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| We follow the CDC's guidelines for breast milk storage. Contact WeeSteps with additional questions. Fort Collins: 970.495.8283. Loveland: 970.624.5100 |
Guidelines for healthy newborns
- Wash your hands prior to expressing, pumping or handling breast milk.
- Pumped milk may vary in color and consistency and may separate into layers. Gently swirl (do not shake) the bottle to mix.
- Avoid adding freshly pumped milk to already cooled or frozen milk. You can add small amounts of cooled breast milk to the same refrigerated container throughout the day.
- Freeze milk in two to four ounce portions. You will waste less milk this way. Leave room at the top of container so the bottle/bag does not overflow when freezing or thawing.
- Seal containers tightly. Always date and time container. Use the oldest milk first.
- Do NOT save any milk left in container after a feeding or "milk drip" that collects in breast shells.
- Thaw frozen milk gently and gradually, keeping heat low (for example: in a refrigerator overnight, then may be refrigerated for 24 hours; hold container under cool running water or hold container in warm water.
- Do NOT heat breast milk in microwave or on the stove. This type of heating kills nutrients and creates hot spots in the bottle that could burn your baby.
- Storage guidelines for milk kept at room temperature may change based on time of year, if you have air conditioning or what household temperature you maintain.
- Fresh milk can be safely stored in an insulated cooler bag with blue cooler ice packs for 24 hours.
- Store milk in the back of the refrigerator and away from the door or in a free-standing freezer.
- If you do not plan on using the milk within a few days, freeze it right away in the coldest section of your freezer.
| Milk Storage/Handling |
Deep Freeze
(-4° F/ -20° C)
|
Freezer compartment of refrigerator with separate doors
(0° F/-18° C)
|
Refrigerator
(39° F/4° C)
|
Insulated Cooler with Ice Packs
(59° F/15° C)
|
Room Temperature
(Approx. 70° F)
|
| Fresh |
Six to 12 months |
Three to four months |
Up to five days |
24 hours |
Six to eight hours |
| Frozen, thawed, in fridge |
Do not refreeze |
Do not refreeze |
24 hours |
Do not store |
Four hours |
| Thawed, warmed, not fed |
Do not refreeze |
Do not refreeze |
Four hours |
Do not store |
Until feeding ends |
| Warmed, fed |
Discard |
Discard |
Discard |
Discard |
Until feeding ends |
Thawed, warmed, not fed
|
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