Storing Breast Milk After Breast Pump Use
Without a refrigerator:
Use an insulated storage bag. At room temperature (less than 78 degrees F or 25 degrees C) for six to eight hours. Cool milk sooner if possible.
With a refrigerator or freezer:
Put the milk into a clean bottle. Label with the date. Put it in the refrigerator or freezer
In a refrigerator for five days. Put the milk in the back of the refrigerator where it is coldest. If milk will not be used in five days, freeze it.
In a freezer inside the refrigerator for two weeks.
In a freezer with a separate door for three to six months (if your freezer keeps ice cream very hard).
In the deep freeze (separate freezer unit) for six to 12 months.
To thaw or warm breast milk, put the bottle in warm water. It thaws in about 15 minutes. DO NOT boil or microwave breast milk. If there is leftover milk after feeding, throw it away.
