How to Freeze Breast Milk

Video Transcript

"Hi, my name is Andrea Orta Mashburn, and today, I'm going to discuss how to freeze breast milk. The first step you're going to take when freezing your breast milk is that you're going to express your breast milk using a pump. Once you've expressed your milk using a pump the second step you're going to want to take is you're going to want to pour your milk into either a bottle or a freezing bag for breast milk. If you are wanting to store your breast milk into one of the breast feeding bags and they're in the freezer you can typically find these liners at any baby needs store or any type of grocery store. Many of the liners are going to have the ability for you to write your date on them, so make sure that there is a place on the liner for you to indicate the date that you've begun freezing. Next, once you've poured the milk into one of the bags, or liners, or even a bottle you need to make sure that you leave at least an inch at the top of the bag or the bottle. The reason for leaving an inch and not completely filling the bag is that when breast milk freezes it actually expands, so giving yourself about an inch of room will allow for the expansion of the milk and not either pop the bag and make the bag bust, or even leak out of the bottle as well. Make sure that before you place the bag or the bottle into the freezer that you've properly labeled the bag or the bottle. Indicate the day that you pumped it into the bag and that you're beginning freezing it. The reason for indicating the date is that breast milk needs to be used once it's frozen anywhere between four to six months. After six months I would not advise you to use the breast milk that has been stored in your freezer. Also, make sure that you place the breast milk in the freezer as soon as possible, or at least within the first twenty-four hours of pumping the milk. So remember, be patient, be safe, and always put your baby's needs first."