There is a reason breastmilk is called liquid gold. It has so many amazing benefits and uses that you would never want it to go to waste!
Human breast milk is possibly the most important functional food known. It is a dynamic food with nutritional and health benefits for neonates and infants.
Because of its natural healing properties, breast milk is used for many things, including treating minor illnesses.
What To Do With Expired Breast Milk
There are various reasons you can’t use breastmilk to feed your baby, whether expired or if you just have too much of it caused by an oversupply.
You might have heard the expression pump and dump – meaning mom must pump out the milk from her breast and discard the breastmilk. They do this to maintain their milk supply and prevent engorgement. But you don’t have to dump it out!
Here are twelve things to do with breastmilk besides feeding it to your baby:
Breast Milk for Soap
Breastmilk soap is becoming more popular as many parents are looking for natural alternatives. With so many incredible benefits for the skin, you’ll want your whole family to use breastmilk soap! It’s a great way to use up extra or expired frozen milk.
Breast Milk Jewelry
Many small businesses make breast milk jewelry. You’ll have to ship your breastmilk to a jeweler, and they will turn it into a piece of jewelry.
Breastmilk jewelry allows nursing mothers to celebrate their breastfeeding journey and represent the bonding with the baby and the hard work that breastfeeding requires.
Breastmilk for Diaper Rash
Applying breast milk to diaper rash is an effective and safe treatment. It provides major relief for the baby and heals diaper rash faster.
Breast Milk for Eczema
Breast milk is a great alternative moisturizer for kids and adults with eczema. Due to its healing properties, breast milk can help ease eczema by reducing itchiness and redness. Drip some breast milk on a cotton ball and apply it to the affected area.
Breast Milk for Baby Acne
In newborns, baby acne can be present right after birth or develop after a few weeks. These breakouts will clear on their own, but thanks to the natural presence of lauric acid, which has antibacterial properties that help the skin, breast milk can help ease them.
Soak a cotton ball in breast milk and gently pat it on your baby’s acne.
Breast Milk for Sore Nipples
If you have cracked and sore nipples from nursing, then breast milk can also benefit you! Rubbing a few drops of breast milk on your nipples can help ease the problem.
Breast Milk for Ear Infections
Many moms swear by breast milk as a cure for childhood ear infections. The natural antibiotics in mothers’ milk can serve as a great alternative treatment with a drop of breast milk into your baby’s ear every few hours. It can help ease the discomfort that ear infections cause.
Breast Milk for Teething
Breast milk baby popsicles are good as both a teething tool and a sweet treat! Freezing breast milk into popsicles can help ease the pain from teething. You can freeze the breast milk or try mixing in fruits or veggies.
Breast Milk for Lotion
Breast milk lotion is another great way to use frozen milk on your baby’s sensitive skin. There are many recipes where you can mix different oils with breast milk and beeswax to make a natural lotion.
Breast Milk for Pink Eye
Breastmilk contains immunological agents and antibacterial compounds that can help clean the bacteria from pink eye. Just a drop should be enough.
Breast Milk for Blocked Tear Ducts
It’s common among newborns to have blocked tear ducts in the first few months. A few drops of breast milk in the eye can help clear it up.
Breast Milk for Milk Baths
Milk baths are a luxury for babies! Breast milk can be added to the bath water and act as a skin soother. The moisturizing components can help moisturize and nourish the baby’s skin.