Women who pump or hand-express milk for their babies know that breast milk is like liquid gold. A lot of time and effort goes into getting that milk for your little one. No one wants to see a drop go to waste. Show So, what happens if a bottle of breast milk is forgotten on the counter? How long can breast milk sit out before it’s no longer safe for your baby? Here’s what you need to know about properly storing, refrigerating, and freezing breast milk, and when it needs to be tossed. Whether you hand-express breast milk or use a pump, you’ll need to store it afterward. Remember to begin with clean hands and use a clean, capped container made of glass or hard plastic free of BPA. Some manufacturers make special plastic bags for breast milk collection and storage. You should avoid using household plastic bags or disposable bottle liners because of the risk of contamination. Your storage method will determine how long expressed breast milk will safely keep. Proper storage is critical so you can preserve both the nutritional content and the anti-infection properties. The ideal scenario is to refrigerate or otherwise chill breast milk immediately after it’s expressed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source shares these guidelines for breast milk storage:
These guidelines are intended for healthy, full-term babies. You should speak to your doctor if you’re pumping milk and your baby has health complications, is hospitalized, or was born prematurely. Milk that’s stored for longer periods of time than mentioned above in either the fridge or the freezer will lose greater amounts of vitamin C. Also be aware that a woman’s breast milk is tailored to her baby’s needs. In other words, your breast milk changes as your baby grows. If breast milk is left out after being used for a feeding, you may wonder whether it can be used for a subsequent feeding. Milk storage guidelines recommend discarding leftover breast milk after two hours because of the potential for bacterial contamination from your baby’s mouth. And remember, freshly pumped milk that has been left unrefrigerated for longer than four hours should be thrown away, regardless of whether it’s been used in a feeding or not. Previously frozen milk should be used within 24 hours once thawed and refrigerated. If left on the counter, throw out after 2 hours. Follow these best practices for storing expressed milk:
Adding warm breast milk can cause frozen milk to thaw. Most experts don’t recommend re-freezing thawed milk. This can further break down milk components and lead to an increased loss of antimicrobial properties. It’s best to chill, refrigerate, or freeze breast milk immediately after it’s expressed. If expressed milk is left out unrefrigerated, but it’s in a clean, covered container, it can sit at room temperature for between four and six hours. Milk that has been left out for longer should be thrown away. If you’re in doubt about how long expressed breast milk has been left out, err on the side of caution and toss it. It can be difficult to throw away expressed breast milk (all that hard work!) but remember: Your baby’s health is the most important thing. How long can mothers store breast milk?Freshly pumped milk can be stored for four hours at 22 to 26 degree Celsius room temperature and for eight hours at 19 to 22 degree Celsius temperature. It can be stored in a cooler place with ice packs for up to 24 hours and for eight days in a refrigerator. In a freezer, it can last for up to three to four months.
How many hours can keep breast milk in room temperature?If the room is 77 degrees F or below, breast milk is best used within four hours but may be safe for up to eight hours if it is expressed in a sanitary manner. If your baby doesn't finish the full amount in one feeding, you can use it again within two hours without refrigerating it.
Can I store breast milk in feeding bottle?You can freeze and/or refrigerate your pumped (or expressed) breast milk. Store it in clean bottles with screw caps, hard plastic cups that have tight caps, or nursing bags (pre-sterilized bags meant for breast milk).
|