Proper storage of human milk
For breastfeeding and lactation support, you'll find several helpful resources from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As the national health protection agency, they provide guidance on lactation, proper storage of human milk including safe storage, safe thawing, feeding and cleaning pumping equipment.
We've provided the CDC's guidelines for quick reference:
| Storage Location and Temperatures | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Breast Milk |
Countertop 77°F (25°C) or colder (room temperature) |
Refrigerator 40°F (4°C) |
Freezer 0°F (-18°C) or colder |
| Freshly Expressed or Pumped | Up to 4 Hours | Up to 4 Days |
Within 6 months is best Up to 12 months is acceptable |
| Thawed, Previously Frozen | 1–2 Hours |
Up to 1 Day (24 hours) |
NEVER refreeze human milk after it has been thawed |
|
Leftover from a Feeding (baby did not finish the bottle) |
Use within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding | ||