Breast milk storage

Before expressing or pumping out breast milk:

• Wash your hand with soap and water. If not available use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
• Breast milk can be expressed with a hand or pump.
• Always check if the pump is clean or not. If not, replace or properly wash the equipment as per instruction provided with the equipment.

Storage temperature and shelf life:

• Freshly expressed breast milk should be stored in storage bags or a clean food-grade (glass, plastic, or steel) container with a tight-fitting lid.
• Breast milk can be kept at room temperature (25^o C or colder) for up to 6 hours.
• In an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs, breast milk can keep for up to 24 hours.
• Breast milk can be kept in the back of the refrigerator (4^o C) for up to 4 days.
• And in the freezer breast milk can be kept for about 6 months.

Storage tips:

• The breast milk container should be labeled with the date and time it was expressed.
• Do not store breast milk in the door of the refrigerator or freezer.
• Store breast milk in small amounts of 2 to 4 ounces (or the amount that will be offered at one feeding) to avoid wasting breast milk.
• Leave about an inch of space at the top of the container while freezing because breast milk expands as it freezes.

Thawing of stored breast milk:

• Over time, the quality of breast milk can decrease, hence always thaw the oldest breast milk first. Remember ‘first in, first out’.
• There are several ways to thaw your breast milk:
  1. Keeping in the refrigerator overnight.
  2. Putting the container in a bowl of lukewarm water.
  3. Holding the container under running lukewarm water.
• Never thaw or heat breast milk in a microwave. It can not only decrease the nutrient value of breast milk but also can burn a baby’s mouth.
• Use breast milk within 24 hours of thawing, if kept in the refrigerator(chamber other than freezer) for thawing.
• Breast milk should be used within two hours of bringing it to room temperature.
• Never refreeze breast milk once it has been thawed.

Feeding tip:

• Breast milk does not need to be warmed. It can be served at room temperature.
• If warmed under lukewarm running water or by putting in a container of lukewarm water
  • Keep the container sealed while warming.
  • Test the temperature of the breast milk before feeding it to your baby by putting a few drops on your wrist. It should feel warm, not hot.
• Swirl the breast milk to mix the fat, which may have separated.
• 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 discarded.
• Breast milk should be fed to the baby with a spoon / paladai.
• Avoid feeding with a bottle as this could lead to serious illness.

Related links:

1. Guideline for breast milk storage (CDC).
2. Breast milks storage flyer.