How to Prepare Your Breast Milk for Freeze-Drying with Leche

Every ounce of milk you’ve pumped represents care, time, and love — and we treat it that way. Preparing your breast milk for freeze-drying is simple, but doing it right helps preserve every nutrient and antibody so your baby gets the best of what you’ve made. Here’s how to get started:

1. Express with Clean Hands and Confidence

Use a sterilized breast pump and wash your hands before each session. A clean environment ensures your milk stays pure and ready for the freeze-drying process.
🍼 Need a refresher on proper pumping hygiene? We follow the CDC guidelines outlined here. 

2. Store in Safe, Sterile Containers

Pour your freshly expressed milk into sterile, BPA-free breast milk storage bags or containers. Leave about an inch of space at the top — milk expands slightly when frozen.

💡 Leche Tip: Use smaller portion sizes (4–6 oz) to make shipping easier.

3. Label Clearly

On each bag, write your full name, date expressed, and volume. This helps our team track your batch through testing, freeze-drying, and final packaging — ensuring accuracy every step of the way.

4. Freeze Before Shipping

Freeze your milk flat for easy stacking. Keeping it frozen preserves freshness and structure before it arrives at our facility.

❄️ Your milk will stay frozen during transit and processing! 

5. Place Your Order & Ship with Care

When you’re ready, place your order by selecting the Leche packaging that works best for you. We’ll send you a Leche Shipping Kit — complete with our custom pharmaceutical grade cooler, gel packs (that can be frozen according to YOUR shipping timeline), detailed step-by-step instructions, and prepaid shipping labels.

🚚 For a detailed breakdown, visit our FAQs

6. Quality, Testing, and Processing

When your milk arrives, our trained technicians perform safety checks and quality testing before it ever enters our freeze-drying line. Every step is traceable, handled with care, and backed by lab-grade standards. Leche is the ONLY freeze drying service that tests each kit for safety, ensuring that your little one is protected. 

⚗️ Learn more about Leche’s science and processing technology.

7. Receive Your Freeze-Dried Milk

Once complete, you’ll receive your milk in secure, sealed Leche packaging, designed for long-term storage and easy rehydration. You’ll also get detailed instructions on how to prepare bottles for feeding — at home or on the go.

📦 Most families receive their milk within 2–3 weeks of shipping.

You Pumped It. We’ll Preserve It.

At Leche, we see every ounce as sacred. Our mission is to protect what you’ve made — the nourishment, immunity, and connection — and give you the freedom to feed your baby anywhere, anytime.

✨ Ready to begin? Start your order today!

Or explore our Donor Network, MilkDrop if you’re interested in sharing your milk with other families.