Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Can I do this?

I read that it is best to freeze breast milk in one ounce portions. It makes sense. However, I am wondering... can I sterilize an ice cube tray and put EBM in there to freeze smaller portions. When it is frozen... pop it into a sterile milk bag? That way, I can store a few cubes in each bag and only take out what I need. Has anyone heard of this and is it okay to do?
Thanks,
Punky

Punky this is not recommended. It leaves your breastmilk exposed to contamination. I would get those store brand platex type nurser bags and freeze small portions in that. You can stand them up in a plastic cup so they freeze in a round shape. Use a twist tie to secure the top then once they are frozen you can bag them altogether.

Thanks Lalle. I explained this to my husband, (his idea in the first place <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ). He still can't understand why it won't work, but that's okay. I guess I'm the one doing the storing anyway.

Punky

This will allow you to do it:
http://www.birthandbeyond.com/sllibmisttr.html

it's an ice cube tray designed for this purpose. I always say...if you can imagine it, someone has invented it...

My experience is that the milk "burns" easily in the freezer and the smaller portions have more air contact and thus get freezer burn more quickly.

Hi Ladies,

Here's the problem with the ice cube trays:

1) They are prone to freezer born bacteria which if present will require that you throw out ALL of your hard earned milk and anything else in the freezer, and sterilization of the freezer. The milk bank in Austin lost their entire supply one time because of this.

2) Space. Ice cube trays take up a lot of space. It's better to use the new breastmilk storage bags from Lansinoh or Gerber because they have ziplock tops and pack flat. Note, we do not recommend Ziplock brand bags for this purpose because the corners are too fragile and they are not designed for this. But once the milk in your smaller breastmilk bags is frozen you can then put a few of them in the large ziplocks for additional storage protection.

3) You don't have to freeze in 1 ounce portions because thawed breastmilk is good in the fridge for 24 hours. You can gather your 24 hour supply and divide into 6 oz portions and then chill in the fridge and then freeze.

Best,