So, you've mastered the art of storing your freshly pumped breast milk using the pitcher method. Now, your freezer is bursting with bags of liquid gold. Amazing. But breast milk is only best left in your freezer for up to a year, so how do you keep your stash at it's best?
You guessed it - rotate.
Whether you have a freezer stash of 10 ounces or 100 ounces, keeping your freezer stash fresh is a good idea so that none of your hard-earned milk goes to waste.
Milk Science
Maybe you're wondering why this is all so important. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine tells us that fresh milk is good for:
- Up to four hours at room temperature
- Four days in the fridge
- Anywhere from six months to a year in the freezer, depending on the temperature.
The reason we care so much about making sure our milk is stored properly is because extended freezer storage affects the integrity of human milk. Over time, some of the milk's bioactive components can degrade, so it's beneficial for your baby if you can use the oldest milk first. See my "do's and don'ts" of frozen breast milk here:
Why Have a Freezer Stash?
Having a freezer stash can be a game-changer in your breastfeeding journey, especially if you're an exclusively pumping mom. It's not just about having extra milk on hand—it's about peace of mind.
Whether you're planning for a return to work after maternity leave, dealing with fluctuating milk supply for a variety of reasons, or simply needing a break to go on a little weekend girls' trip, that stash can be a lifesaver. You never know when your baby might need a little extra breast milk, or when life is going to throw a crazy curveball your way.
Plus, having a large stash of milk stored means you can use it in different ways, like giving your little one soothing milk baths for eczema flare-ups or even donating to other moms in need. A freezer stash is a good thing to ensure you're prepared for anything and everything, thus making your breastfeeding journey a bit less stressful.
How to Keep Your Freezer Stash Fresh
Step 1: Proper Milk Storage
Before we can even chat about rotating the milk in your freezer, we need to be sure that milk is being stored properly.
When it comes to freezing your milk, make sure that you:
- Label your milk storage bags with the date and number of ounces. If you are pouring from a pitcher, I find it easiest to pour the milk from the pitcher into a bottle to ensure a specific amount of oz of milk, then pour the milk into a disposable breast milk storage bag.
- Remove all of the air from your milk storage bag. You can find a detailed guide on how to do this in this blog post.
- Lay your bag flat to freeze for easier storage.
*Pro Tip* Breast Milk Bricks: If you're finding yourself with a large amount of milk in the freezer, this tip is for you: Once you have enough bags of milk frozen milk, you may want to transfer them to a gallon ziplock "brick" and then label the bag with the date range for easier location. This will make rotation easier later on.
Step 2: Get in the Habit of Rotating
When it comes to keeping your freezer stash fresh, consistency is key. Make it a habit to regularly rotate your milk by date, placing the oldest milk at the top or front. You don't need to do it every day, but try to stay on top of it so that you don't get overwhelmed.
Remember, as a breastfeeding mom, it's okay to be all about ease. This process doesn't have to be perfect. We just want to make sure that none of our milk goes unused.
If you're already feeling overwhelmed, the Tired Moms Club podcast episode on Rotating Your Frozen Milk Stash is a must-listen. It has lots of practical tips that will help you feel like a pro in no time.
Step 3: Feed the Oldest Milk First
The golden rule for your liquid gold: feed the oldest milk first. This may sound obvious, but when you are in the throes of a 2am pumping/feeding session or dealing with a teething baby, it can be easy to just grab whatever is most readily available. So, it's important to get organized ahead of time.
Aim to begin rotating your freezer stash about three months after your milk first hits the freezer. When you're ready, pick one day of the week - I call it "Freezer Friday" - to freeze all of the milk that's still in your fridge, then grab the oldest milk from your freezer and plan to feed that to your baby ASAP!
If you're prepping bottles for daycare or just want bottles on hand for the day, maybe Freezer Friday means that you thaw a day's worth of your oldest milk in your fridge to use the following day.
*Please Note* Your thawed milk is good for 24 hours in the fridge, but that 24 hour clock doesn't start ticking until the very last ice crystals have thawed, so you may have more time than you think!
One option: Thaw your frozen bags of milk just enough to break and squeeze into a pitcher or bottles, then let the fridge do the rest of the work! If you're ready to feed and the milk isn't fully thawed, just warm as needed. Remember, NO microwaves! Try using a bowl of warm water instead.
If you're a nursing mom who just freezes milk here and there when needed, the rotation process is still the best way to assure that none of your extra milk goes to waste. On Freezer Friday, simply freeze any milk you may have in the fridge, then move the oldest milk from your freezer to the place where you can easily grab it when it's needed. Maybe that's in your kitchen freezer right by the ice cream!
Whether you have an oversupply (many exclusively pumping mamas have at least a little bit of one) or just a few extra ounces, this routine is great for keeping your freezer stash fresh!
If you're looking for the best bottles to feed your baby with while also nursing, check out these. They're my current favorites.
What if There's a Power Outage?
At some point in your breastfeeding/pumping journey, you may wonder what in the world would happen to your precious ounces of milk if the power went out.
If you live in an area prone to power outages, a deep freezer or chest freezer can be your best friend. This type of freezer can keep milk frozen much longer during periods of time without electricity. They're also convenient if you're planning on storing larger amounts of milk. Say goodbye to a kitchen freezer filled with kids' popsicles, frozen crockpot meals, and breast milk bags haphazardly placed!
Final Thoughts
Trust me, I get it. Your life is already jam-packed and rotating the old milk to the front of your freezer supply may not feel like an important task. However, you'll be thanking yourself a year in the future when none of your milk is expired!
Whether you're a new mom or an experienced exclusive pumper, whether this is your first baby or your last baby, keeping your freezer stash fresh is a way to ensure that none of your hard work goes to waste. With a little planning, you'll have plenty of milk ready to meet your baby's needs.
Final tip: Want to work on building a freezer stash? Try working in an extra pump session here and there to get started! You will typically produce the most milk early in the morning, so try adding in a session then! Or, during one nursing session per day, try using a passive pump on one side while baby nurses on the other.
