How to store breast milk correctly?

This is a fundamental question for breastfeeding mothers: once the milk has been expressed, how can we store it hygienically, preserving its taste and benefits for the baby? Claude Didierjean-Jouveau, author of numerous works on breastfeeding and member of the scientific committee of the CoFAM (French Coordination for Breastfeeding), explains everything you need to know about the good and proper conservation of breast milk form.

Why might it be necessary to store breast milk?

Storing breast milk allows the baby to benefit from it even in the mother’s absence. There are many reasons why you may want to store breast milk. From the most common (return to work) to the most annoying (hospitalization, premature baby who cannot yet breastfeed, etc.), expressing milk allows you to temporarily separate from your baby, without depriving him of breast milk.

“One-off separations remain the main reason why women express and conserve milk,” explains Claude Didierjean-Jouveau. Without even talking about work, it could simply be going to the hairdresser! And in this way the child can drink while being cared for.”

Storing breast milk: the golden rules

Above all, you need to practice good hygiene when expressing milk and handling it (clean hands, clean breast pump with warm, soapy water). Once we know, it will remain to be discovered where, for how long and in which container to store breast milk.

Where to store milk?

There are three options: at room temperature, in the refrigerator or in the freezer. Be careful, when we say room temperature it means below 25 degrees. We specify this, because it seems that we are not done with heat waves (hello global warming). For globetrotting mothers it is also possible to transport breast milk in a refrigerated thermal bag.

In which container should you store breast milk?

Plastic or glass, which material to choose? “It doesn’t really matter, both have advantages and disadvantages, choose the one you prefer. For freezing, some moms use regular freezer bags, they work very well.”

For the expert, the accessories dedicated to childcare include nothing more than a classic kitchen container. Choose a container that closes with a lid, and preferably not very bulky to avoid expressing the milk unnecessarily if the baby does not drink it all and the excess must be thrown away. “For example, you can freeze breast milk in ice cube molds for easier dosing.“

How long does breast milk last?

This is where things get complicated (well, quickly). Official recommendations recommend the following times: 4 hours at room temperature, 48 hours in the refrigerator, 4 months in the freezer. Except that it dates back to 2005, and since then numerous scientific studies have shown that real-life breast milk is ultra-strong (it’s armored with anti-infective agents) and is therefore much more resistant than we thought. “The recommendations will need to be updated shortly, waiting for the latest knowledge on the subject to demonstrate that it is possible to store breast milk for 24 hours at room temperature, 8 days in the refrigerator and 12 months in the freezer.Obviously these durations do not overlap, and it is always better not to wait until the last moment.

How to thaw breast milk?

Breast milk can be thawed in the refrigerator or at room temperature. It is then passed under hot tap water or in a bain-marie to warm it, although some newborns accept milk at room temperature very well. Finally, as with food, do not refreeze thawed breast milk.

The little annoyances you may encounter when storing breast milk

Some babies refuse to drink stored breast milk because it would taste unpleasant (we see you annoying babies there). “We don’t know the cause. Nutritionally, milk is good, but some babies won’t want it. The most common hypothesis is that lipases (digestive enzymes) ferment during milk storage.” To reduce “bad taste” and help babies who are reluctant to drink, some specialists recommend heating the milk to 60 degrees before putting it in the refrigerator or freezer. You can also prepare herbal teas made from breast milk; some babies accept it better in this form.

Finally, Claude Didierjean-Jouveau recommends avoiding having too much “supply” of breast milk in the freezer, otherwise your efforts will be wasted if the baby refuses to drink it, or even more comically… In the event of a power cut. “I know several women who have had this happen to them. They were devastated, so instead of throwing away their milk supply, I offered them an alternative: put it in the bathtub!“Cleopatra style!

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