Handling and Storing Milk

Handling and Storing Breast Milk
Proper handling and storage of your breast milk assures the highest quality and safety for your baby.

Always wash your hands before pumping or handling your breast milk.
Pour your expressed breast milk into clean glass or plastic bottles with caps. Plastic bottle liners may be used. (You may want to double bag as the seams may split during freezing.) Leave some room at the top for expansion if freezing milk in any type of container.
Breast milk may be left out at room temperature for 6-10 hours if you are going to use it right away. If your baby does not finish the bottle at a feeding, do not use it for another feeding as bacteria may have entered the bottle and could make your baby ill.
If breast milk is to be used within 72 hours, it can be kept in the refrigerator. If no refrigeration is available, store with blue ice or in a bag surrounded by ice until you are able to refrigerate or freeze it.
If breast milk is to be stored longer than 72 hours, freeze it as soon as possible after collecting it (in the back of your freezer). Do not store milk in the door of your freezer because opening and closing the door causes thawing and refreezing.
Each container of breast milk should be labeled with the date and time. Use the oldest first.
If using bags, place several in a larger storage bag to prevent them from sticking to the freezer.
Chilled, fresh breast milk can be added to frozen milk, one time, as long as thawing does not occur.

In a refrigerator for 72 hours
Freezer compartment inside refrigerator for 2 weeks
Freezer above/below refrigerator for 3 months
Upright/chest freezer at less than 0° F for 6 months
Only freeze amounts of 3-4 ounces at a time, as freezing large amounts can result in wasting unused milk.