Description
The convenient way to store, carry and warm expressed breast milk, Medela breast milk storage bags are easy to use and hygienic.
At a glance
- No leaks with double zip protection and double walls
- No tearing, splitting or cracking with heat-sealed seams
- Bags stand upright for easy handling and lie flat for storage
- Transport pouch included to keep breast milk bags organised and clean
- BPA free Ā
The benefits of feedingĀ expressed breast milk
When youāre breastfeeding and pumping milk for your baby, thereāll be times when you need to store it to use later; for example, if youāreĀ breastfeeding and working fulltime, going out for an evening, or simply want a stock of expressed breast milk for another caregiver to feed to your baby while you take a break. In addition, if you have anĀ oversupply of breast milkĀ itās a good idea to store it safely rather than wasting it ā expressed breast milk retains most of itsĀ health-giving benefits, so itās better for your baby than formula.
How to store breast milk: A convenient, hygienic solution
If youāre expressing your milk straight into bottles, transferring it into Medela breast milk storage bags for storage and transport makes sense. These stand up upright for easy handling, yet can lie flat once sealed, for storage in the fridge, plus they can be frozen, too. Milk storage bags also make life easier later on, when you want to defrost and warm your frozen breast milk to feed to your baby. If you want to express your milk directly into milk storage bags, take a look at ourĀ Pump & Save bags.
Peace of mind on the move
Medela breast milk storage bags come with a handy transport pouch that keeps them together and organised without taking up lots of space. The pouch is also printed with clear, illustrated instructions, so you can feel confident when using the bags on the go. Thereās no need to worry about leaks, either, as each breast milk bag has double zip protection and double walls, and the seams are heat sealed to prevent tearing, splitting or cracking. While expressed breast milk remains safe at room temperature for up to fourĀ hours,Ā if you have to transport it for longer periods of up to eight hours youāll need to keep the milk storage bags in a cooler bag with iceĀ packs. For more details, read our article onĀ travelling and pumping.
Hygiene when using breast milk storage bags
Good hygiene is vital to ensure stored expressed breast milk is safe for your baby to drink. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and drinking-quality water, then dry them with a fresh towel or a single-use paper towel,Ā before touching the milk storage bag. Try not to touch the inside of the bag. On the subject of hygiene, Medela breast milk storage bags are only meant to be used once. Donāt ever reuse the same bag, as this could cause cross-contamination. The good news is that, as they come in packs of 25 or 50, youāll have plenty to keep you going.
FreezingĀ expressed breast milk
Breast milk storage bags are ideal for freezing your expressed breast milk, as theyāre freezer-proof, ready to use and easy to label ā simply fill in the panel on the front of the bag to keep track of the dates. Remember that, like all liquids, breast milk expands as it freezes, so donāt fill the milk storage bags past the 180 ml mark, which is clearly labelled. Thanks to their flat shape, the bags are easy to slip into the freezer ā and quick to defrost, too.
Thawing frozen breast milk
To avoid losing all the vitamins, minerals and other importantĀ ingredients in your breast milk, always thaw your frozen breast milk storage bag inside the fridge. This will take around eight hours, so make sure you factor the time into your preparations. Donāt try to speed things up by heating a bag in the microwave or putting it in a pan of boiling water, as these methods can cause āhot spotsā in the milk that are a scalding risk.
How to warm breast milk
Your baby may prefer your expressed milk if itās at body temperature, because it seems more like milk thatās come directly from the breast. Itās easy to warm your milk in a Medela breast milk storage bag: either place it into a bowl of warm water or a bottle warmer, or run it under a warm (maximum of Ā37 Ā°C or 98.6 Ā°F, which is body temperature) tap.
What's Included
Medela breast milk storage bags come in packs of 25 with transport pouch. Configuration may vary from country to country.