I received my freeze dried breast milk a few days ago from a company called The Breastmilk Company. A little backstory on my breastfeeding journey —when Iliana was born, she had trouble latching. No matter how much I adjusted her position or mine, the latch was always shallow and painful, leaving me with bloody nipples. My breasts would become engorged on some days and I worried that inconsistent feeding might affect my milk supply. Eventually, I decided to buy a breast pump and that made a world of difference.

Of course, there are pros and cons to both direct breastfeeding and exclusively pumping (EBM). I won’t dive into that here, but just know, whatever decision you make is the right one momma! I remember feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt when I made the switch to pumping. I cried, a lot! I felt like a bad mother for not being able to fix the latch issue. But looking back, I realize that choosing to pump was the best decision for us. Although I was sad at first, I became much happier in the long run, and most importantly, Iliana was a happy baby too.

It’s been about a year since I started pumping, and I’ve intentionally built up a substantial stash of milk in the freezer. Let me explain why. Iliana is allergic to cow’s milk and eggs, and she also has other food sensitivities. Since she relies on breast milk, I’ve had to eliminate these foods from my own diet. But let’s be honest, sometimes I slip up. Whether it’s indulging in a slice of pizza or enjoying a little too much cheese during the holidays (hello, Christmas!), there are days when I treat myself.

When that happens, I don’t give her milk I pump during those indulgent days, out of fear that it might trigger a reaction. Instead, I use my “clean” milk from the freezer—milk I stored when my diet was allergen free. Having that back up supply gives me a peace of mind and ensures Iliana stays safe and healthy.

But I’m also running out of freezer space now! I’d heard of freeze drying food before but never thought it could be done with breast milk so naturally, I turned to Google. Turns out, you can freeze dry breast milk! Wunderbar! And the benefits? Honestly, they’re amazing! Here are a few that stood out to me:

✨ Space Saving: Goodbye, cluttered freezer!

✨ Extended Shelf Life: Freeze dried breast milk can last up to three years when properly stored, compared to only about a year in a home freezer.

✨ Nutrient Preservation: Recent research suggests freeze drying retains most of the nutritional and bioactive components of breast milk, while frozen milk slowly loses quality over time.

✨ Convenience: Freeze dried breast milk is lightweight and easy to transport—perfect for travel!

I’ve always wondered how I’d manage to travel while bringing along Iliana’s “clean” frozen milk. There’s also that lingering worry—what if I accidentally ingest an allergen while we’re on the go? (you can’t always control your meals when travelling) With freeze dried breast milk, I can still provide safe milk for Iliana without the logistical headache. It’s a game-changer!

I’m so grateful to the founders of The Breastmilk Company, Arthur and Ting, for making this service available in Malaysia. So far they are the only ones offering breast milk freeze drying here and their website provides a wealth of information with references. I also made a special request to drop off my frozen milk, an option not listed on their website and they kindly accommodated me. Arthur even personally delivered the finished product to my doorstep. I’m so happy I found them!

For any breastfeeding moms facing similar challenges, knowing there’s a solution like this is incredibly reassuring. It’s one less thing to worry about and having that peace of mind is priceless.