Breast Milk Storage Guidelines: How to Store Your Milk Safely?

Why Proper Storage Matters?

• Bacterial Growth: Breast milk, like any food, can harbor bacteria. Proper storage slows down bacterial growth, keeping the milk safe for your baby to consume. 

• Nutrient Degradation: Some nutrients in breast milk are susceptible to breakdown over time, especially when exposed to heat or light. Correct storage helps preserve these essential nutrients. 

• Taste and Odor Changes: Incorrectly stored milk may develop an off-putting taste or odor due to fat breakdown. This can lead to your baby refusing the milk, resulting in wasted effort and liquid gold. 

Getting Ready to Store: Preparation Is Key

• Wash Your Hands: This cannot be stressed enough. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before expressing or handling breast milk. 

• Clean Your Equipment: Ensure your pump parts, bottles, and storage containers are squeaky clean. Wash them in hot, soapy water and rinse thoroughly. You can also sanitize them by boiling them for 5 minutes, using a dishwasher with a sanitize setting, or using a steam sterilizer. Avoid washing directly in the sink to prevent contamination. Air-dry items on a clean surface before storing. 

• Choose the Right Containers: When it comes to storing breast milk, choose either breast milk storage bags or clean, food-grade containers made from glass or plastic that have secure lids. It's important to avoid using disposable bottle liners or regular plastic bags that aren't specifically designed for storing breast milk. 

Storage Guidelines

• Countertop (Room Temperature): At 77°F (25°C) or colder, freshly expressed milk is good for up to 4 hours. 

• Refrigerator: At 40°F (4°C), freshly expressed milk can be stored for up to 4 days. If you're uncertain about your refrigerator's temperature, it's best to use the milk within 3 days. 

• Freezer: Breast milk can be safely stored at temperatures of 0°F (-18°C) or lower for up to 6 months, ideally, or even up to 12 months. For optimal storage, a deep freezer is preferable over the door compartment of a standard freezer, as it maintains a more consistent temperature. 

• Thawed Milk: Use thawed milk within 1-2 hours at room temperature or 24 hours in the refrigerator. Never refreeze thawed milk. 

• Leftover Milk: If your baby doesn't finish a bottle, use the remaining milk within 2 hours. 

Important Considerations

• Labeling: Always label your milk with the date it was expressed. If you're sending it to daycare, include your child's name. 

• Storage Location: Store milk in the back of the refrigerator or freezer, where the temperature is most consistent. 

• Portioning: Freeze milk in small amounts (2-4 ounces) to avoid wasting any. 

• Expansion: Leave an inch of space at the top of the container when freezing, as breast milk expands as it freezes. 

• Cooler Bag: When on the move, breast milk can be safely stored in an insulated cooler bag equipped with frozen ice packs for a period of up to 24 hours. 

Addressing the Lipase Issue

Quick Tips for Storing Breast Milk Safely

• Always store breast milk in clean, sanitized containers. 

• Be sure to label each container with the date the milk was expressed. 

• Place milk in the back of the refrigerator or freezer to maintain a consistent temperature. 

• Freeze in small portions to avoid waste. 

• Use the oldest milk first. 

• Never refreeze thawed milk. 

Conclusion