10. Handling of breast milk
10.1 General storage guidelines
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Storage guidelines for freshly expressed breast milk (for healthy term babies)
Room temperature
60 to 77 °F
(16 to 25 °C)
Up to 4 hours is best
*Up to 6 hours for milk
expressed under very
clean conditions
*Guidelines for expressing milk under very clean conditions:
Before expressing breast milk, mothers should wash their hands with soap and water or an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer. The pump parts, bottles and pumping area must be clean.
Breasts and nipples do not need to be washed before pumping.
• These guidelines for storage and thawing of breast milk are a recommendation. Contact
your lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist for further information.
• Store breast milk in the coldest spot of the refrigerator (at the back of the glass shelf above
the vegetable compartment).
• For information on storing your breast milk, visit BreastMilkGuidelines.com (U.S.) or
https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/pumping-and-storing-breastmilk (U.S) or
Medela.ca/Breastfeeding/Moms-Journey/Storing-and-Thawing-Breast-Milk (Canada).
Refrigerator
39 °F (4 °C)
or colder
Up to 3 days is best
*Up to 5 days for milk
expressed under very
clean conditions
Freezer
0 °F (–18 °C)
or colder
Up to 6 months is best
*Up to 9 months for milk
expressed under very
clean conditions
Breast milk thawed in
the refrigerator
At room temperature:
Up to 2 hours
Refrigerator:
Up to 24 hours
Do not refreeze!