Practical concerns when storing your breastmilk

Clean food-grade containers or breastmilk storage bags are the best storage containers for human milk, especially if it is to be frozen and stored for weeks or months. Don't use bottles with the recycle symbol number 7. This means that the container may be made of a plastic that has the chemical BPA. Never use regular disposable bags (such as kitchen bags or those made for bottle feeding). Freezing may cause these to leak and break down. If using breastmilk storage bags, squeeze the air from the top before sealing tightly. In general, place storage bags upright in another container or the milk may leak. But if the double zipper seal on the breastmilk storage bag is reliable, freezing the milk flat will result in faster thawing.

You may combine milk pumped from both breasts into a single container. Just carefully pour the milk from 1 container into the other. Store only 2 to 4 ounces per container. That way you won't waste any. It's easier to thaw a second container of milk than to watch your valuable milk be poured down the drain because it was not used. Label each collection container with the date and any medicines you have taken. It's best not to combine milk from different pumping sessions. 

Health concerns when storing your breastmilk

The following guidelines are for healthy, term infants. Storage guidelines may be different for premature or high-risk infants. Talk with your baby's healthcare provider for specific instructions.

Fresh breastmilk contains the most active anti-infective properties, followed by refrigerated breastmilk, and then frozen breastmilk.

Unrefrigerated fresh milk may be left at room temperature of 77°F (25°C). But it must be used within 4 hours.

It likely is better to refrigerate fresh milk when it's not going to be used within 60 minutes. The refrigerator should be at a temperature of 40°F (4°C). Don't freeze milk for a high-risk baby when that milk has been refrigerated for more than 24 to 48 hours.

If refrigerated milk won't be given within 4 days, freeze it for later use. Milk can be frozen for about:

• Up to 2 weeks if the freezer compartment is in the refrigerator. (You must open the refrigerator door to reach the freezer with this model.)

• 3 to 6 months in a freezer that is part of a refrigerator unit but has a separate door

• 6 to 12 months in a separate, -0°F (-18°C) deep freezer

To keep milk cool when a refrigerator is not available right away, or to transport refrigerated or frozen milk, place it in an insulated bag or cooler with a frozen cold pack. It should be moved to (or back to) a refrigerator or freezer within 24 hours.