Breast Milk Storage: How Long Does It Last

Breast milk provides essential nutrients, and antibodies, and promotes bonding between mother and baby. As a new mom navigating breastfeeding, knowing how long is breast milk good for after pumping is essential for your baby's health and your peace of mind. This article will explore the science of breast milk storage and factors influencing breast milk quality, ensuring optimal nourishment for your baby.

Preparation before Breast Milk Storage

To ensure your breast milk remains safe and nutritious, follow these steps before storage:

1. Wash your hands thoroughlywith soap and water or a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
2. Check the pump kit and tubing for cleanliness.Replace any moldy or damaged parts immediately.
3. Sterilize all partsthat come into contact with breast milk after each use.

How to Store Breast Milk?

Proper Breast milk storage is essential for maintaining its nutritional value and ensuring your baby's safety. Here are breast milk storage guidelines:

1. Labeling: Clearly label containers with the date the milk was expressed. If delivering to a childcare provider, include your child's name and follow any additional labeling requirements.
2. Storage Containers: Use clean, sterilized, BPA-free plastic, glass, or breast milk storage bags. Ensure they are sealed properly.
3. Placement: How to store breast milk in the fridge? Store breast milk in the back of the refrigerator or freezer, not in the door, to minimize exposure to temperature fluctuations from frequent door openings.
4. Freezing Fresh Milk:For breast milk freezer storage, if you won't use freshly expressed milk within 4 days, freeze it immediately to preserve its quality.
5. Portion Sizes: Freeze breast milk in small amounts (2–4 ounces) to reduce waste and match feeding needs.
6. Space for Expansion:Leave about an inch of space at the top of containers to allow for milk expansion during freezing.
7. Traveling: Use an insulated cooler with frozen ice packs to store breast milk for up to 24 hours. Upon reaching your destination, use the milk, refrigerate it, or freeze it promptly.

It is worth mentioning that breast pumps like eufy Wearable Breast Pump S1 Pro and E10 perfectly combine practicality and storage functions. Our pump boasts lightweight portability, holding up to 6 oz (177ml) of milk in its clean and easy-to-clean container. With just four parts, maintenance is a breeze, ensuring hygiene without hassle.

How Long Can Breast Milk Stay Out

Proper storage practices are essential for maintaining the nutritional value of breast milk. By understanding how long is breast milk good for, you can ensure that your freshly expressed breast milk remains safe and beneficial for your little one. Here is the breast milk storage time explanation:

How Long Does Breast Milk Last at Room Temperature?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), freshly expressed breast milk can be safely kept at room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours.

Generally, when freshly pumped, breast milk is at its peak regarding nutrients. Beyond this timeframe, vitamins, fatty acids, enzymes, antibodies, and growth factors might be a gradual loss.

How Long Does Breast Milk Last in the Fridge?Refrigerated Breast Milk

It isan effective method for preserving breast milk's quality when immediate consumption is not possible. It can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. According to CDC. 

However, it's essential to note that while refrigeration extends the lifespan of breast milk, utilizing it within 4 days is ideal for maximizing its benefits.

How Long Does Breast Milk Last in the Freezer?

Freezing breast milk is a proven method for long-term preservation. Properly stored in a clean, sealed container, frozen breast milk can retain its quality for up to 6 months when kept at 0°F (-18°C) or lower. For optimal freshness and nutrients, it's best used within this timeframe, though it may still be safe for up to 12 months. Always thaw and handle it carefully to ensure maximum safety for your baby.

Here we list a detailed breast milk storage chart for every mom and dad according to CDC:

How to Thaw Out & Warm up Breast Milk

After safely storing your breast milk, it's important to follow proper methods for thawing and warming to ensure it remains nutritious and safe for your baby:

To safely thaw and warm breast milk while keeping it nutritious, start by thawing frozen milk in the fridge for about 12 hours or overnight; use within 24 hours after thawing. You can also place the sealed container in warm (not hot) water, gently swirling to mix.

When warming, use a bowl of warm water or a breast milk warmer, avoiding high heat to protect nutrients. Test the milk's temperature on your wrist to ensure it's comfortable. Never use a stove or microwave, as these can damage the milk. Discard any leftover milk if not used within 2 hours once heated.

Signs of Spoiled Breast Milk

It's essential to inspect pumped breast milk carefully before feeding to ensure baby's safe. To quickly check, you can decide whether the breast milk is spoiled through smell, taste, and color: 

1. Smell: Spoiled milk has a foul, sour, or rancid odor, often caused by bacterial growth or lipase activity breaking down fats. If the smell is unpleasant, discard it.
2. Taste: Fresh milk tastes slightly sweet, while spoiled milk may taste bitter, sour, or soapy. Avoid feeding if the taste seems off.
3. Color: Fresh milk is bluish-white or creamy. Spoiled milk may turn yellowish, brownish, or show unusual color changes due to oxidation or contamination.
4. Clumps: Large clumps or chunks indicate spoilage and bacterial contamination. Small white particles are normal, but significant texture changes require caution.

Conclusion

Proper breast milk storage ensures your baby receives safe and nutritious milk. By following our easy-to-follow guidelines for storing, thawing, and warming, you can maintain its quality and nutritional value. Handle breast milk with care, practice good hygiene, and watch for any signs of spoilage. Share these tips with fellow parents to help them provide their little ones with the best nourishment while keeping feeding simple and stress-free.

FAQs

Can I put breast milk back in fridge after baby drinks from it?

No, it's not safe to put breast milk back in the fridge after the baby has drunk from it. Once breast milk is removed from the fridge and exposed to bacteria in the baby's mouth, it can't be stored again.

Can you pump into the same bottle all day?

Yes, you can pump into the same bottle within a 4-hour timeframe if the milk is kept at room temperature after pumping. Once the 4 hours have passed, you should either feed the milk to your baby or transfer it to the refrigerator or freezer for storage. Always ensure the bottle and pump parts are clean before each use to maintain milk safety.

Can I mix morning and evening breast milk?

Yes. You can mix morning and evening breast milk at the same temperature. Combining milk from different pumping sessions is safe as long as they are both cooled to the same temperature before mixing. However, avoid mixing milk from different days or temperatures.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

The "5-5-5 rule" for breast milk refers to safe storage guidelines: freshly pumped milk can be kept at room temperature (77°F or cooler) for up to 5 hours, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and in the freezer for up to 5 months.

What are the rules for storing breast milk?

To store breast milk safely, follow these guidelines: store breast milk in clean, labeled containers. Keep it for up to 4 hours at room temperature, 4 days in the fridge, or 6 months in the freezer. Use thawed milk within 24 hours and never refreeze. Always handle with clean hands.