How long can breast milk be stored?

You probably have a lot of questions, whether this is the first time breastfeeding or the fourth. There are many questions, ranging from “how do I store my breast milk?” to “is it okay for the baby to drink milk that has been previously consumed in a bottle?” One of the most frequent questions asked by new parents (and expecting mothers) is, “How long can breastmilk stay out? Is it safe to store breast milk at room temperature?

37 Tips for New Parents on Breastfeeding

We catch up with breastfeeding experts to get answers to parents’ most pressing concerns about breast milk.

Can breast milk be stored at room temperature?

What’s up with leaving breastmilk out at room temperature for your baby? Is it safe for your child? Jessica Madden, MD IBCLC is a pediatrician and neonatologist. She is also the medical director for Aeroflow Breastpumps. She explains that Pumped Breast Milk may be left at room temperature before being consumed or chilled.

But there are some cautions. You should first make sure you’re using the right container to store your breast milk. Dr. Madden advises that breast milk should be stored in containers which have been cleaned thoroughly with warm soapy water and dried before use. Glass or plastic can be used to make storage containers. She says that at the moment, she does not recommend one type of container over another.

What does “room temperature”, exactly, mean? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends storing breastmilk at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine notes that room temperature for storing breastmilk can range from 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Jenelle Ferry M.D. is a neonatologist at Pediatrix Neoatology of Florida and the director of feeding nutrition and infant growth. She reminds us that temperatures in our homes can change depending on where we are. “Be sure to avoid storing room temperature milk near a window, which could allow sunlight to warm the environment,” says Dr. Ferry offers this advice.

How long can breast milk be stored?

The ABM states that the length of time breast milk is allowed to be left out depends on the situation. The ABM says that breast milk can be left out at room temperature for four hours. However, this depends on the circumstances.

What happens if you leave breast milk out for more than 4 hours?

The four-hour rule is generally followed by most parents. How long you leave your milk out depends on how healthy your baby is, according to Dr. Madden. She says that she recommends throwing out breast milk if it has been left at room temperature longer than six to eight (8) hours and only giving breast milk to full-term, healthy babies whose immune systems are still developing. This is because premature babies are more susceptible to infection, due to their immature immune system.

Dr. Madden advises that common sense is the best way to go, no matter how long your milk was left at room temperature. She says that if the milk smells or tastes spoiled, it should be thrown away no matter how many hours it has been left at room temperature.

Dr. Ferry concurs with this sentiment. She says that if milk smells bad, it’s gone bad. It should be thrown out. Breastmilk that is left out for too long can grow bacteria which cannot be seen. It’s not just the color or appearance of the milk. Milk that is left out for too long may cause vomiting or diarrhea. Ferry also adds.

Leslie Owens RN, IBCLC, at Mother Nurture Maternity recommends that you leave the milk out for no more than four hours, due to the risk of bacterial contamination. She recommends that if you want to save milk, you can store it and use it in the bath water of your baby as milk. Many believe that breastmilk has many benefits for skin.

What if your baby doesn’t finish their bottle?

Dr. Madden is often asked what to do about room temperature breastmilk that has been left in a bottle following a feeding. To answer this, Dr. Madden refers you to the ABM Protocol for Milk Storage, which suggests that any milk left at room temperature after more than an hour or two should be thrown out. She advises that leftover milk should never be given as a gift to premature babies due to the increased risk of infection.

How can you safely store breast milk?

You can refer to the CDC guidelines for basic information about safe milk storage. For the basics of safe milk storage, you can consult the CDC guidelines. In a nutshell: freshly pumped breastmilk can only be kept in the refrigerator for four days and in the freezer between six and twelve months. You can defrost your milk in the freezer, then leave it outside for up to two hours. Then you can put it back into the fridge. You can’t refreeze milk that has been thawed.

What are some other milk storage tips that experts can offer? Owens advises against storing too much at once to avoid wasting your pumped milk. She says that parents often ask how much milk to store. I usually advise them to store it in increments of one to two ounces at first, and then three to four ounces as the baby grows. Owens suggests labeling milk storage bags with dates when freezing milk. She suggests that you order the milk so the oldest milk is at the front and the freshest at the back. This will prevent it from being forgotten before its expiration date.