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Mothers who use breast pumps to express milk for their babies
should be certain their containers, table surface and
hands are scrupulously clean. Contamination will undo their
efforts to safely collect and store expressed breast milk. Follow these
guidelines from the National Women's Health Information Center, a service of the Office on
Women's Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
http://www.4woman.gov/Breastfeeding/Breastfeeding.pdf
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Storing Breast Milk
It is important to know the guidelines for storing breast milk properly so that you always give your baby fresh milk. Any container used to store milk should be clean and sterile. Always try to leave an inch or so from the milk to the top of the container since frozen milk expands. After pumping your milk, it is helpful to label the storage container. Always use the oldest dated milk first. Colostrum, or the first milk expressed in the first few days after delivery, can be stored at room temperature for up to 12 hours. Mature milk, or breast milk that comes in six days after the birth of your baby can be stored in the following ways:
At Room Temperature:
- At 60 degrees for 24 hours
- At 66-72 degrees for 10 hours
- At 79 degrees to 4-6 hours
In the Refrigerator:
- At 32-39 degrees for up to 8 days
In the Freezer:
- In a freezer compartment contained within the refrigerator for up to
2 weeks
- In a self-contained freezer, either on top of a refrigerator or on the side of the
refrigerator for 3 - 4 months
- In a deep freezer for 6 months to 1 year
- Once frozen milk is thawed, it can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours, but not re-frozen.
It is best to store the milk on a back shelf in the refrigerator or freezer. It is helpful to freeze the milk in small amounts, such as 2 to 4 ounce servings, so there is less waste and you can choose the amount of milk depending on the baby's hunger.
It is normal for stored breast milk to separate in its container into two parts, what looks like cream and then a lighter colored milk. Some human milk also varies in color and can be bluish, yellowish, or brownish. Just gently shake* the milk before feeding to mix it back together.
Breast milk doesn't take long to thaw or warm up. All you have to do is hold the bottle or frozen bag of milk under cool and then warm water for a few minutes. If warm running water is not available, you can heat up a pan of water on the stove. Remove the pan from the heat and place the container into the warm water. Never warm the container directly on the stove. Shake* the milk, then test it on your wrist to see if it's warm enough for your baby. Microwave heating or thawing of breast milk is discouraged.
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*An interesting article: Do Not Shake Expressed Breast Milk by Linda J. Smith, IBCLC
