Do you have extra breastmilk? Like more than you know what to do with or think you can use? Do you have milk that is “expired” and sadly think that it’s wasted?
Let’s talk about what you can do with your extra breastmilk – yes, even if it’s “expired”!
I had so much extra breastmilk after our son passed away that it was a little overwhelming. Our son was diagnosed with HLHS and was in the CVICU upon birth. He was there for 103 days.
During that time, I had to exclusively pump for him. Sometimes heart babies can nurse, but it’s typically not until after they’ve made it through their first surgery, and even then they still might not be able to, or the mom has to do a combo of nursing and pumping.
It’s really hard for heart babies to exclusively nurse because their broken hearts are working so incredibly hard that their bodies can’t put much effort into anything else. Their lungs compensate for getting oxygen to their bodies, so they tire out quickly. Our son tried a few times, but ultimately it ended up being too difficult for him, so I was a pumping mom.
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These babies are on so many medications and preparing for the next phase of their heart journey, that a lot of times the amount of milk they can receive in one feeding session – whether that be bottle or tube – is relatively small.
For most of our son’s time in the hospital, I was technically an overproducer (I know that sounds great – but I promise it’s not). I could easily pump 8-12 ounces in one session, yet one feeding session for him might have been 2 ounces.
Now think about how preemie NICU babies receive even less!
Needless to say, I had a huge supply of milk that my son barely put a dent in.
After the loss, I had thousands of ounces of milk that needed to be taken care of, and after researching, I realized just how much you can do with leftover breastmilk! I have not done all of these, but I still have milk in my freezer waiting to be used for something.
DONATE
The power of breastmilk is undeniable. Science has proven its worth over and over and over again – liquid gold.
I have donated both formally and informally (I plan to share more on this in the future!). This is a great option, especially if you don’t care to use it in another way and just want to clear up freezer space.
There are obviously more hoops to jump through when you formally donate, but think about where this milk is going! A ton of this milk is given to NICU babies. When I donated milk to our local milk bank, they told me the amount of milk I gave would be thousands of feeds worth, because the little NICU babies could only do small amounts each feed. It could also go to babies like mine in the CVICU – not all babies are in the NICU.
If donating sounds like an option you want to explore, look on Facebook for a local breastmilk donation group in your area if you want to go the informal route. These are usually moms with healthy children who want breastmilk for their babies but either can’t produce at all or don’t produce enough for their little ones.
I think the informal route is a little frowned upon because you are trading a “bodily fluid”, and you can risk getting milk that is tampered with. I was only on the donor side, so I did not have to worry about this and could be confident giving my milk to someone because I knew it was good. If you go the informal route, do your research and do what you are comfortable with.
If you want to go the more formal route and have your milk go to places like children’s hospitals, NICUs, etc., then find your local milk bank and apply to be a donor. It’s really not that difficult, but does require paperwork.
Come back in the future to read my upcoming post specifically about donating milk!
BREASTMILK JEWELRY
This is becoming an increasingly popular trend – to have your breastmilk turned into jewelry, and it only takes a teeny tiny bit!
I knew this was something I wanted to do as soon as I heard about it. Exclusively pumping is not for the faint of heart. I busted my butt to provide my son with nutrition, and I wanted to always remember that.
There are many breastmilk jewelry companies out there now. I chose to go through Mamma’s Liquid Love. Just take a look at her home page and you’ll understand why. I went back and looked and immediately wanted another piece!
I chose a ring and absolutely love it (pictured below). There are many options that a lot of these companies provide as to how to personalize your piece. Mamma’s Liquid Love also does different inclusions, not just milk, so I was also able to send in a small amount of my son’s ash and have it put in a necklace.
You definitely won’t regret this decision!
FREEZE-DRY YOUR MILK
When our son passed away and I realized just how much milk I had, I donated the vast majority but then held back about 400 ounces.
We knew we wanted to try for another baby, but I wasn’t sure how soon that would be. We had read about freeze-drying your breastmilk and the amazing shelf life once the process was done, so we held milk back just in case we wanted to go through with this option and already have a “freezer stash” ready for the next baby.
At the time we had only found a couple companies that could do it for you professionally. It was pricey, but I also thought it would be worth it. There are now more and more companies performing this service for people.
The company we found freeze-dried the amount of milk in each storage bag you sent and put that exact amount back in its own vacuum-sealed bag which then had a shelf life of three years! I know other companies put a certain amount of “ounces” into one larger tub that would then have a one-month shelf life once that tub is open. You can see why we considered using it for the next baby – the shelf life would have gotten us through.
You then simply use the freeze-dried breastmilk like formula – awesome, right?
Ultimately we did not end up doing this with that milk because the companies had a wait list at that time. By the time we could have sent it in it would have expired according to their standards.
Then I had 400 extra ounces that were “going bad”. Now what?!
YOU CAN USE YOUR EXPIRED BREASTMILK
Do a happy dance, because you can use your expired breastmilk. All that hard work does not have to go to waste. A lot of people think that after a year, properly stored breastmilk should be thrown out.
But let’s look at exactly what the CDC guidelines recommend, shall we? The CDC states that
“freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored: in the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable. Although freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, recommended storage times are important to follow for best quality”
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm
Did you see anything in there about throwing it out or not letting your baby consume it after those 12 months? No? I didn’t either!
If you have properly stored your breastmilk (I put mine in a milk storage bag then put multiple milk storage bags in a gallon freezer bag), then don’t be afraid to use it.
I understand the hesitancy with giving your baby “expired” breastmilk, and I would never solely give my infant “expired” breastmilk as their main source of nutrition either. The quality of the milk starts to deteriorate after those 12 months. Meaning it’s not going to be as nutritious, but it certainly isn’t going to make your child sick.
Here are some things you can do with that “expired” extra breastmilk!
MIX IT IN WITH YOUR BABY PUREES
This is what I am currently doing with my “expired” extra breastmilk. Since I wasn’t able to get it freeze-dried how I wanted, I now have other options for it, and this is the first way I chose to use it.
As discussed above, the milk isn’t “bad”. Putting it in your baby’s purees is a great option. Use it to thin out a thicker puree, add a little more “known flavor” to brand new foods your baby is trying, or add in extra nutrients to your baby’s meal (the nutrition of the milk doesn’t just magically disappear after 12 months!).
If you don’t want your baby ingesting your expired milk (or they’re weaned off milk and don’t need it), keep reading for other ways to use it!
BREASTMILK BATHS
If anything is going on with your baby’s skin try a breastmilk bath!
Breastmilk contains so many amazing qualities – antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and the fattiness of breastmilk can provide a great moisture barrier.
Diaper rash? Breast milk bath. Baby acne? Breast milk bath. Cradle cap? Breastmilk bath. Dry, irritated skin? Breastmilk bath. Seriously, there’s no harm in trying a breastmilk bath for something.
Use enough milk to make the water cloudy then bathe as normal. You might be pleasantly surprised by the results!
BREASTMILK SOAP
If you don’t want to fill your bath water up with breastmilk, another great option is breastmilk soap.
A quick Pinterest search will pull up plenty of easy breastmilk soap recipes. This is a great alternative and can be used every bath, whereas breastmilk baths are more of a once every couple of weeks practice.
BREASTMILK LOTION
This is a fantastic item to make if your baby has eczema. It’s also great as an everyday lotion to lock in moisture on your baby’s delicate skin. Every bath can be followed up with your breastmilk lotion or use the lotion during your baby’s nighttime routine. Again, Pinterest is a great place to find a recipe that suits your baby.
BREASTMILK DIAPER CREAM
Since a breastmilk bath can be used to help clear up a diaper rash, why not put it into a diaper cream as well? The antimicrobial properties of breastmilk are great at battling diaper rash, but can also be used as your everyday, preventative balm as well. If your baby is prone to diaper rash, this could be a great option.
SOOTHE SORE NIPPLES
Don’t wipe away the drops of milk on your nipples after breastfeeding or pumping – rub that extra milk in (especially in the early days)! Just like breastmilk is good for your baby’s skin, it’s good for yours too! If you have sore, cracked nipples from breastfeeding or pumping – those early days are the worst – just take your finger and rub those couple of leftover drops right into your skin. Remember, breastmilk is moisturizing!
What are other ways that you have heard of or used your expired breastmilk? I’d love to hear them!