Transporting & Storing Breastmilk
Transport breastmilk in an insulated container with a frozen freezer brick and put it in the refrigerator or freezer (if still frozen) immediately upon arrival.
Breastmilk often separates when stored and may need to be swirled before use. Breastmilk can be stored in glass or plastic containers.
Fresh breastmilk that is being refrigerated or frozen should be stored in a new container rather than being added to previously refrigerated or frozen milk.
Only fill the container 3/4 full with breast milk as it will expand on freezing and the container may burst or leak in the freezer.
Label the container with date and time and use the oldest milk first.
Thawing Breastmilk
Breastmilk should be thawed in the fridge for about 12 hours, or under warm running water.
Warming Breastmilk
Expressed breast milk only needs to be warmed to room temperature to feed your baby.
Never use a microwave to warm baby’s milk, as this may cause burns in the baby’s mouth and throat and may change the nutritional content of the milk.
Cleaning Equipment
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning equipment. All breastfeeding equipment including breast pump kit parts:
- need to be rinsed in cold water,
- washed thoroughly in warm soapy water (dishwashing liquid is appropriate),
- rinsed thoroughly with warm running water, invert and air dry or dry with clean cloth,
- placed in a clean air-tight container.
At home expressing equipment does not need to be sterilised.
