Breast Milk Storage

Breast Milk Storage- How,Where,When,Why?

As a mom to a baby I find it convenient and even necessary to collect my breast milk and store it for later use. It is also most convenient for moms who return to work and still want their babies to get breast milk during their working hours.

The guidelines offered below may answer some of the questions mothers have about safely storing their breast milk:

Room temperature	Refrigerator	Freezer
66-78°F, 19-26°C	<39°F, <4°C	-0.4 to -4°F, -18 to -20°C
for 4 hours	for 72 hours	for 6 months
ideal	ideal	ideal
up to 6 hours	up to 8 days	up to 12 months
acceptable	acceptable	acceptable

What Type of Container is suitable for Storage of Breast Milk?

	Glass or hard-sided plastic containers with well-fitting tops.
	Containers which have been washed in hot, soapy, water, rinsed well and allowed to air-dry before use.
	Freezer milk bags that are designed for storing human milk.
	Include your baby's name on the label if your baby is in a day care setting.
	Mark the date on the storage container.

How Much Breast Milk should I store?

	Containers should not be filled to the top - leave an inch of space to allow the milk to expand as it freezes.
	Put only 60 to 120 ml (two to four ounces) of milk in the container (the amount your baby is likely to eat in a single feeding) to avoid waste.

How to Warm Breast Milk ?

	Frozen milk: defrost in the refrigerator overnight or under cool running water. Gradually increase the temperature of the water to heat the milk to feeding temperature.
	Refrigerated milk: Warm the milk under warm running water for several minutes or immerse the container in a pan of water that has been heated on the stove. Do not heat the milk directly on the stove. Some babies accept milk right from the refrigerator.
	Do not bring temperature of milk to boiling point.

Do not use a microwave oven to heat human milk for the following reasons:

	It may cause the loss of some of the beneficial properties of the milk.
	As microwave does not heat liquids evenly it may leave hot spots in the container thus making it dangerous for infants.

How can I tell if breast milk is spoiled?

	If you properly store your breast milk you should not have a problem. Human milk may separate into a milk layer and a cream layer when it is stored. This is normal and it does not mean your milk is spoiled. Swirl it gently to redistribute the cream before giving it to baby. You may sometimes have thinner looking or blue colored milk, this is still okay.
	Do not be concerned if the milk does not have a pleasant smell. Sometimes thawed milk may smell or taste soapy due to the breakdown of milk fats. The milk is safe and most babies will still drink it.

Return from Breast Milk Storage to Breastfeeding Guide

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