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8. Storing and thawing breast milk
l
These guidelines for storing and thawing of breast milk are a recommendation.
Contact your midwife or breastfeeding and lactation consultant for further information.
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Do not store breast milk in the door of the refrigerator. Instead choose the coldest
part of the refrigerator (this is at the back of the glass shelf above the vegetable
compartment).
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You can freeze expressed breast milk in milk bottles or “Pump & Save”* bags. Do not
fill the bottles or bags more than ¾ full to allow space for possible expansion.
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Label the bottles or “Pump & Save” bags with the date of expression and volume
of milk expressed.
Do not thaw frozen breast milk or do not warm breast milk in a microwave or a pan of
boiling water to avoid loss of vitamins, minerals and other important components and
to prevent burns.
I
ln order to preserve the components of the breast milk, thaw the milk in the
refrigerator overnight. Alternatively, you can hold the bottle or “Pump & Save” bag
under warm water (max. 37 °C / 98.6 °F).
I
Gently swirl the bottle or “Pump & Save” bag to mix any fat that has separated.
Avoid shaking or stirring the milk.
8.2 Freezing
8.3 Thawing
Warning
8.1 Storage
Storage guidelines for freshly expressed breast milk
Room temperature
16 to 26 °C
( 60 to 78 °F )
Refrigerator
4 °C ( 39 °F )
or lower
Freezer
–18 to – 20 °C
( 0 to -4 °F )
Thawed breast milk
Healthy term
baby
≤ 6 hours
≤ 5 days
≤ 6 months at
–18 °C (0 °F)
≤ 12 months at
– 20 °C (– 4 °F)
Thawed to room
temperature: use within
max. 4h
Thawed to fridge tempe-
rature: use within 24h
Do not refreeze!
NICU
baby
≤ 4 hours
≤ 4 days
Optimal:
≤ 3 months
* More information at www.medela.com
