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6 *Amazing* Uses For Your Extra Breast Milk

by Olivia Youngs

The benefits of breast milk are just beginning to be discovered. Experts know that the stuff is incredible for your baby's growing body, protecting them from illness, and helping them developmentally. It also has numerous benefits for nursing moms, from quicker-shrinking uteruses, to increasing their bonds with baby, to heightened metabolisms. But what are the uses beyond that? If you have an oversupply of milk, you might be wondering what do I do with all my extra breast milk?

It turns out that there are a plethora of uses for the aptly named liquid gold. You can use your milk around the house, save it for later, help others with it, and even turn your excess breast milk into a side hustle. It has me asking if there's anything breast milk can't do?

As long as your baby is getting enough for themselves, it can be fun to experiment with alternative uses for breast milk beyond ingesting it. (Or if you're thinking of donating your milk, that's a wonderful option as well.) And shockingly (or not shockingly depending on your expectations,) there are a lot of alternative uses for your breast milk that you might not have been aware of. So next time you contemplate pumping and dumping, take a look at this list of ways to use your excess milk, and think again.

1

Freeze It

The obvious alternative to pumping and dumping is to store your milk in the freezer to be used by your baby later on. According to Baby Center, breast milk can last from six to 12 months in the freezer.

2

Donate It

If you have a true oversupply, or just want to do some good with your surplus milk, donating it to a milk bank is an great option. According to the Human Milk Bank Association of North America, donated breast milk from screened donors is pasteurized and given to sick or at-risk infants or babies whose mothers can't produce milk for them.

3

Sell It

You can also turn your excess milk supply into a fairly lucrative side hustle. Most sold breast milk goes for anywhere from $1-$4 per ounce, according to The Blaze.

4

Make Lotion Or Soap With It

It's common knowledge that your breast milk has countless benefits nutritionally, but did you know it is also amazing for your baby's skin? (And for anyone's skin, really.) This recipe for breast milk lotion from Breastfeeding Mama Talk is made with simple, natural ingredients you can buy at any health food store and will make your skin feel smoother than a baby's bottom (or almost that smooth).

5

Make Breast Milk Popsicles

Busy Mommy Media suggested making breast milk popsicles (aka, "mom-sicles") to soothe your teething baby's gums. They're naturally sweet, and not full of other ingredients you wouldn't want your little one to eat.

6

Use It Medicinally

Breast milk is an incredible substance, not just for your baby's growth and mental development, but to replace lots of products in your medicine cabinet. According to Mama Natural, breast milk can soothe your baby's diaper rashes (as long as they're not caused by the milk itself). It can also be used to treat ear infections, pink eye, for sore throats, itchy skin and more, according to Medical Daily.