Updated October 22nd 2024
It’s the worst feeling. Finding out that your freezer wasn’t shut all the way, or you came home from a weekend trip to find out the freezer stopped working or a storm hit and you’re out of power for who knows how long!
Each of these sends your heart sinking as you think about all of that precious liquid gold you have stored in your freezer. But don’t worry! If you’ve found yourself in any of these situations, all hope is not lost. You might just be able to SAVE YOUR BREASTMILK.
It’s going to depend on how your milk was stored and if it’s thawed out completely or not.
Check for ice crystals
What does your milk look like? If your previously frozen milk is looking a little slushy still or has a few visible chunks of frozen milk (aka ice crystals) you can go ahead and re-freeze it! There’s no need to stress about this milk as it’s still quite cold enough (and almost a bit frozen still) that it can be safely refrozen.
If the milk did thaw out completely, unless you know how long it’s been thawed, it’s safest to use this milk for baths instead of feeding it to your baby. Just clearly label it and refreeze it for a later time to be used in a bath and not for consumption.
When you’re home and the power goes out
When the power goes out – keep the door to your freezer closed as long as possible! Do not open it unless absolutely necessary. This will help your freezer keep its temperature longer which will in turn, help keep your milk frozen.
Depending on how long you are or will be without power you could:
- Transport some in a cooler with ice packs (provided they are frozen) and store it at a neighbours or friend/family members house who has power
- Frozen milk can be stored in an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours when you are traveling
- Check your milk when the power comes back on for ice crystals (and see above)
General Breastmilk Storage Guidelines (for healthy infants at home)
Freshly expressed milk should be frozen within 4 days, roughly. It’s best to label the milk bag with the date it was expressed so you can use the oldest milk first. You’ll also want to label how much is in the bag. You can consider freezing the milk in small amounts such as 2 to 4 ounces to avoid wasting any.
Breastfed babies consume an average of 2-4 oz per feeding of milk from 1-6 months old – depending on how often they feed in 24 hours. After 6 months it actually doesn’t change much either this is just when solids are introduced to help meet their nutritional needs.
Ideally, store milk in the back of the freezer (or refrigerator before it’s frozen) and not in the door. This is because the temperature is most consistent at the back. When freezing, leave an inch of space at the top of the container; breast milk expands as it freezes. Lay the bags down flat to freeze them as a “brick”. This makes for easier storage later.
For a few ways you can thaw out breastmilk to feed to your baby, check out my video below:
Thawing: Always thaw the oldest milk first. Thaw milk under lukewarm running water, in a container of lukewarm water, or overnight in the refrigerator. Never thaw or heat milk in a microwave as this can create hot spots which can burn a baby’s mouth.
What about warming breastmilk to feed to your baby?
Milk can be served cold, room temperature, or warm! All babies have different preferences. To heat milk, place the sealed container into a bowl of warm water or hold under warm running water. Alternatively, you can use a bottle warmer if you have one but you can make do without one. Test the temperature before feeding it to your baby by putting a few drops on your wrist. It should feel warm, not hot.
These general guidelines will help you feel more confident about storing your baby’s milk but if you ever have questions or concerns, especially around feeding your baby, work with an IBCLC.
References:
CDC. (2023, November 27). Breast Milk Storage and Preparation. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breast-milk-preparation-and-storage/handling-breastmilk.html
Mohrbacher, N. (2015, October 26). Why Do Milk Storage Guidelines Differ? nancymohrbacher.com. https://nancymohrbacher.com/blogs/news/why-do-milk-storage-guidelines-differ