Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk (2024)

Safe Storage of Expressed Breast Milk

Before expressing or handling breast milk:

• Wash your hands well with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizerthat contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Mothers can express breast milk by hand or with a manual or electric pump.
• If using a pump, inspect the pump kit and tubing to make sure it is clean. Discard and replace moldy tubing immediately.
• If using a shared pump, clean pump dials, power switch, and countertop with a disinfectant wipe.

Storing breast milk after expressing:

• Use breast milk storage bags or clean, food-grade containers to store expressed breast milk. Make sure the containers are made of glass or plastic and have tight fitting lids.
  • Avoid bottles with the recycle symbol number 7, which indicates that the container may be made of a BPA-containing plastic.
• Never store breast milk in disposable bottle liners or plastic bags that are not intended for storing breast milk.
• 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. Although freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, recommended storage times are important to follow for best quality.

Storage tips:

• 

  Clearly label the breast milk with the date it was expressed.

• Do not store breast milk in the door of the refrigerator or freezer. This will help protect the breast milk from temperature changes from the door opening and closing.
• If you don’t think you will use freshly expressed breast milk within 4 days, freeze it right away. This will help to protect the quality of the breast milk.
• When freezing breast milk:
  • Store small amounts to avoid wasting milk that might not be finished. Store in 2 to 4 ounces or the amount offered at one feeding.
  • Leave about one inch of space at the top of the container because breast milk expands as it freezes.
• If you deliverbreast milk to a child care provider,clearlylabel the container with the child’s name. Talk to your child care provider about any other requirements for labeling andstoringbreast milk.
• Breast milk can be stored in an insulated cooler with frozen ice packs forupto 24 hours when you aretraveling. At yourdestination, use the milk rightaway, store it in the refrigerator, or freeze it.

Safe Thawing of Breast Milk

• 

  Always thaw the oldest breast milk first. Remember first in, first out. Over time, the quality of breast milk can decrease.

• There are several ways to thaw your breast milk:
  • In the refrigerator overnight.
  • Set in a container of warm or lukewarm water.
  • Under lukewarm running water.
• Never thaw or heat breast milk in a microwave. Microwaving can destroy nutrients in breast milk and create hot spots, which can burn a baby’s mouth.
• If you thaw breast milk in the refrigerator, use it within 24 hours. Start counting the 24 hours when the breast milk is completely thawed, not from the time when you took it out of the freezer.
• Oncebreast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed, use it within 2 hours.
• Never refreeze breast milk after it has thawed.

Feeding Expressed Breast Milk

• Breast milk does not need to be warmed. It can be served room temperature or cold.
• If you decide to warm the breast milk, here are some tips:
  • Keep the container sealed.
  • Place the sealed container into a bowl of warm water or hold it under warm, but not hot, running water for a few minutes.
  • Test the milk’s temperature beforefeedingit to your baby byputtinga few drops on your wrist.
  • Do not heat breast milk directly on the stove or in the microwave.
• Swirl the breast milk to mix the fat, which may have separated.

• If your baby did not finish the bottle, use the leftover milk within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding. After 2 hours, leftover breast milk should be discarded.

Safe Cleaning of Infant Feeding Items and Pumping Equipment:

Carefullyclean,sanitize, andstore pumpequipment, baby bottles, and other feeding items to protect your breast milk fromcontamination. See CDC guidance on how to safely clean and store pump equipment and infant feeding items.

• How to Clean, Sanitize, and Store Infant Feeding Items.
• How to Keep Your Breast Pump Kit Clean.