If you’ve ever opened your freezer and found a few old bags of breastmilk hiding in the back, you’re not alone. After all that pumping, it can feel so wrong to throw it out. Every ounce represents late nights, love, and a whole lot of effort.
The good news? Even if your breastmilk is past the “safe for baby” date, it can still be used in some really meaningful (and even fun!) ways. Here are a few mom-approved ideas that make sure your liquid gold doesn’t go to waste.
🛁 1. Give Your Baby a Milk Bath
This one’s a classic for a reason, a breastmilk bath is simple, gentle, and so soothing for your baby’s skin.
Just pour a few ounces of expired breastmilk into warm bath water until it looks a little cloudy. It can help with dryness, baby acne, or minor irritation, and it’s such a sweet way to use up milk that might otherwise go unused.
🧼 2. Turn It Into Soap
If you’re feeling crafty, breastmilk soap is such a lovely way to make use of expired milk. It’s full of natural fats and nutrients that leave skin soft and smooth. Perfect for both you and baby.
You can find simple DIY tutorials online or work with a small shop that specializes in making it for you. Every bar is a little reminder of your breastfeeding journey and smells amazing, too.
🌸 3. Make a Simple Skincare Treat for Yourself
Let’s be real, our skin goes through a lot during motherhood. Your breastmilk can actually make a gentle, nourishing addition to things like homemade face masks, lotions, or even a soothing bath soak.
It’s an easy way to give yourself some love back and it feels special knowing it came from your body’s own beautiful hard work.
💍 4. Turn It Into a Keepsake You Can Treasure Forever
If you’d rather turn your milk into something lasting, breastmilk jewelry is a beautiful way to keep your journey close to your heart.
At Maternal Glow Jewelry, I carefully preserve your milk (yes, even expired milk works!) and turn it into timeless keepsakes like rings, pendants, and charms. Each piece tells a story of love, resilience, and motherhood.
💡 Bonus Tip: Try It for Learning or Play
This one’s a little outside the box, but if you have older kiddos, you can use a bit of expired breastmilk for fun science or sensory play (not for eating, of course!).
Talk about how milk changes over time, or let them explore textures (like making breastmilk butter) and reactions. It’s a hands-on, educational moment that also gives your milk a second purpose.
✨ Every Drop Tells a Story
Whether it ends up in a bath, a bar of soap, or a keepsake you’ll wear forever, your breastmilk is more than just milk. It’s a reflection of love, connection, and care.
So before you toss those old bags, maybe ask yourself: what story could they still tell? 💕
If you’d like to preserve your milk in a custom piece, you can learn more about our breastmilk jewelry here: Maternal Glow Jewelry.