Refrigerated Breat Milk

Hi Allison,

I am breastfeeding as well and use a pump regularly. There is a really good lactation consultant at Presby Hospital in Plano and according to her, you can't refrigerate breast milk once it's thawed. However, you can store breast milk upto 5 days in the refrigerator and on the 5th day, if you still don't want to use it, you can freeze it and use it for upto 3 months. Hope this helps.

C.

The milk should be stored in a frigerator or freezer at all times. Only when it is going to be used should it stay out. After it is warmed it is only good for an hour and cannot be re-refrigerated or re-frozen. It can be reheated within that same hour, but after that hour, it is bad. Since it is only good for an hour after being warmed, it should not be used for more than one feeding.

I never used breast milk that had been out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours. If you want to use refrigerated breast milk for more than one feeding, pour what you need into a separate bottle. Bacteria from the baby's mouth can get into the milk & start to grow pretty quickly. Hope this helps.

I like to take a bottle with me when I run errands with my baby and its ok to leave the milk at room temp for about 3-4 hrs. After taking milk out of the fridge and warming it, I sometimes restore it for his next feeding if he falls asleep while being fed and doesn't finish a lot of it. If there is only a little left, I will throw it out. My baby is almost 5 mo old and drinks about 4 ounces of milk each feeding. So what I do is store the bags in 2 ounces and always start with only 2 ounces to feed in bottle just incase he falls asleep while eating. When he finishes the 2 ounces and wants more, I warm up the next 2 ounces. This helps avoid waste. If the milk has only been stored in the fridge, the rules are a bit more lenient but once its been frozen and thawed it must be used or thrown out.

Best I can tell there are a variety of rules for this...and I researched A LOT. This is what we go by... refrigerated milk gets used or frozen within 2 days, but I hear up to a week is okay as long as the container is sterile and sealed properly. Frozen it can last up to six months in a seperate freezer. An active bottle of milk is okay at room temperature up to four hours, but we stick with the three hour rule. Just in case! And never reuse milk, cuz the bacteria can grow and multiply between feedings. The best place to investigate is probably La Leche League or a pediatrician's office to make sure.

Hi A.,

I also breastfeed and have to leave refrigerated milk for my hubby at times so you can leave in the bottle for up to 4 hours from first feeding. You can also refrigerate but it has to be used I would say by 3-4 hours. Do you also freeze your milk? I hope this was helpful, have a good day!

J. :)

I believe Medela has a guide on their website. It will keep 4 hours at room temperature (just after pumping), 5 to 7 days in the fridge, and 3 to 4 months in the freezer.
http://www.medela.com/NEWFILES/faq/coll_store.html
Once the milk is frozen, it's much more "fragile" -- it needs to be used within 24 hours and you should not re-freeze it.

I would use the low end of these estimations, just to be on the safe side.
Good luck!

Hi A.! My son is 4 months old and I have been pumping milk for him ever since I returned to work (when he was 6 weeks old.) Generally speaking, the books I've read say that once you warm the refrigerated breast milk, only to use it for one bottle and any excess must be thrown away. However, sometimes if there are several ounces left, I don't want to throw away that precious milk! So I will refrigerate the leftovers and use it that same day, usually in the next bottle. After that, it probably needs to be thrown out. My son has never gotten sick this way.

Hope this helps! Good luck with the pumping.

E. :)

Hi A.,
L. the lactation consultant, here.
Congratulations on begin such a conscientious breastfeeding mom!
Here's a quick and easy reference guide for breastfeeding moms like you!
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T026900.asp#T026901 - scroll down to the bottom of the page for answers and a handy chart to review.
Happy Mothering!

I personally only leave it out long enough for the time it takes for one feeding (I'm overly paranoid! :)) and I don't think you're supposed to refridgerate it after it has been out. Check the manual that came with your pump for stored milk guidelines, the instruction booklet that came with the storage bags or call your pedi. I wouldn't chance it with your precious baby's new belly!! Good luck!

Well breast milk is only good for 1 hour after taking it out of the fridge. You are not supposed to use it for more than the one feeding. If I remember correctly the milk you pump is only good for 2 days in the fridge and up to 3 months if you freeze it. I hope breast feeding is as much of a joy for you as it was for me. oh and don't forget the lanolin!! It really works wonders. Hope this helps.

Breast milk can be left at room temp. for 4 hours at 80 degrees, 10 hours at 70 degrees and 24 hours at 60 degrees (like in a cooler or with ice pack). It can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 days and stored in the freezer for 3 months. If you have a deep freeze, it can stay for up to 6 months. As far as reusing left over milk from a feeding, there are mixed opinions about it. I would just throw it out even though it is a heart break to pour it down the drain! Some say throw it out, others say use your discretion and discard if there is any doubt. But if it has been warmed already it becomes hard to determine if it should be re-refrigerated and re-warmed later. Just my thoughts!