Human Milk Storage Guidelines
| Storage Location and Temperatures | Storage Location and Temperatures | Storage Location and Temperatures | |
| Type of Breast Milk | Countertop 77°F (25°C) or colder (room . ... | Refrigerator 40°F (4°C) | Freezer 0°F (-18°C) or colder |
| Freshly Expressed or Pumped | Up to 4 Hours | Up to 4 Days | Within 6 months is best Up to 12 months ... |
| Thawed, Previously Frozen | 1–2 Hours | Up to 1 Day (24 hours) | NEVER refreeze human milk after it has b ... |
| Leftover from a Feeding (baby did not fi ... | Use within 2 hours after the baby is fin ... | Use within 2 hours after the baby is fin ... | Use within 2 hours after the baby is fin ... |
Full Answer
How long can you keep breast milk in the refrigerator?
- Freshly expressed breast milk can sit at room temperature 77°F (25°C) for up to four hours. Ideally, the milk should be in a covered container. ...
- If the milk has been previously frozen, once thawed, it can sit out at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. ...
- If the baby didn’t finish the bottle, discard the milk after 2 hours.
How good is refrigerated breast milk?
How to Know When Breast Milk Is Spoiled
- Temperature. The first factor is temperature. ...
- Breast Milk Storage Container. The next factor is the type of breast milk storage containers. ...
- Color of Breast Milk. Breast milk comes in a variety of colors. ...
- Smell of Breast Milk. Breast milk also has various smells. ...
Where to store breast milk?
- Use a double bag if you’re using a thinner storage bag.
- Place all storage bags that contain breast milk inside a hard plastic storage container with a lid within the freezer.
- Never using ordinary plastic storage bags or bottle liners to store your breast milk. ...
- Warm the bag in water that doesn’t go over the top of the bag. ...
How do you check the temperature of a refrigerator?
Where to store food in the fridge
- Fridge door. The fridge door is typically the warmest part of the fridge – largely because it’s the area exposed to the outside world when you open the door – ...
- Top shelf. Door fridge aside, the top shelf of the fridge itself is slightly warmer compared to the sections below.
- Middle shelf. ...
- Bottom shelf. ...
- Fridge crisper. ...
What temp should your fridge be for breast milk?
39°FBreast milk can be placed in the back of the refrigerator (39°F or 4°C).
What temperature does breastmilk spoil?
77°FThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source shares these guidelines for breast milk storage: Freshly expressed breast milk can sit at room temperature 77°F (25°C) for up to four hours.
How do you label breast milk in the fridge?
Mommy ideas for breast milk storage. Take a dry erase marker, and label your pumped milk by bottle to ensure the right one gets used first! I pump and mark a calendar on the times so I know how long a bottle is in the fridge and when I bring all of them to the sitter this helps keep them all in order!
How long can breast milk be stored in the refrigerator at 40 degrees or below?
After you express breast milk, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to eight days, but it's best to use it in four days. Your fridge should be around 32 to 39 degrees F for proper storage of the milk.
How will I know if breast milk is spoiled?
5 Signs Your Breast Milk Has Gone BadIt Will Smell Foul. Foul-smelling breast milk can indicate that your milk has gone bad. ... It Doesn't Mix When Swirled. ... It Sat In The Fridge For Longer Than 4 Days. ... It Wasn't Stored Properly. ... It Tastes Sour.
Can you put breast milk back in fridge after warming?
Once you warm the breast milk, you can give it to your child right away or put it in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours. You should not leave warm breast milk out at room temperature. You should not refreeze it. If your baby does not finish a feeding, you should throw away the leftover breast milk in the bottle.
Can you combine breast milk from 2 different days?
Milk from different pumping sessions/days may be combined in one container – use the date of the first milk expressed. Avoid adding warm milk to a container of previously refrigerated or frozen milk – cool the new milk before combining. Breastmilk is not spoiled unless it smells really bad or tastes sour.
Can I put breast milk back in fridge after baby drinks from it?
If I warmed a bottle of breast milk and my baby didn't drink any (she went back to sleep), can I put it back in the refrigerator and offer it again? Yes. You can offer it again within the next two hours.
Can I pump into the same bottle twice?
You can relax if you spaced and left the milk sitting on the nightstand for a bit, it's okay. In fact, you can grab this same bottle three hours later and continue pumping into it. Or, if you're power pumping to increase your supply, you can pump into the same bottles multiple times within the four hour window.
How long can breast milk be kept at 37 degrees?
Average colony counts was (CFU < 200). Conclusion: The study revealed that storage duration for expressed breast milk should not exceed 24 hours in refrigerator temperature (4 to 10 degrees C), eight hours at room temperature (15 to 27 degrees C) and four hours at high temperature (30 to 38 degrees C).
What happens if baby drinks spoiled breast milk?
The baby might swallow the breast milk, but because it is spoiled, it can cause an upset stomach. The mother would most likely notice this because of the infant's restlessness, incessant crying and/or vomiting. Generally, the child simply vomiting up the spoiled milk should be expected.
How long can breast milk stay at 73 degrees?
For milk you've just pumped and are planning to give your baby soon, the breast milk can sit out at room temperature (up to 77 degrees Fahrenheit) for six to eight hours.
Breast milk storage: Do's and don'ts - Mayo Clinic
Before expressing or handling breast milk, wash your hands with soap and water. Then store the expressed milk in a clean, capped food-grade glass container or hard plastic container that's not made with the chemical bisphenol A (BPA).
HOME [www.bfmed.org]
PCORI Engagement Award. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is delighted to share that ABM and Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), have received $100,000 funding through Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards program, an initiative of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) entitled, “Setting the agenda for patient-centered research in infant and young-child feeding."
Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk
Wash. your hands well with soap and water. Use. breast milk storage bags or clean food-grade containers with tight fitting lids. Inspect the pump kit and
How long can breast milk be refrigerated?
The amount of time breast milk can stay in the fridge depends on the type: 1 Freshly pumped breast milk can be stored in the back of the refrigerator (39° F or 4° C) for up to four days — just don’t forget it’s back there. 2 Thawed, previously frozen breast milk can stay in the refrigerator for 24 hours before you have to throw it out. (No mom wants that!) So, only take out what you think your little one will need for a day. Never refreeze breast milk after it has been thawed.
How long does thawed breast milk stay at room temperature?
Thawed, previously frozen breast milk can stay at room temperature for one to two hours. Use it or lose it!
Why does thawed milk smell?
Note: Thawed breast milk can smell and look different from fresh breast milk when a mom’s breast milk is high in an enzyme called lipase. If your baby doesn't want to drink the thawed breast milk, talk with your doctor about ways to help neutralize the enzyme and lessen the smell.
How long can breast milk be stored in the freezer?
How long does breast milk last in the freezer? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you can store breast milk in a refrigerator with a freezer that has a separate door (0°F or −18°C) for up to nine months. If the freezer is a chest or a deep freezer (−4° F or −20° C), milk may be frozen for up to 12 months.
How long can you keep breast milk in the hospital?
It is safe to give breast milk that has been thawed for 24 to 48 hours after your baby comes home from ...
How to thaw breast milk?
The safest way to thaw breast milk is in the refrigerator overnight. You can also hold the bottle or bag under warm running water or set it in a container of warm water. Remember that heating breast milk in the microwave or boiling it is not safe.
What should be on the label of breast milk?
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.
What temperature should milk be in the fridge?
Your fridge should be around 32 to 39 degrees F for proper storage of the milk. It’s a good idea to label your milk and use up the oldest container first and then work your way through to the newest milk. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.
Where to store breast milk in freezer?
One thing to keep in mind is where you place the milk containers within your freezer. Don't store the breast milk in the freezer door rack. Milk stored in the door is exposed to wide temperature changes when you open and close the freezer door. It’s best to place milk toward the back, away from the door to avoid these temperature changes.
Why is my milk cloudy?
If the water you use for warming your milk looks cloudy, there’s probably been a leak and you need to throw out that bag of milk. No matter which option you choose, it’s important to make sure that the container has a tight seal. Check the lid or seam (if you’re using a freezer bag) for a tight seal before storing it.
How long can you keep breast milk?
You can store breast milk for months at a time by freezing it or for a few days in your fridge. Milk can be stored in glass containers, clear plastic containers that do not contain BPA or in bags specifically designed to store your milk.
How long can you keep milk in the freezer?
If you have a freezer compartment in a fridge with a separate freezer door, you can store frozen milk for three to four months.
How many ounces of breast milk should be stored?
Breast milk should be stored in small amounts (2 to 4 ounces) to decrease wasting milk in the following types of containers:
Why is it important to store breast milk?
It’s important to store milk properly so that it’s fresh and maintains its nutritional and anti-infective qualities.
What temperature should breast milk be stored at?
Tips for Storing Breast Milk at Room Temperature. The temperature of the room should not be over 77 degrees F or 25 degrees C. The cooler the room, the better. If the room temperature is greater than 77 degrees F (25 degrees C), do not let your breast milk sit out at all.
How long should breastmilk be refrigerated?
In general, breastmilk pumped for premature or hospitalized infants should be used within one hour or refrigerated.
How long can breast milk be stored?
Breast Milk Storage Guidelines 1 Freshly pumped breast milk: Approximately 4 hours 2 Frozen breast milk, directly from the freezer: Do not store or thaw at room temperature 3 Frozen breast milk, thawed and warmed up: Do not store at room temperature; use immediately or store in the refrigerator 4 Frozen breast milk, thawed in the refrigerator, but not yet warmed up: Up to 4 hours 5 Previously refrigerated breast milk: Up to 4 hours
How long can you keep breast milk out of the freezer?
1 . Freshly pumped breast milk: Approximately 4 hours. Frozen breast milk, directly from the freezer: Do not store or thaw at room temperature. Frozen breast milk, thawed and warmed up: Do not store ...
How long does frozen breast milk last?
Frozen breast milk, thawed in the refrigerator, but not yet warmed up: Up to 4 hours. Previously refrigerated breast milk: Up to 4 hours.
How long can milk stay at room temperature?
While some sources state that due to the antibacterial properties found in human milk, it can remain at room temperature for as long as 10 to 12 hours, which is generally not the accepted recommendation.
Where are the bacteria in breast milk?
Bacteria are all around. They are on your hands, on the skin around your breasts, and on the parts of your breast pump. When you pump your breast milk, some of that bacteria gets into the milk. But don't worry: When you store your breast milk safely, this small amount of bacteria will not harm a healthy, full-term child.
How to store breastmilk in the fridge?
Always use approved storage bags or food-grade containers to store the breastmilk in the fridge.
Where should breastmilk be stored?
As with storing in a fridge, you should keep breastmilk towards the back end of the freezer to protect it from temperature changes.
How long does breastmilk last?
Breastmilk can last up to twelve months when frozen at 0-degree Fahrenheit. However, it is preferable to use frozen breastmilk within 6 months to maximize the nutritional value and avoid expiry risks.
Why is it important to store breast milk?
Storing breast milk correctly is essential to retain its nutritional value and ensure it remains beneficial for the baby.
Why does thawed milk smell?
In case the two hours pass, you should throw the milk away. Thawed milk may have a distinct smell which is because of an enzyme called lipase. You don’t need to worry as the milk is still good to be fed.
Why should you not keep breastmilk in the door?
You should also avoid keeping the breastmilk in the door to protect it from temperature changes when the door opens and closes.
Where to store breast milk?
Store the breast milk in the far end of the fridge or freezer to avoid temperature changes.
How long can you keep milk at room temperature?
Freshly expressed milk can remain at room temperature (up to 77°F or 25°C) for 4 hours (or up to 6 to 8 hours if very cleanly expressed), but it is best to chill as soon as possible. Breast milk can be placed in the back of the refrigerator (39°F or 4°C).
How to store breast milk?
Here are some helpful guidelines for storing your breast milk safely. Before expressing or pumping: Wash your hands and all storage containers thoroughly. Label the date the breast milk was expressed on each container and include your child's name if you are giving the milk to a child care provider. Talk with your child care provider about how they ...
How to thaw breast milk from the freezer?
To thaw breast milk from the freezer: Put the bottle or bag in the refrigerator overnight, hold it under warm running water, or set it in a container of warm water. Remember that heating breast milk in microwaves is not safe.
How long should breast milk be stored after feeding?
Any remaining breast milk left in a bottle after your baby is finished with a feeding should be used within 2 hours, or, if quickly refrigerated, used for the next feeding. You can always thaw an extra container if needed. Refrigerate or chill milk right after it is expressed.
How long can you freeze breast milk?
If freezing the milk inside a refrigerator with a freezer that has a separate door (0°F or −18°C), milk may be frozen for up to 9 months. If the freezer is a chest or a deep freezer (−4°F or −20°C), milk may be frozen for up to 12 months. To thaw breast milk from the freezer: Put the bottle or bag in the refrigerator overnight, ...
Is it safe to microwave breast milk?
Microwaving breast milk is not safe due to the risk of scalding your baby with hot milk. Freeze breast milk if you will not be using it within 24 hours. Breast milk expands as it freezes, so do not fill the milk all the way to the top of the storage container.
Can you store baby formula in the refrigerator?
When nutritional products, such as breast milk or baby formula are stored in these refrigerators, refer to evidence-based guidelines from the formula manufacturer's instructions for use (IFU), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), etc. to ensure safe storage.
Is the Joint Commission prescriptive to monitor refrigerator temperature?
Back to FAQs. Any examples are for illustrative purposes only. The Joint Commission is not prescriptive to monitor or log temperature for refrigerators provided for personal patient use. However, a process is required to be in place to ensure that the refrigerator functions properly to safely store its contents.
Why do you need to dry breast milk in the sink?
in the sink because the germs in the sink could contaminate items. Rinse thoroughly under running water. Air-dry items on a clean dishtowel or paper towel. Using clean hands, store dry items in a clean, protected area. When freezing leave an inch of space at the top of the container; breast milk expands as it freezes. Milk can be stored in an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs for
How to label milk for a child?
Label milk with the date it was expressed and the child’s name if delivering to childcare. Freeze milk in
Can you thaw milk in the microwave?
Thaw milk under lukewarm running water, in a container of lukewarm water, or overnight in the refrigerator. Never thaw or heat milk in a microwave. Microwaving destroys nutrients and creates hot spots, which can burn a baby’s mouth. Wash disassembled pump and feeding parts in a clean basin with soap and water.