Hello pumping mamas (and freezing mamas and papas),

This is the second show I am doing in a little series on pumping and storage guidelines. I have a very complete list of these guidelines here so check that out too!

Got any tips for pumping and storage? Share them below!

Breastmilk Storage Guidelines

Whereas many areas in the world of parenting call for your own creative interpretation, the storage of breastmilk in the fridge or in a freezer (whether bottle or bag) is not up for grabs and you have to follow the rules to a T. Get comfortable with them and make a plan. When you pump, figure out whether you plan to give the baby pumped milk from the fridge (in which case you can leave it in the fridge for a certain number of days after the day you pump), or to freeze it.

With freezers, you need to be careful and precise, also. Leaving frozen milk in the door of a freezer or towards the front is not the same as keeping it at the back of a deep freezer which is seldom opened (which raises the temperature and increases the risk of the milk spoiling). The official guidelines say to use frozen breastmilk within six months ideally, but that it can last up to 12 months. I definitely went beyond the 6 months with several babies because I did pump nearly daily. I considered the pumped milk liquid gold so I wasn’t about to casually throw it out!

Develop your own breastmilk storage system, that is to say, hatch a plan that you can stick to so that the whole process is easier. You should routinely clean and sterilize pump parts and bottles, and keep these handy for use so that you can begin to pump when you wish.

For more tips, check out my video and thank you so much for watching.