How long can you keep breast milk in the fridge before freezing?

Understanding Breast Milk Storage: Refrigeration Before Freezing
When it comes to storing breast milk, understanding the guidelines for refrigeration is crucial for ensuring the safety and quality of the milk. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for a limited time before it should be frozen.
Refrigeration Guidelines
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast milk can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. After this period, the properties that help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria begin to decline, making it essential to either use or discard the milk within this timeframe. If you anticipate that you won’t use the milk within four days, it’s advisable to freeze it as soon as possible to preserve its quality.
Why Timing Matters
The natural composition of breast milk includes elements that slow bacterial growth, but these protective properties diminish over time. Therefore, while it may be tempting to keep breast milk in the fridge for longer, adhering to the 4-day rule is vital for your baby’s health.
Freezing Breast Milk
If you decide to freeze breast milk, it can be stored in a freezer with a separate door for up to 12 months without significant loss of quality. However, for optimal freshness, it’s recommended to freeze the milk within three days of refrigeration. This ensures that the milk retains its nutritional value and safety for your baby.
Practical Tips for Storage
When storing breast milk, consider using small containers to minimize waste, as this allows you to thaw only what you need. Always label and date your containers to keep track of storage times. If you find yourself needing to transport breast milk, it can be kept in a cool bag with ice packs for up to 24 hours.
In summary, for the best practices in breast milk storage, remember to use refrigerated milk within 4 days or freeze it promptly if you plan to store it longer. This approach not only ensures the safety of the milk but also supports your baby’s health and well-being.

What is the 120 pumping rule?

The first 12 weeks of your breastfeeding journey requires frequent breastmilk removal, stimulating healthy milk production. Studies show moms who exclusively pump for a minimum of 120 minutes per day can make enough to feed their babies primarily breastmilk.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.

How to know if breastmilk is spoiled?

It will also smell bad, much like spoiled cow’s milk. And, like spoiled cow’s milk, breast milk that’s old will taste sour. (It’s fine to taste your breast milk to check!) Always label your pumped milk with a time and date so you can tell how old it is.

Can I pump into the same bottle all day?

Milk stays good for 4 hours if you leave it at room temperature after pumping. So, you can pump into the same bottle within the 4 hours timeframe. Once the 4-hour timeframe has elapsed, you can either give the milk to your baby or store it in the fridge or freezer for future meals.

Can I mix breast milk from different days to freeze?

Can I mix fresh breast milk with older breast milk? Mixing freshly expressed breast milk with already cooled or frozen milk is not advised because it can rewarm the older stored milk. It is best to cool freshly expressed milk before combining it with older, previously cooled or frozen milk.

How long can you keep colostrum in the fridge before freezing?

You can store your milk in the fridge at a temperature of 2-4°C and keep adding to it for up to 48 hours. After 48 hours, you should place the syringe(s) in a clean zip-lock bag and place in your freezer at a temperature of -18°C.

How to know if breast milk is spoiled?

Human breast milk can spoil just like any other kind of milk. This leads to a sharp, sour smell and flavor. There’s no way to save spoiled milk. You should be able to tell it’s spoiled by tasting a sip of it yourself.

Can you combine breast milk from different pumping sessions?

If you combine breast milk from different days, be sure to cool your fresh breast milk before adding it to the previously refrigerated milk. Make sure the container of combined milk is labeled with the date the older milk was pumped. Store it in the freezer if the oldest milk was pumped more than four days ago.

How long can I refrigerate breastmilk before freezing?

Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of the refrigerator for up to four days in clean conditions. However, it’s optimal to use or freeze the milk within three days. Deep freezer. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of a deep freezer for up to 12 months.

Can you take breast milk out of the fridge and put back in?

Don’t put leftover breast milk back in the fridge to use later or refreeze it. It’s important to follow safety guidelines for breast milk because bacteria can grow in it if you leave it out for too long.