storing breast milk

[bumparoo]

hiya sorry if this seems stupid but iv got no idea where to store breast milk or for how long....some1 said you can store it in the freezer? is this true if so how long for and do you defrost it in a microwave?? TIA xx

Hello. Breast milk can be stored in the fridge for a day or so or frozen and used for up to a couple of weeks. DON'T microwave to defrost - it thaws out really quickly in just lukewarm water.

It's worth buying breast milk storage bags (from Mothercare or similar) because they are the right size and have a measure up the side so you can easily see how much you froze.

factsheet here

It can be kept for 5 days in the fridge, two weeks in the freezer compartment of a fridge, or 6 months in a proper freezer.

You can just defrost it by leaving it in the fridge til it thaws - I'd warm it in a bowl of warm water rather than microwaving though, as I think I've heard microwaving can damage the nutrients in it?

If you freeze the milk using the storage bags, remember to write the date of freezing on the side so you can use them up roughly in the right order, and don't go over the 6 months deadline.

We only kept milk in bottles for a day in the fridge if we knew they were for a specific reason, eg later that evening.

DH was responsible for defrosting milk and bottle feeding (to avoid confusion) and he never had a problem with the warm water technique. I would be worried about microwaving, not just because of losing nutrients, but because it heats liquid so unevenly.

thank u all for ur advice i didnt think the microwave was a good idea, iv brought storage pots as didnt kno about the bags...where can i get them from? x

il need them to be compatible with the tommee tippee breast pump

Boots have them, but you can get them online. I use Lansinoh ones. You just collect the milk in the bottle that comes with the pump then tip it into the bag, seal it and freeze it.