FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are answers to the most common questions we get about Milkify. Please reach out to us if you’ve got one that isn't on this list, and we will get it answered for you asap!
Q: What is Milkify?
A: We are a Houston-based company that provides a service for new parents - in short, we convert
your frozen breast milk into a powder, and send it back to you in the mail. Our goal is to increase the
number of infants who receive breast milk in their first year of life by helping to make the storage of breast
milk easier and more convenient.
Q: Is powdered breast milk safe? Do you add anything to it?
A: Powdered breast milk is completely safe. Absolutely NO chemicals, additives, or preservatives are added
to your milk during the process. Your milk is kept frozen during transport and highly trained
personnel powder the milk in a sterile lab environment. Your milk never contacts our equipment during the
process. We are in compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards for human milk
donor banks set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Human Milk Banking Association of
North America (HMBANA), and comply with the packaging regulations for infant food set forth by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, we have our own robust set of Quality Control
procedures. These procedures regulate our processes, facilities, equipment, personnel, and packaging in
order to assure consistent quality and safety of our service.
Q: How does the process work?
A: The process we use to remove the water in your milk is called lyophilization (or freeze-drying). This is an
ultra low-temperature dehydration process that involves freezing the milk, lowering pressure, then
removing the ice by sublimation. Controlled freeze-drying keeps the temperature of the milk low enough
during the process to avoid changes in the characteristics of the milk. It is a well-known process in the food
and medical industries as it an excellent method for preserving a wide variety of heat-sensitive materials
such as proteins, probiotics, & pharmaceuticals.
Q: Is breast milk really better than infant formula?
A: Yes! Breastfed infants develop fewer allergies and get sick less often, both in infancy and early
childhood [1]. Breast milk has also been shown to contribute to the cognitive development of infants and
has long-lasting implications for learning, memory, and motor function into childhood [2]. Scientifically, it is
becoming widely accepted that the composition and uniqueness of human milk cannot be “recreated”
- even with additives such as HMOs, probiotics, and DHA touted by infant formula makers. Antibodies, stem
cells, RNA, probiotics and other important components from the mother are transmitted to their infants
through breast milk, and the composition of breast milk changes over time to meet the infant's needs
and protect their developing immune system. In addition, formula is made from cow's milk, so can
be more difficult for babies to digest as their body has to adapt to be able to process this foreign
food. Other research has shown that if 90% of families exclusively breastfed for the first six months of a
baby’s life, nearly 1,000 infant deaths could be prevented per year [3]. However, we understand that all
parents face different sets of challenges, and that formula supplementation is sometimes necessary early
on. Our goal is to provide an alternative to formula in the hope that it will help more infants receive the
benefits of breast milk during their first year.
Q: What happens to breast milk that I store in the freezer?
A: Breast milk degrades in the freezer - over time, it starts to lose the important nutrients and probiotics that allow your infant to grow into a healthy child. It also takes up a lot of space. Some moms have even told us that their infants won't drink previously frozen milk due to the change in taste.
Q: Why should I powder my breast milk?
A: Freeze-drying breast milk is now recognized as a better way to store breast milk, and various human milk
donor banks world-wide are implementing this process. A primary advantage is that powdering human milk
preserves up to 90% of its vital nutrients as well as the important proteins, antibodies, and probiotics in the
milk which degrade in the freezer. Powdered breast milk lasts for 2 years (or more) on the shelf without the
need for refrigeration. Powdering milk also removes the freezer taste, saves you space, and allows you to
safely and conveniently save every last drop.
Q: How do I use my powdered breast milk?
A: We send your powdered milk back to you in a small bag that you can take with you anywhere. When ready
to use, just mix the powder with warm purified water and it turns into milk. Moms have told us that
powdered breast milk is just as easy to use as powdered formula. And because our packaging is TSA-
approved, you can even take your powdered breast milk with you when traveling!
Q: How can I be sure that the breast milk I receive is my own?
A: We track each individual bag of frozen breast milk we receive from start to finish. Each unique Bag ID
identifies your bags of milk. Your milk is never in direct contact with our equipment and we follow strict
quality control procedures to ensure that cross-contamination is avoided during the process.
Q: Is Milkify covered by insurance or FSA/HSAs?
A: You may be able to obtain full or partial reimbursement for the Milkify service through insurance. Each
insurance company and FSA/HSA has its own policy regarding reimbursement. Check with your plan
administrator to see what you qualify for.
Q: Can I use the information on this site for medical advice?
A: We are here to help you store your breast milk safely and conveniently; however, we are no substitute for
medical professionals. Any advice or information provided on the Website is for informational purposes
only and does not create a professional relationship, is not an aid to making medical decisions, and is not
marketed, promoted or otherwise intended to be used to diagnose any disease or other condition, or to
cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease. The Website is not a substitute for professional medical
advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider
with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical
advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Website.
References:
-
Pattison, K. L., Kraschnewski, J. L., Lehman, E., Savage, J. S., Downs, D. S., Leonard, K. S., … Kjerulff, K. H. (2019). Breastfeeding initiation and duration and child health outcomes in the first baby study. Preventive Medicine, 118, 1–6. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2018.09.020
-
Belfort, M. B., Anderson, P. J., Nowak, V. A., Lee, K. J., Molesworth, C., Thompson, D. K., … Inder, T. E. (2016). Breast Milk Feeding, Brain Development, and Neurocognitive Outcomes: A 7-Year Longitudinal Study in Infants Born at Less Than 30 Weeks Gestation. The Journal of Pediatrics, 177. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.06.045
-
Brusca, S. (2018) Suwannee River Area Health Education Center.