HealthPartners - Preparing for childbirth

Storing Breast Milk You can hand express or use a breast pump to collect your milk. Make sure you wash your hands and the breast pump with soap and hot water, then rinse thoroughly. You can store your milk in hard plastic or glass containers that are clean and can be sealed. You can also buy special milk storage bags. To store breast milk safely: • Write the date on the container (and baby’s name if going to day care) • Store in small amounts (2 to 4 ounces) • Don’t mix milk that you collected on different days • You can add milk you just pumped to other milk from the same day to get the right amount in one container; make sure to refrigerate the new milk for 1 hour before adding it to the other milk

MILK STORAGE GUIDELINES (FULL-TERM BABIES) Because milk storage guidelines may vary depending on which study or book you read, please ask your lactation consultant or health care provider for their recommendation. If you are pumping and storing milk for a premature baby, talk to your health care team about proper storage.

STORAGE LOCATION

TYPE OF BREAST MILK

DEEP FREEZER -4°F (-20°C)

COUNTERTOP 60-80°F (16-29°C) (room temperature)

REFRIGERATOR 40°F (4°C)

FREEZER 0°F or colder (-18°C)

4-8 hours 4 hours ideal

4-8 days 4 days ideal

3-6 months 3 months ideal

6-12 months is acceptable

FRESHLY EXPRESSED OR PUMPED

Up to 1 day (24 hours)

Never refreeze human milk after it has been thawed

THAWED, PREVIOUSLY FROZEN

1-2 hours

LEFT OVER FROM A FEEDING (BABY DID NOT FINISH THE BOTTLE)

Use within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding

ABM Clinical Protocol #8: Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Full-Term Infants,” Revised 2017

Note: Because milk storage guidelines may vary depending on which study or book you read, please ask your lactation consultant or health care provider for their recommendations . If you are pumping and storing your milk for a premature baby, talk to your health care team about proper storage.

108 Your Guide to Labor and Birth