Breastmilk
Storage
For lactation assistance,
please call 760-828-8090
This information is based on
current research and applies to mothers who:
- have healthy, full-term
babies;
- are storing their milk for
home use (as opposed to hospital use);
- wash their hands before
expressing; and
- use containers that have
been washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed.
All milk should be dated before
storing.
Storage Guidelines
Colostrum
- kept at room temperature 27-32
degrees C (80.6-89.6 degrees F)--12 to 24 hrs
Mature milk
- kept at 15 degrees C (59-60
degrees F)--24 hrs
- kept at 19-22 degrees C
(66-71.6 degrees F)--10 hrs
- kept at 25 degrees C (79
degrees F)--4-8 hrs
- refrigerated 0-4 degrees C
(32-39 degrees F)--8 days
Frozen milk
- Freezer compartment located
inside a refrigerator--2 weeks
- Separate door
refrigerator/freezer--3 or 4 months (temperature varies
because the door opens frequently)
- Separate deep freeze at
constant -19 degrees C (0 degrees F) 6 months or longer
What Type of Container to Use
If the milk will be frozen:
- heavy plastic or glass
containers can be used
- freezer milk bags are
available that are designed for storing human milk
- disposable bottle liners are
not recommended
- cool milk in refrigerator
before adding to a container of frozen milk
How to Warm the Milk
- thaw and/or heat under warm,
running water;
- do not bring temperature of
milk to boiling point;
- shake before testing the
temperature; shaking will also redistribute the cream
among the milk (it is normal for stored milk to separate
into a cream and milk layer)
- do not use a microwave oven
to heat human milk.
Thawed milk
If milk has been frozen and
thawed, it can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours for later
use. It should not be refrozen. It is not known whether milk
that is left in the bottle after a feeding can be safely kept
until the next feeding or if it should be discarded.
Expressed milk can be kept in a
common refrigerator at the workplace or in a day care center.
The US Centers for Disease control and the US Occupational
Safety and Health Administration agree that human milk is not
among the body fluids that require special handling or storage
in a separate container.
Source:
La Leche League Breastfeeding Management
Sore
Nipple Management
Breast Engorgement
Breastmilk Storage
Going Back to Work and
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