How to store breast milk properly

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for newborns and young children. However, mums are not always able to breastfeed directly and sometimes need to express milk for their baby. So how should breast milk be stored after expressing? How can you preserve the nutrients in the milk? Let's explore this topic with Momby today!
Content advised and reviewed by Dr. Le Pham Anh Vy (Specialist Level I) - Head of the Nutrition Department - American International Hospital (AIH)

Before expressing breast milk
Milk containers:
Store milk in dedicated breast milk storage bags or clean food containers (preferably glass or plastic containers with a tight-fitting lid)
Use BPA-free products made of PP plastic (marked with the number 5)
Hygiene:
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, or with a solution containing at least 60% alcohol, following the 6 steps.

If you use a breast pump, check that the pump parts and tubing are clean, and replace any tubing that is dirty or mouldy.
If you share a breast pump at your workplace/office: wipe the pump dial, power switch and table surface with a disinfectant wipe.
Wash the pumping equipment with soap straight after pumping and sterilise it in a steriliser or by scalding in boiling water for 5 - 10 minutes.
Storing breast milk after expressing
Seal the storage bag/container lid tightly before putting it in the fridge.
After expressing, put the milk straight into a storage bag labelled with the time and date of expressing, and place it in the freezer.
The best storage conditions for freshly expressed breast milk are shown in the table.

Whether you store milk in the fridge or the freezer, make sure the fridge does not contain other food and avoid opening the door frequently; otherwise the milk can easily become contaminated.
Store milk in bottles/bags/containers holding the right amount for one feed. This makes thawing safer and avoids the risk of contamination.
How to thaw milk
Note that the thawing method is very important; if done incorrectly, the milk will lose all its nutrients.
Excessive heat will make the milk smell soapy and destroy the vitamins in breast milk.
So thaw milk naturally and don't use a microwave!
After taking the milk out of the freezer, leave it in the fridge for 24 hours so that it returns to liquid form 🡪 Then place it in a cup of hot water at about 40 degrees until the milk warms up and no fat remains around the container

During freezing, the nutrients in breast milk settle at the bottom of the bottle. So shake it well before feeding your baby!
Note
If the milk has an unusual colour or a strange smell after thawing, do not give it to your baby
If you work and express milk at the office, you can store it in an insulated cool bag with ice packs for up to 24 hours to take it home.
For babies who drink little, leftover breast milk from a feed can only be used within 2 hours after the feed. After 2 hours, please throw this milk away!

An important note is that your baby should be fed "their own mum's milk"; do not use milk from other mums that has not been processed by a Human Milk Bank, because of the high risk of infection. If possible, mums should breastfeed their children until 2 years of age.

References:

1. Ministry of Health, Guidelines on storing breast milk properly

2. Tu Du Hospital, How to store expressed breast milk?