Using a Haakaa breast pump can help nursing mothers build up a stash of breast milk that can be stored and used later. Many moms who use a Haakaa wonder if it’s safe to store the Haakaa pump parts in the refrigerator between pumping sessions to keep the milk cold until they are ready to transfer it to a storage bag or bottle. There are a few factors to consider when deciding whether to store a Haakaa pump in the fridge.
Safety of storing Haakaa parts in fridge
In general, it is safe to store a Haakaa breast pump in the refrigerator between uses as long as proper cleaning and sanitizing procedures are followed. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide guidelines on properly cleaning, sanitizing, and storing breast pump parts to avoid contamination:
- Take apart all pump parts that come in contact with breast milk and wash in hot, soapy water after each use.
- Rinse all parts thoroughly with hot water to remove residual soap.
- Sanitize at least once daily by steaming, boiling, or using a dishwasher.
- Allow parts to air dry completely before reassembling.
- Store clean, sanitized parts in a clean container or bag in the refrigerator between uses.
Following these steps helps kill any germs or bacteria that could contaminate pumped breast milk. As long as the Haakaa parts are properly cleaned and sanitized between each use, refrigerating them is considered safe for storing breast milk.
Benefits of refrigerating Haakaa pump parts
There are several potential benefits to storing a Haakaa pump in the refrigerator between uses:
- Keeps milk cold – Refrigerating pump parts that have recently been used to express milk helps keep the milk chilled until it can be stored properly. The CDC recommends storing breast milk at 39°F or colder.
- Prevents spoilage – Cold refrigerator temperatures prevent fresh breast milk from spoiling as quickly. Breast milk stored at room temperature can start to spoil within a few hours.
- Allows milk to accumulate – Keeping the Haakaa chilled in the fridge enables you to leave any freshly pumped milk in it until you’ve finished pumping. This allows you to combine multiple pumping sessions into one storage container.
- Adds convenience – Storing the pump parts ready-to-use in the fridge can save time and effort compared to washing parts before each use.
Refrigerating Haakaa parts between pumping sessions helps maintain milk freshness and accumulation. Just be sure to fully sanitize all parts at least once every 24 hours.
Potential downsides of refrigerating Haakaa
While there are clear benefits, some potential downsides of storing a Haakaa pump in the refrigerator include:
- Takes up space – Refrigerator space is precious real estate, so storing Haakaa parts may mean less room for other items.
- Risk of contamination – If not properly sanitized, storing used pump parts in the fridge can allow bacteria to grow on milk residue and contaminate the fridge.
- Parts may stick together – Moist pump parts that touch and freeze slightly could stick together, requiring soaking in warm water to disassemble.
- Milk stored too long – Keeping freshly pumped milk refrigerated in the Haakaa for too many sessions in a row risks storing it beyond guidelines.
While convenient, taking up valuable refrigerator space to store Haakaa parts may not work for all moms. And improper cleaning procedures could introduce contamination risks.
Best practices for refrigerating Haakaa pump parts
If you decide to store your Haakaa pump parts in the refrigerator between uses, following best practices can help maximize benefits while minimizing risks:
- Wash parts in hot, soapy water and rinse thoroughly after each use.
- Fully sanitize all parts that contact milk at least once every 24 hours.
- Always sanitize pump parts before first use.
- Let parts air dry completely before storing or reassembling.
- Use a clean, covered container or bag designated just for pump parts.
- Store Haakaa upside down so any residual milk can drain out.
- Don’t store milk in the Haakaa more than 48 hours before transferring to a storage bag or bottle.
- Label all stored breast milk with the date it was pumped.
- Use oldest refrigerated milk first to avoid waste.
Following sanitizing, drying, and milk storage guidelines helps make refrigerating Haakaa parts between uses safe and effective.
What about storing Haakaa in freezer?
While refrigerating Haakaa parts between pumping sessions is generally considered safe, storing the Haakaa pump itself in the freezer is not recommended by the manufacturer.
Exposing the Haakaa pump to freezer temperatures could potentially damage the plastic and affect suction ability. The drastic temperature change from freezer to heated breast milk could also cause cracks or leaks.
If you want to store breast milk long-term, it’s best to transfer any milk expressed with the Haakaa into a freezer-safe storage bag or bottle designed for frozen milk storage. Only milk storage bags and bottles specifically made for freezing are designed to withstand expansion and prevent cracks or spills.
Storing freshly pumped milk
When storing milk freshly expressed with the Haakaa pump:
- Transfer milk into a storage container within 48 hours.
- Label milk storage containers with date pumped and amount.
- Chill milk in fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freeze milk for long-term storage up to 6 months.
- Limit freezer storage time to protect nutrients.
- Use oldest frozen milk first when feeding to avoid waste.
Following safe refrigeration and freezer guidelines preserves breast milk nutrients and freshness as long as possible.
Cleaning the fridge between Haakaa storage
To prevent any buildup of dried milk residue or bacteria growth in the refrigerator from storing used Haakaa parts, regularly disinfect and clean the area of the fridge used for pump part storage.
Guidelines for cleaning the refrigerator after storing pump parts:
- Disinfect storage area at least 1-2 times per week.
- Use hot, soapy water or diluted bleach solution to sanitize area.
- Rinse with clean water and dry completely with a paper towel.
- Avoid storing Haakaa parts in fridge doors where temperature fluctuates.
- Designate one shelf or bin just for pump part storage.
Keeping the refrigerator clean prevents bacteria or pathogens that could contaminate pump parts and milk from accumulating.
Other milk storage options
While refrigerating used Haakaa parts between pumping sessions offers convenience, there are some other options for storing freshly pumped breast milk if you prefer not to utilize fridge space:
- Countertop cooler – A cooler or lunchbox with ice packs can keep milk cool for several hours.
- Insulated cooler bag – Portable bags with insulation help transport milk short distances without refrigeration.
- Thermal milk storage – Special thermal milk storage bags keep milk cool up to 10 hours.
- Freezer-safe storage – Move milk into freezer bags or bottles for 24-hour freezer storage.
Using one of these temporary storage options allows you to refrigerate or freeze milk as soon as possible after pumping without taking up fridge space storing the Haakaa itself.
Conclusion
Storing a Haakaa breast pump in the refrigerator between uses is generally considered safe, as long as parts are properly cleaned, sanitized, and dried after each use. Benefits of refrigerating Haakaa parts include keeping freshly pumped milk cold and allowing milk to accumulate from multiple pumping sessions. However, it does take up refrigerator space and could pose contamination risks if not cleaned adequately. Following best practices like daily sanitizing, using designated storage containers, and adhering to time limits helps minimize any downsides. Many moms find storing the Haakaa pump in the fridge to be a convenient way to keep milk fresh until it can be transferred to bags or bottles for the freezer. But alternative temporary storage options like countertop coolers or insulated bags allow you to refrigerate milk without keeping the pump itself in the fridge. As long as milk storage guidelines are followed, refrigerating Haakaa parts can be a safe way to conveniently store freshly pumped breast milk.
