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Freezing Breast Milk

Giovanna - posted on 07/15/2009 ( 6 moms have responded )

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How long do you generally freeze breast milk? I know that breast milk changes according to your child's age (and in order to meet his/her changing needs) but am not sure how much time can pass between freezing the breastmilk and actually feeding it to my daughter. For example, is breast milk that is expressed when the baby is two months old still good for them when they are four months old? I'm just curious as to what you are all doing. Thanks in advance.

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Stina - posted on 07/15/2009

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To make sure I'm using oldest milk in my freezer first, I store it in the ice cube box. The bags I use are just the right size and I can put the new milk behind the older milk all standing upright once frozen laying flat. It really helps keep things organized.

3-4 months in a freezer with separate door from your fridge. 6 months in a deep freezer. Your Milk does change to meet babies changing needs but what you pump at 2 months will still be better than formula at 4 or 5 months. Sounds like you've done really well at creating a stash of milk!

Sara - posted on 07/15/2009

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Hmmm. I actually didn't know that it changed as my babes got older. Makes sense I guess. But as the previous posters have said, you can keep it in the freezer for up to 4 months (I've seen longer in some info, but I figure better safe than sorry). I pumped and gave my kids a bottle every night since I was working many nights. So we froze and used older milk, especially when my mom took them for a few days. My kids never gave any indication that it wasn't their "normal" milk. Kudos to you for breastfeeding!

Marie - posted on 07/15/2009

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My lactation consultant said it can freeze for 3-4 months.

Amanda - posted on 07/15/2009

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From what I have heard, breast milk is good at room temp for 5 hours, in the fridge for 5 days, and in the freezer for 5 months. I personally would give the milk to my baby way before that. Closer to the 3 month range unless in a deep freezer like Dana and Chona suggested. I gave my son milk from a month and a half ago and everything was fine. Hope this helps :)

Chona - posted on 07/15/2009

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It will keep in the freezer for up to four months, if your freezer has a separate door, and in a deep freezer for more than six months. Once thawed, it can be refrigerated for twenty-four hours, but not refrozen. My daughter is 8 months and when I run out of expressed milk from the fridge I grab a bag from the deep freezer that I pumped 6 months ago and defrost it in warm running water. Hope this helps.

Dana - posted on 07/15/2009

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From what I understand, it's good in a regular freezer for 3 months, Regardless of what age or stage.

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