How long and in what ways can I store my expressed breastmilk?
Breastmilk |
Room Temperature |
Refrigeration |
Freezer |
Freshly expressed into a closed container |
6-8 hrs (26C or lower). If refrigeration is available, store milk there. |
No more than 72 hours. Store in the back where its coldest. |
2 weeks in freezer compartment inside refrigerator (-15C) |
Previously frozen – thawed in refrigerator but not warmed |
4 hours or less (ie the next feed) |
Store in refrigerator 24 hours |
Do not refreeze |
Thawed outside refrigerator in warm water |
For completion of feed |
Hold for 4 hours or until next feed |
Do not refreeze |
Infant has begun feeding |
Only for the completion of the feed, then discard |
Discard |
Discard |
*Chest or upright manual defrost deep freezer that is opened infrequently and maintains ideal temperature |
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Information reproduced from National Health and Medical Research Council 2012, Infant Feeding Guidelines NHMRC, Canberra p59
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