We love partnering with businesses like Milkify that make life better for moms and babies!
When I was a brand new mom in 2008, breastfeeding my baby boy, I carefully and diligently stocked up the breast milk in my freezer. Week after week, slowly but surely, I added to that collection of liquid gold. I liked knowing it was there in case of emergency, date nights, and for the days I sometimes worked outside the home. Then came Hurricane Ike. Our power was out for over a week and I watched as all of that hard work and beautifully organized breastmilk from my freezer literally went down the drain. If only I had known about an option for preserving my breast milk! Milkify, founded right here in Houston in 2019, has done just that- helping thousands of moms across the country freeze-dry their breast milk.
Freeze-Dry Your Breast Milk!
Milkify was founded in 2019 by Dr. Berkley Luck after she received her PhD from Baylor College of Medicine. It was even featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in 2023! It is the first and only FDA-registered and GMP-certified breast milk freeze-drying service. Trusted by over 6,000 moms, Milkify has processed over 1 million ounces of breast milk for moms all over the country. Their main processing facility is located right here in Houston. They also have a drop-off facility in Irvine, CA and a sister company in Australia!
Safety is Ensured
Milkify uses a patented, contact-free process for gently removing the water from your breast milk. This means the milk is never thawed. It never comes into contact with their equipment, and each individual bag of milk is labeled with mom’s name and a unique BAG ID throughout the entire process (even while in the freeze-dryer!). This is how they ensure the safety and traceability of each order they receive.
Freeze-drying your breast milk means no longer having to worry about power outages ruining your stash because the powder is shelf stable and does not require refrigeration. It can be stored at room temp for up to 3 years! The Milkify facility is a safe haven for milk even in Houston’s unpredictable weather. Their facility is equipped with back-up generators and 24/7 onsite staff during natural disasters; someone is always watching over your milk to ensure it stays safe, especially when the power goes out. Their freezers are remotely monitored to ensure they are maintained at the appropriate temperature and they are equipped with a mobile freezer trailer in case a future hurricane requires an evacuation of the frozen milk.
Understanding the Freeze-Drying Process
Freeze-drying has been used in the food and pharma industries for decades. It preserves the nutritional value and quality of your breast milk because it is a gentle process that uses very little heat. The process takes about 48 hours, and is very different from dehydration (which uses high heat). Milk banks have actually been freeze-drying breast milk since the 1950s! Because of this, there have been dozens of research studies showing its safety and efficacy as a method of preserving breast milk and its nutrients for the long term.
Benefits of Breast Milk Powder
With Milkify’s process, freeze-dried breast milk has a shelf life of 3 years from the date of freeze-drying. The powder is easy to use: you simply add water to make a bottle, or mix it into solid foods for a nutritional boost for your toddler. And its not just for hurricanes and power outages! Moms also use Milkify to extend the expiration date of their breast milk as the CDC recommends only 6-12 months in the freezer but the WHO recommends breastfeeding for up to 2 years! Additionally, the powder is about 90% lighter than frozen milk, making it ideal for travel or moving.
Be Disaster Prepared
Freeze drying your breast milk can reduce your anxiety about an upcoming storm and the power outages that may be associated with it. During the recent storms in our area like the Derecho and even Hurricane Beryl, many moms whose power went out dropped their milk off at Milkify to keep it safe. Milkify’s role in saving milk from Beryl was recently featured on KHOU Channel 11’s morning show!! Check out all that Milkify has to offer today and be prepared for this year’s hurricane season and beyond.
