How To Store Your Breast Milk Safely and Successfully

Tips to Storing Your Breast Milk Safely, Sustainably and Successfully.

If you are looking for ways to store your breast milk Dimples has plenty of solutions to make sure you are making the most of that liquid gold.  Once baby has arrived you may decide pumping and storing your milk is a great solution, particularly if you are heading back to work or just if you are after a solution for when baby’s milk isn’t being fed straight from you.

Collecting the First Stage of your Milk

Colostrum is the first stage of milk you will develop during the late stages of your pregnancy as well as in the first few days after baby has arrived. Colostrum will appear in a thick clear or yellow consistency. Colostrum is filled with all the good nutrients your newborn will need in those early days to help begin building their immune system. Haakaa has created a silicone colostrum collector to not only make the collection simple but also better for the environment. The Haakaa colostrum collector is made from 100% medical-grade silicone. This product allows you to gently collect each drop of colostrum with a soft vacuum effect. The tip can also be removed allowing you to express larger drops into it. Once full the colostrum collector can be safely stored within your freezer or fridge to then be warmed and ready for baby. The best part about this product is it is completely reusable. Simply sterilise by boiling it and it will be all ready for the next use without harming our environment.

What is the best way to store my breast milk?

Once your breast milk has officially come in and you are wanting to store milk for another day, Dimples has everything you will need to make sure your supply is stored away safely and conveniently. Haakaa has created reusable milk storage bags designed out of silicone so you can reduce any waste in the environment that is caused by single-use plastics.

The environment you choose to store your breast milk in may need to change based on when you are planning to feed baby. Breast milk is best when transferred to a cooler place after four hours, however, breast milk should remain stable within room temperatures that are 25o or lower between 6 and 8 hours. If you choose to store your breast milk within the refrigerator it should remain safe for use up to 2 days at a temperature of 4oC or lower. If your breast milk isn’t required within this time frame it should be stored in the freezer after 48 hours. Breast milk can be stored in your basic fridge freezer for up to 3 months.

How to prepare breast milk that has been stored.

Preparing breast milk that has been previously frozen is simple. Placing the pouch in the refrigerator to thaw for several hours before use is an easy solution. When heating any form of milk for baby using a microwave should be avoided. Using a microwave can lead to heating milk unevenly and increase the risk of scalding your baby.

To safely heat milk and have it ready for baby, simply stand the pouch in a bed of warm water (not boiled) and allow it to sit until it has reached a lukewarm temperature. Dimples has you covered when it comes to testing the temperature of your baby’s milk. The Reer Digital FoodTemp Digital bottle Thermometer allows you to test the temperature of baby’s milk and always ensure they are safe.

Another option to heat your little one’s milk is using the Beaba Milk Prep. This item stocked by Dimples is an innovative way to heat baby’s milk whether it is breast milk, formula, or even hot chocolate. Simply choose the appropriate temperature and with the press of a button and your milky beverage is ready to go.

Sterilising your equipment

Being able to re-use the equipment required during your breastfeeding journey is a great positive not only does it significantly reduce costs, but it also has a positive effect on the environment with reduced consumption.  Ensuring you have everything clean and sterilised will be an important part of your routine. Haakaa’s Silicone bottle brush is sized to fit perfectly into Haakaa’s silicone milk storage bags, the soft and flexible bristles are made from 100% silicone allowing you to reach all area’s giving a thorough clean.  Dimples stocks all the solutions you will need to make your breastfeeding journey as simple and as gentle on the environment as possible.