Your breastmilk is the best possible food to help your baby grow and develop, combined with antibodies, live cells, and other substances to protect him from infection. It’s worth the effort to provide expressed milk for your baby when you can’t be there to nurse him. Although some of the nutrients and anti-infective properties change with storage, expressed milk isstill much better nutritionally for your baby than infant formula. This page gives guidelines on storing your milk.
Storing breastmilk for healthy full-term babies
Storage containers
How much milk will I need?
Preparing to use
Storage
Keeping milk for the next feed
Away from home
Soapy smell?
Thrush
Different storage times
Illness in the family
Storing breastmilk for healthy full-term babies
Breastmilk’s antibacterial properties help it stay fresh. The live cells and antibodies that discourage the growth of bacteria in your baby’s intestines also guard against bacterial growth when your milk is stored in a container.
The guidelines that follow apply to milk that will be given to full-term healthy babies. If your baby is premature or sick, hospital staff can give you information on stricter storage guidelines, to ensure your baby gets as much benefit from your milk as possible.
Cleanliness
Good hygiene is important when storing your milk. Reduce the risk of contaminating your milk by:
- Washing hands before expressing or handling milk
- Keeping your pump clean, using hot soapy water for all parts which come into contact with your milk. Some mothers sterilize as well
- Keeping your fridge, freezer, coolbag and icepacks clean
- Placing containers of milk in a clean bag or lidded box before storing
- Keeping your milk away from meat, eggs, etc
Storage containers
Hard-sided containers, either glass or plastic, do the best job of protecting your breastmilk. Avoid containers made with the controversial chemical bisphenol A, identified with a number 3 or 7 in the recycling symbols. A safer alternative is polypropylene, which is soft and semi-cloudy and marked with a 5 or letters PP.
- Use containers with well-fitting tops
- Wash containers in hot, soapy water, rinse well, and allow to air-dry before use. Orwash and dry in a dishwasher
- Leave 2.5cm of space at the top to allow the milk to expand as it freezes. Plastic milk storage bags, designed for freezing breastmilk are convenient and take up less room in the freezer
- Avoid bags that are not designed for freezing—they may burst or tear. Double bagging can prevent accidents
- Some milk storage bags can be attached directly to a breast pump, so you can collect and store milk in the same container
- Allow 2 to 3 cm for the milk to expand when frozen and squeeze out the air at thetop before sealing
- Stand the bags in another container on the fridge shelf or in the freezer
Remember to date the containers—it can help to put a use-by date too. Add your baby’s name if he will receive the milk at a childminder’s or nursery.
How much milk will I need?
Store milk in 60 to 120ml (2 to 4 oz) quantities to avoid waste, at least until you know how much milk your baby takes at a feed. Small quantities thaw quickly and can be combined if needed. You can also store smaller quantities of 30ml for when your baby is extra hungry, or wants to be fed just before you’re due back.
You can combine milk pumped at differenttimes, if you:
- Cool fresh milk for 30 minutes in the fridge first
- Add fresh milk to frozen milk only if there is less fresh milk than frozen
- Use it within the time limit of the oldest expressed milk
Looks are deceptive!
It’s perfectly normal for expressed milk to look thin, bluish, yellowish or even brownish in colour and for it to separate into a milk layer and a cream layer when stored.
Preparing to use
Thaw and heat with care
High temperatures or even moderate temperatures over a period of time affect many of the beneficial properties of breastmilk, so:
- NEVER warm breastmilk in a pan on a cooker
- NEVER warm breastmilk in a microwave
Microwaves do not heat liquids evenly, so there may be hot spots in the container of milk, and this can be dangerous for babies.
Defrosting frozen breastmilk Your milk can be defrosted in the fridge, avoiding unnecessary heating. Use within 24 hours.
To defrost your milk more quickly:
- Hold the container under cool running water and gradually increase the temperature of the water to heat the milk to feeding temperature, or;
- Immerse the container in a bowl of warm water. Take the milk out and reheat the water if necessary. Do not stand in a pan of water heating on the hob.
Refrigerated Milk: Warm for a few minutes under a tap or in a container of water. Test for temperature on the inside of your wrist.
Avoid contamination: Dry the containers before opening, with paper kitchen towels or a clean tea towel.
Breastmilk separates naturally: Gently swirl the container to remix.
Storage
Breastmilk is remarkably resilient – it stores well due to its antibacterial properties.
Temperature
Store milk in the coldest part of fridge and freezer. Self-defrosting freezers can have warm spots. Use fridge and freezer thermometers to determine where the temperature is most constant. The fresher your milk, the better
Milk stored in the fridge will have more goodness than frozen milk. Some of the anti-infectiveproperties are lost when milk is frozen—but it still helps protect babies from disease and allergies and is far superior to any formula.Although you probably won’t plan to keep your milk in the fridge for seven or eight days it’s good to know you can use safely any you find hidden at the back of the fridge. When your baby gets your milk within a few days of being refrigerated, it’s also reassuring to know it is well within its usable limits.
| Temperature (degrees C) | Best before | Use within |
|---|
| Freshly expressed milk - ideally refrigerate or cool immediately | | | |
| warm room | 19-26 | 4 hours | 6 hours |
| cool bag or box with icepacks | 15 | 10 hours | 24 hours |
| cool bag or box with icepacks | 4-10 | 24 hours | 3 days |
| Refrigerated milk - longer storage times are safe if milk is collected in a very clean careful way and cooled immediately | | | |
| Fresh milk | 1-4 | 72 hours | 8 days |
| Defrosted milk | 1-4 | as soon as possible | 24 hours |
| Frozen milk - milk should not be refrozen | | | |
| Freezer | variable temp around -18 | 3 months | 6 months |
| Freezer | constant temp -18 or below | 6 months | 12 months |
Keeping milk for the next feed
It’s best to throw away leftover frozen or heated milk, which will have lost some of its antibacterial properties. It isn’t known how safe it is to keep fresh breastmilk left in the bottle after a feed. It should certainly be used within 1–2 hours. Avoid wasting precious milk by offering small amounts at a feed.
Away from home
Expressed breastmilk can be kept in a common fridge at work or at the childcare centre. Label clearly. If a fridge isn’t available, place it in an insulated container with deep frozen ice packs. With enough icepacks, milk will stay at fridge temperatures for up to 24 hours. Icepacks are also useful when carrying milk home from work or to childcare, especially on warm days. But breastmilk can be safely refrigerated or frozen after short periods of storage at higher temperatures.
Soapy smell? Rancid smell?
If you plan to store large amounts you could try freezing a small batch for a week before defrosting and tasting it. Some mothers notice their milk smells slightly soapy once defrosted, due to high levels of lipase, the enzyme that breaks down fat. The milk is still safe to use but some babies refuse to drink it. Heating milk to a scald (bubbles around the edges, not boiling) then quickly cooling it before freezing can deactivate the lipase.
Thrush
Freezing deactivates yeast but doesn’t kill it, but there is no current evidence that milk frozen when you and your baby have thrush will reinfect you later.
There isn’t yet complete agreement about storage times. But it’s always preferable to store milk for as short a time as possible to ensure:
- Minimal growth of bacteria
- Minimal loss of antibodies and nutrients
Laboratory studies have shown that breastmilkbecomes less resistant to bacteria with time, but most of the bacteria found in breastmilk areharmless skin bacteria and not illness-causing ones.
The longer you store your milk, the more care you need to take about
- Cleanliness while expressing, storing andhandling milk
- Storing milk at appropriate temperatures (use fridge and freezer thermometers)
- Checking for bad taste and smell, which will show if your milk has gone off. Discard anymilk that smells bad
If any family members are ill, especially with sickness and diarrhoea, your baby will be better off with fresh milk rather than frozen. The most recent milk from your stores will offer him the best protection from the illness. You may prefer not to freeze your milk until everyone is better.
Making it work
This information can help you decide how to store your milk to meet your needs. LLL meetings are a good source of support, whatever your reasons for expressing your milk. Or contact your local LLL Leader for one-to-one support.
Written by Karen Butler, Sue Upstone andmothers of La Leche League Great Britain
Further Reading
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Expressing your milk
Hand expression of breastmilk
This information is available to buy from our shop
References
Breastfeeding Answers Made Simple
ABM Clinical Protocol #8: Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Full-Term Infants.
Hamosh, M et al. Breastfeeding and the working mother: effect of time and temperature of short-term storage on proteolysis, lipolysis, and bacterial growth in milk. Pediatrics 1996; 97:492–98.
Hands, A. Safe storage of expressed breast milk in the home. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest 2003; 13(3): 378–85.
Hanna N, et al. Effect of storage on breast milk antioxidant activity. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2004; 89: 518–520.
Israel-Ballard K, et al. Bacterial safety of flash-heated and unheated expressed breastmilk during storage. J Trop Pediatr 2006; 52: 399–405.
Igumbor, EO et al. Storage of breast milk: Effect of temperature and storage duration on microbial growth. Cent Afr J Med 2000; 46: 247–98.
Martinez-costa, C et al. Effects of refrigeration on the bactericidal activity of human milk: A preliminary study. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2007; 45: 275–77.
Ogundele MO. Techniques for the storage of human breast milk: Implications for anti-microbial functions and safety of stored milk. Eur J Pediatr 2000; 159(11); 793–797.
Ogundele, MO. Effects of storage on the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of human milk. Br J Biomed Sci 2002; 59: 205–11.
Pardou A, et al. Human milk banking: Influence of storage processes and of bacterial contamination on some milk constituents. Biol Neonate 1994; 65: 302–309.
Pittard, WB et al. Bacteriostatic qualities of human milk. J Pediatr 1985; 107: 240–243.
Rechtman DJ, et al. Effect of environmental conditions on unpasteurized donor human milk.Breastfeed Med 2006: 1(1); 24–6.
Silvestre, D et al. Bactericidal activity of human milk: Stability during storage. Br J Biomed Sci 2006; 63: 59–62.
Copyright LLLGB 2016
FAQs
Can I reuse previously fed milk if my baby does not finish? If baby does not finish the bottle during a feed, the recommendation is milk may be reused within 1-2 hours and after this time frame should be discarded to avoid transfer of bacteria from baby's mouth to bottle (ABM, 2017).
What do you write on a milk storage bag? ›
Keep a Sharpie with your breast milk freezer bags and write down the amount and date pumped on the bag. If your milk may be used in a childcare setting at some point in the future, write your baby's name on it as well.
What is the storage area for milk? ›
All fresh fluid milks should be stored at temperatures below 40 °F and should not be stacked high in the display cases. If stored above 40 °F, milk will begin to develop signs of spoilage, including sour odor, off-flavor and curdled consistency.
How long can you store breast milk in the fridge? ›
Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored: At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours. In the refrigerator for up to 4 days. In the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable.
Can I put breast milk back in fridge after baby drinks from it? ›
If your baby did not finish the bottle, the leftover breast milk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding. After 2 hours, leftover breast milk should be thrown away. To avoid wasting unfed milk, consider storing, thawing, and warming milk in smaller amounts.
Can Babies drink cold breast milk? ›
Is it safe to feed babies cold milk? Yes, it's safe to feed your baby cold milk. In fact, frozen breast milk can be used as a form of pain relief for teething babies!
Why do moms put breast milk in bags? ›
While some parents use food containers or baby bottles to store your milk, they take up a lot of space in the fridge or freezer. That's why breast milk storage bags are the best way to preserve and store your milk. After all, they're created for that express purpose. Best of all, they're easy to use.
What can I write on breast milk? ›
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 require breast milk be stored and labeled.
How many baby bottles do I need? ›
The general rule for the number of baby bottles you will need ranges from 4 to 12, depending on whether you will use formula, or you will breast feed. It will be best to have at least 8-10 bottles on hand before your baby is born.
How long can milk be stored? ›
Milk can be refrigerated seven days; buttermilk, about two weeks. Milk or buttermilk may be frozen for about three months. Sour cream is safe in the refrigerator about one to three weeks but doesn't freeze well.
Milk. Buy milk and other dairy products toward the end of your shopping trip so they spend less time out at room temperature. Store milk and other dairy products in the coldest part of the refrigerator, never store milk in the refrigerator door where it is susceptible to warmer air from opening and closing the door.
How do you store milk at work? ›
Cooler bag and ice packs.
(You can also use a cooler to store your milk if you don't have access to a fridge at work.) Any type of insulated bottle bag will work along with some ice packs. You can also skip the ice bags and use a bag that pops right into the freezer.
How will I know if breast milk is spoiled? ›
Some people describe a “soapy” smell or taste in their milk after storage; others say it is a “metallic” or “fishy” or “rancid” odor. Some detect a “sour” or “spoiled” odor or taste. Accompanying these changes are concerns that the milk is no longer good for the baby.
Can I mix breast milk from two 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 pump into the same bottle within 4 hours? ›
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.
Can you rewarm breast milk twice? ›
It is not safe to reuse breast milk that has been left out longer than 2 hours. Dispose of it if this is the case. Breast milk should never be re-refrigerated or re-frozen.
Can I pump both breast into the same bottle? ›
If you pumped both breasts at once and the total amount of milk will fill one bottle no more than two-thirds full, you may combine the contents in one bottle by carefully pouring the milk from one sterile container into the other. Don't combine milk from different pumping sessions when pumping for a high-risk baby.
How often should I pump? ›
The majority of new mothers get the most milk early in the day. Plan to pump at least 8-10 times in a 24-hour period (if exclusively pumping) You can pump in-between, or immediately after, breastfeeding. Make sure the pump flanges are the right size.
Are newborn hiccups OK? ›
Hiccups are normal and usually don't hurt your baby. In younger babies, hiccups are usually a sign that they need to be seated upright during or after feeding, that feeding needs to be slower for them, or that they need more time before or after feeding to relax.
Can newborn drink water? ›
If your baby is under 6 months old, they only need to drink breastmilk or infant formula. From 6 months of age, you can give your baby small amounts of water, if needed, in addition to their breastmilk or formula feeds.
Sit your baby on your lap supporting the chin and chest with one hand. Rub or pat the back with your other hand. Tip: Use repeated, gentle pats on your baby's back. Rest your baby faced down on your lap and gently rub or pat the back.
Is it OK to store breast milk in bottles with nipples? ›
Tightly cap bottles. Do not store bottles with nipples attached. Label each container with your baby's name and the date and time the milk was expressed. Put several bottle bags in a larger airtight plastic bag to prevent them from sticking to the freezer shelf.
Can you pump too much? ›
Problem 2: Oversupply
At the other end of the spectrum, increasing the milk supply too much through pumping can lead to engorgement, blocked milk ducts, and increased risk of breast inflammation, or infection (mastitis).
What does it mean when a girl has milk coming out of her breast? ›
Galactorrhea (guh-lack-toe-REE-uh) is a milky nipple discharge unrelated to the normal milk production of breast-feeding. Galactorrhea itself isn't a disease, but it could be a sign of an underlying problem. It usually occurs in women, even those who have never had children or after menopause.
What color breastmilk looks like? ›
The color of breast milk is usually yellow, white, clear, cream, tan, or blue-tinged. However, at some point during your breastfeeding experience, you may be surprised to find that your breast milk can be other colors as well. You may notice that the color of your breast milk changes over time.
What is a nickname for breast milk? ›
Colostrum is sometimes called 'liquid gold' because of its importance and colour. It has a lot of antioxidants and antibodies which can help keep your baby healthy. Colostrum lines your baby's stomach with good bacteria. It also contains compounds that feed the good bacteria and kill harmful bacteria and viruses.
Can you smell your breast milk? ›
Most mothers say breast milk smells sweet or doesn't really have a smell. However, sometimes mothers notice that their expressed breast milk smells or tastes soapy or sour—either soon after expressing or after storage in the freezer. Occasionally a baby will refuse expressed breast milk.
Do you sterilize bottles every time? ›
For extra germ removal, sanitize feeding items at least once daily. Sanitizing is particularly important when your baby is younger than 2 months, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system.
Is it better to use glass or plastic baby bottles? ›
Glass baby bottles are better for the environment, easily cleaned, and don't contain toxins that could leech into your baby's formula.
How many baby blankets do I need? ›
We recommend at least one blanket for newborns but we know that over time, two or three may make life a little easier—one for the cot, the pram and one for outdoor adventures. That being said, the more baby blankets you have, the easier it is to rotate them through being used and washed.
Organic milk lasts longer because producers use a different process to preserve it.
How do you store milk for a long time without fridge? ›
Insulated Lunch Containers
Bags with a gel lining keeps milk, yogurt, and other dairy foods cool throughout the day if you freeze them overnight. Or use a bag with a thermal lining that simply reflects the cool temperature of the food back into the bag. For best results, toss in an ice pack.
How do you store raw milk? ›
Keeping milk chilled is critical to keeping it fresh. Whether you are storing raw milk or pasteurized milk, you should always keep it in the refrigerator. It should never sit out at room temperature. If all you plan to do with your milk is drink it, then store it in clean glass jars, 2-quart size or smaller.
What are 4 important things to consider when storing milk? ›
The most important things to remember are: Fresh animal milk should be always kept in the fridge. UHT milk may be safely kept outside the fridge. The best place to store milk is the top or middle shelf of a fridge, not in the door.
How do you take care of milk? ›
11 February 2010
- Milk is a perishable food. ...
- Store milk at 4°C (40°F) or lower. ...
- Return milk to the refrigerator as soon as possible. ...
- Pick up milk last when shopping and refrigerate it quickly to keep its temperature below 4°C (40°F).
Different types of Milk preservation techniques are there to increase the shelf life of milk. The most commonly used methods are Pasteurization, Sterilization and Ultra High temperature Treatment. The common thing in above 3 methods is Thermal Heat treatment.
How do I stop people stealing my milk at work? ›
According to Hoffman the first way to try and stop them is writing your boss' name on the milk bottle. Hoffman believes that fear and consequences of their actions will stop them for thieving the milk. And unless they really despise their boss they're likely to take some other poor person's milk from the fridge.
How do you store milk for 3 days? ›
Place the containers in the back of the refrigerator or freezer, where the temperature is the coolest. If you don't have access to a refrigerator or freezer, store the milk temporarily in an insulated cooler with ice packs.
How do you store milk long term? ›
Once opened, transfer the product to a metal or glass airtight container. It can pick up off flavors from plastic. Again, store in a cool, dry, dark location. Refrigerating and freezing can extend its storage life, provided it's protected from moisture and oxygen.
What happens if baby drinks old breast milk? ›
Stomach cramps: Babies using spoiled, expired, or lumpy breast milk can cause stomach cramps, bloating, bloating, upset stomach, and fussiness. Food poisoning: Often spoiled breast milk will be contaminated, causing the infant to be infected with bacteria and have diarrhea and vomiting.
Newborns have a strong sense of smell and know the unique scent of your breastmilk. That is why your baby will turn his or her head to you when he or she is hungry.
Can you shake breast milk? ›
Human milk naturally separates into a milk layer and a cream top when it is stored. This is normal. It is safe to shake or swirl the milk to combine the cream prior to feeding.
How many times a day should you pump to build a stash? ›
Stick to a schedule
If you give consistent instructions to make a certain amount of milk, your body will respond accordingly. Pump three times daily AFTER you've nursed your baby.
What you should avoid during breastfeeding? ›
What foods and drinks should I limit or avoid while breastfeeding?
- Alcohol. There's no level of alcohol in breast milk that's considered safe for a baby. ...
- Caffeine. Avoid drinking more than 2 to 3 cups (16 to 24 ounces) of caffeinated drinks a day. ...
- Fish. Seafood can be a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
If you accidentally miss a pumping session now and then, there is no need to fret, as it most likely will not harm your supply — especially if you can squeeze in another session at a different time of the day. Missing one pumping session one day will not be detrimental to your supply.
Can I pump 30 minutes before feeding? ›
Pump between breastfeeding, either 30-60 minutes after nursing or at least one hour before breastfeeding. This should leave plenty of milk for your baby at your next feeding.
Can I mix morning and evening breast milk? ›
Yes, certainly. If you're doing a lot of pumping, try to mix batches pumped around the same time. The most common scenario is pumping on Tuesday and adding it to milk that you pumped on Monday.
How long can breastmilk sit out after warming? ›
Once you've taken breast milk out of the fridge and either warmed it up or allowed it to come to room temperature, it should be used within 2 hours. It is not safe to reuse breast milk that has been left out longer than 2 hours.
What happens if you leave breast milk out for 8 hours? ›
“Breast milk can safely stand at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours and need not be discarded if the first feeding attempt is incomplete. In contrast, formula must be refrigerated and discarded after the first feeding attempt because it contains no antibodies or infection protection factors.”
What happens if baby doesn't finish bottle? ›
Throw out any infant formula that is left in the bottle after feeding your baby. The combination of infant formula and your baby's saliva can cause bacteria to grow. Be sure to clean and sanitize the bottle before its next use.
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.
What happens if baby drinks old breastmilk? ›
Stomach cramps: Babies using spoiled, expired, or lumpy breast milk can cause stomach cramps, bloating, bloating, upset stomach, and fussiness. Food poisoning: Often spoiled breast milk will be contaminated, causing the infant to be infected with bacteria and have diarrhea and vomiting.
Can I put breast milk back in the fridge after warming? ›
Once you warm the breast milk, you can give it to your child right away or it can be refrigerated again for up to 24 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.
