Freeze-drying (lyophilisation) is a gentle, scientifically proven process that removes water from your breast milk while leaving the nutrients, antibodies and immune factors intact. The result is a fine powder that turns back into breast milk when you add warm sterilised water.

Unlike dehydration, freeze-drying uses extremely low temperatures and a vacuum, so your milk is never exposed to damaging heat. It's the same method used worldwide to preserve biologicals, pharmaceuticals and donor human milk.

Yes. The Milk Fairy was proudly Australia's first breast milk freeze-drying service. We launched at the end of 2022, a family-run, mama-led business based in Geelong, Victoria, founded by Jess, Tiana and Chris.

Any breastfeeding or pumping parent who wants to extend shelf life up to 3 years, travel more easily with their milk, manage high lipase, or build a long-term stash for weaning or adding to solid foods.

Choose your option, either a Shipping Kit (courier collects from your door) or Local Drop-Off (Geelong, Melbourne, Surfcoast, Ballarat, Bellarine). Book online, follow the packing instructions, and we handle everything from there.

Your milk is temperature-checked on arrival and individually labelled. It's then sealed into our specialised Pure Protect pouches, which keep every mum's milk separate throughout the entire freeze-drying cycle. Only water is removed. Your powder is then quality-checked, sealed into labelled sachets and returned to you.

Absolutely not. Your milk is never pooled or combined with any other customer's milk at any stage. Every mum's milk is processed separately in its own Pure Protect pouch. You always receive back 100% your own milk, nothing else.

As a guide, expect around 12 to 13% of your frozen weight in powder, minus the weight of the bags or bottles your milk is stored in. Freeze-drying only removes water, so everything else comes back to you.

Each sachet is labelled with the exact amount of warm sterilised water to add, so every bottle is the right strength for your baby.

No. Your breast milk stays inside its own sealed Pure Protect pouch throughout the freeze-drying cycle, so it never comes into direct contact with our equipment surfaces.

No strict minimum or maximum. Whether you have a modest stash or a large freezer supply, we can work with you. Contact us for particularly large volumes so we can plan your processing.

Yes. Freeze-drying is one of the gentlest and most scientifically validated preservation methods available. It uses very low temperatures and no heat, which preserves the structure of the proteins, fats and carbohydrates in your milk.

Our facility operates to HACCP food safety principles, the internationally recognised framework used across food manufacturing, pharmaceutical production and human milk banking worldwide. We maintain strict hygiene protocols, temperature monitoring and full traceability for every order.

Yes. We take a small sample from every batch to confirm your powder is fully dry and safe to keep for its full 3 year shelf life. We'd rather test and be certain than send back a pouch we hadn't checked.

We temperature-check every order on arrival. If your milk appears to have partially thawed, we contact you directly before proceeding. Our medical-grade cooler is designed to keep your milk frozen throughout overnight transit when packed correctly and shipped on a Monday as instructed.

No. Freeze-drying is one of the most nutrient-preserving methods available. It uses no heat, so proteins, enzymes and immune factors are left intact. Research confirms macronutrients are retained and that reconstituted milk closely mirrors the original nutritional composition.

Because no heat is used, bioactive components including secretory IgA, lactoferrin and lysozyme are far better preserved than with heat-based methods like pasteurisation. Emerging research supports that freeze-dried human milk retains much of its immunological activity.

Fresh breast milk is naturally around 87% water and 13% solids, so that's what we bring your milk back to. It matches our nutritional panel and means every bottle has the same nutrition your baby was already getting.

Breast milk composition does shift a little across the day, but rather than labelling pouches with different ratios for day and night feeds, we weigh your solids after freeze-drying and rehydrate everything back to the same standard. One ratio means no confusion at 3am and no bottle that's stronger or weaker than the last. Adding extra water would give you more millilitres on paper, but each bottle would be more dilute and less nourishing.

Yes. Freeze-drying significantly reduces lipase activity, which improves the taste and smell of high lipase milk. Many mums whose babies previously refused frozen milk have found them happily accepting the freeze-dried version. Reach out if this is a concern for you.

Shipping is available across all of Australia. Local drop-off is available for customers in or around Geelong, Melbourne, the Surfcoast, the Bellarine and Ballarat.

Once we receive your milk, turnaround is typically 2 to 4 weeks. You'll receive email updates when we receive your milk, during processing, and when it's shipped back. Have a deadline? Just let us know and we'll do our best to accommodate you.

Your kit includes a medical-grade insulated cooler and full packing instructions. Pack your frozen milk on a Monday, as our courier collects that day for overnight delivery. No ice packs or dry ice are needed as long as your kit is full. If you have unexpected extra space, fill it with ice packs or even ice blocks in sandwich bags. Our kits work best when full.

Not a problem at all. Just let us know and we'll update the return address on our end. We're a small family team and always happy to work with your circumstances.

Each sachet includes a label with the exact amount of warm sterilised water to add. Add the water, give it a gentle swirl, and your breast milk is ready. Do not use a microwave, as this creates hot spots. Full instructions are on our Using My Breast Milk Powder page.

Yes. Sprinkle or stir the powder directly into purees, porridge or soft foods to boost their nutritional value with your own breast milk, no reconstituting needed.

Sealed sachets last up to 3 years at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Once opened and reconstituted, treat it as freshly expressed breast milk, so refrigerate and use within 24 hours.

Once reconstituted, treat it as freshly expressed breast milk. Keep it refrigerated and use within 24 hours, following the Australian Breastfeeding Association guidelines.

Freeze-dried breast milk is non-sterile and is not recommended for immunocompromised or medically complex infants. We always recommend consulting your neonatologist, paediatrician or lactation consultant before introducing freeze-dried breast milk to premature or vulnerable babies. Your medical team should always guide feeding decisions for your little one.

Our Milk Fairy Shipping Kit starts from $330 AUD. Visit our service page for full and up-to-date pricing details, including local drop-off options.

We weigh your milk on arrival together with the bags it's stored in, because bag weights vary from brand to brand. If you've used hospital bottles, which are much heavier, let us know and we'll take that into account.

Yes. Overnight courier collection from your door and return shipping of your finished powder are both included in the kit price, with no hidden fees.

Yes. A Milk Fairy gift card is a truly thoughtful gift for an expecting or new mama, perfect for baby showers and Mother's Day. Available from our shop.

Please review our full Returns Policy. For specific situations, reach out directly, as we're always happy to work through things with you.