If you're a pumping mama, spilt milk tin can give you lot plenty to weep about. It takes a Herculean effort to follow safe storage rules when half asleep after a 3 a.m. pumping session or running late for a ten a.m. meeting. But, little details matter. Shortchanging and cutting corners could brand your babe very sick.

Here are the basics when information technology comes to storing your liquid golden safely.

Breast milk storage guidelines

The guidelines for storing and preparing chest milk for salubrious, full-term babies depend on a few factors: the type of breast milk, the storage location and the temperature. If all of this information (see chart below) is difficult for you lot to remember on the fly, think "rule of fours": For freshly pumped breast milk, you can safely requite it to baby for up to four hours at room temperature and up to four days in the fridge.

To prevent your breast milk from going to waste, store information technology in pocket-size batches; 2 to four ounces (59.i to 118.2 milliliters) is recommended. Any remaining breast milk left in a bottle after your baby is finished with a feeding should exist used within two hours, or, if chop-chop refrigerated, used for the next feeding.

Yous tin e'er thaw an extra container if needed — and you have some options in terms of container type:

  • Sterile glass or difficult BPA-gratuitous plastic bottles with tight-fitting lids. Exercise not use containers with the recycle number 3 or 7, which may comprise Bisphenol A (BPA).
  • Breast milk storage bags fabricated for freezing human being milk. Exercise not use disposable bottle liners or other plastic numberless to shop breast milk; they are too sparse and could sprout a leak. In addition, there is considerably higher fat loss when milk is stored in these polyethylene bags.

Notation: Breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation qualify every bit tax-deductible breastfeeding gear. The IRS doesn't provide a specific listing of approved items beyond the pump itself, merely if the product was used for a medical reason (due east.g., foam on your croaky nipples), it volition probable authorize as a tax-deductible particular. Also go along rails of what you spend and check your insurance policy to meet if your plan covers breastfeeding supplies, such as storage bags, in addition to breast pumps.

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breast milk storage

How long does breast milk last at room temperature?

The length of time breast milk can concluding at room temperature depends on its type.

  • Freshly pumped chest milk can exist stored at room temperature (no warmer than 77° F) for up to four hours if information technology'due south non in directly sunlight or close to other sources of heat.
  • Thawed, previously frozen breast milk tin stay at room temperature for one to 2 hours. Use it or lose it!

If your baby has some leftovers afterward a feeding and didn't finish the canteen, it must be used inside two hours. After this time, you must discard it. Likewise many germs!

Storing breast milk in smaller quantities and so that your babe uses the total portion at each feeding can assistance reduce waste.

How long does breast milk last in the refrigerator?

The amount of time breast milk can stay in the fridge depends on the type:

  • Freshly pumped chest milk tin be stored in the back of the refrigerator (39° F or 4° C) for up to four days — just don't forget it'south back there.
  • Thawed, previously frozen breast milk tin can stay in the fridge for 24 hours before you lot have to throw it out. (No mom wants that!) So, only take out what yous think your little one will need for a 24-hour interval. Never refreeze chest milk afterwards it has been thawed.

Once again, if your baby has some leftovers after the feeding, it must be used inside two hours.

When warming breast milk from the refrigerator, place the canteen in a bowl of warm water or run information technology nether warm h2o. Microwaving chest milk is non safe.

Breast milk naturally separates into a milk layer and a foam tiptop when it is stored. It looks a piffling funky, only information technology'south normal and is safe to swirl prior to feeding.

How long does breast milk last in the freezer?

You can store chest milk in a fridge with a freezer that has a carve up door (0°F or −eighteen°C) for upward to 12 months, although using it within half-dozen months is preferable.

The earlier you use upwards your breast milk, the ameliorate, considering longer storage tin diminish the amount of vitamin C in it. The temperature of your freezer should be around 0° F. Again, like the refrigerator, it's all-time to store it in the back of the freezer furthest away from the door where temperatures are well-nigh consistent.

Some women produce large volumes of breast milk to freeze, while other women never seem to produce enough. When it comes to freezer storage, however, smaller portions are actually improve. Portions that are 2- to 4-ounce (59.i to 118.2 milliliters) are recommended to not waste any.

Make sure to label the bottles, cups or numberless with the engagement and go out an inch or so from the milk to the top of the container. (Breast milk expands as it freezes, so wait to tighten canteen caps or lids until the milk is completely frozen.)

How should you lot thaw frozen breast milk?

The safest manner to thaw chest milk is in the refrigerator overnight. You can also hold the bottle or purse under warm running water or set it in a container of warm water.

Call up that heating breast milk in the microwave or boiling it is not safe. These methods tin cause loss of nutritional properties of breast milk and could exist unevenly hot, making it unsafe for your baby to drink. Once previously frozen breast milk is thawed, it tin be stored in the fridge and must be used inside 24 hours.

Note: Thawed chest milk can smell and look different from fresh breast milk when a mom's breast milk has excess lipase action, too known as high lipase breast milk. If your baby doesn't want to beverage the thawed chest milk, talk with your doctor virtually ways to assistance neutralize the enzyme and lessen the odour.

Breast milk storage for NICU and hospitalized babies

If your baby is in the NICU or is hospitalized for other reasons, your breast milk can be fed to her through a tube that passes through the nose or mouth into the breadbasket or from a tiny cup or bottle. The feeding road depends on your child's condition and on the policies at your infirmary.

The traditional breast milk storage guidelines (above) were written for healthy, full-term babies. Storage guidelines are stricter for babies who are hospitalized and have weaker immune systems. Hither are some full general things to keep in heed:

  • The label on your breast milk container should include your baby's name, the date, the time of day you pumped and any medicines or substances you've taken or been exposed to since the last pumping session.
  • Freshly pumped chest milk for premature or hospitalized infants should be used within one hour or refrigerated. The bacterial growth that occurs in breast milk left out at room temperature can exist unsafe to them, and information technology'southward ameliorate to be rubber. If storing information technology in a refrigerator, the freshly pumped breast milk is good for up to 48 hours. Dedicated refrigerators and freezers are provided for breast milk storage in the infirmary.
  • Thawed, previously frozen breast milk must be used within 24 hours (if thawed in the fridge) or ii hours (if warmed) or it must be discarded. It is rubber to give breast milk that has been thawed for 24 to 48 hours after your babe comes home from the hospital.

Always discuss the recommended storage guidelines for your situation with your baby's healthcare providers. They may have more specific instructions for you lot to follow at their hospital.

How to tell if yous shouldn't apply stored chest milk

If you know what rotten milk smells similar then you lot'll probably know what rotten chest milk smells like. If you withal aren't sure, try tasting information technology. If sour, then it's bad and needs to be tossed.

Some other trick? Watch how the breast milk moves. When breast milk is still good, it mixes back together easily with a gentle swirl of the bottle. If it doesn't do this or has chunks floating in it (like regular milk does when it's bad), throw it out.