allows a storage duration of up to 24 hours. Place the milk in the cooler right after pumping to keep the milk’s temperature at a safe level. Once you arrive home, use the milk immediately, refrigerate it, or freeze it.

Remember to put your name and the expression date on the breast milk containers. For identification purposes, you can also label your name and contact details on the cooler.

Schedule an appointment at Gleneagles Hospitals

Seeking expert guidance and support on breastfeeding and pumping? Book an appointment with the dedicated team of Consultant Paediatricians and Lactation Consultants at the nearest Gleneagles Hospital to you today.