Breast milk is a nutritious way for your baby to get the best start in life. There are many reasons why you might need or want to store breast milk such as: emergencies, going back to work, illness etc but storing breast milk can be difficult if not done properly. In this blog entry, we will discuss the best ways to store breast milk. When you need a high-quality breast pump, make sure to shop with The Breast Pump Store. We carry pumps from some of the most trusted names in the industry.
General Guidelines
There are many ways to store your breast milk, but the most important thing is always remembering what temperature it was stored at and how long ago. If you do not remember, throw out the old supply and pump a new batch. Most mothers choose to use either breast milk bags or they store the milk in the pump reservoir or in bottles.Short-Term Storage
- Room Temperature. 4-6 hours max. 66-78℉. Keep it covered.
- Insulated Cooler Bag. Up to 24 hours. 5-39℉. Make sure ice packs are directly touching milk containers.
- Refrigerator. Up to 72 hours. 5℉. Put the milk containers in the back of the refrigerator.
Long-Term Storage
- Freezer. 3-6 months. 0℉. Put the milk containers in the back of the freezer, but away from the sides.
- Deep Freeze. 6-12 months. -4℉. After thawing, do NOT refreeze.
Other Breast Milk Storage Tips
- Always defrost breast milk completely before reheating it and feeding it to your baby.
- Do not refreeze breast milk.
- Always use clean containers.
- Always make sure the containers you are using were designed to handle the temperature inside the refrigerator, freezer, or deep freeze.
For breast pumps and other supplies, make sure to shop at The Breast Pump Store. Contact us if you have any questions about anything we stock. We’re committed to providing the best possible customer service as well as great prices.