General Frequently Asked Questions on breastfeeding, breast pumping, and...
A woman has the right to breastfeed in public places, where ever she is allowed to be with without harassment or discrimination. This includes using a breast pump or expressing milk by hand.
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For proper storage of breast milk, the US CDC recommends using the following storage and preparation techniques to keep expressed breast milk clean and safe for feeding infants later. These tips cover storing pumped or hand expressed breast milk at different temperatures in refrigerated units.
This CDC chart creates a quick printable summary to reference each time you store milk.
The following factors determine how long expressed milk can be safely stored:
Short Summary
Detailed Guideline for Storing breast milk after expressing:
- Avoid bottles with the recycle symbol number 7, which indicates that the container may be made of a BPA-containing plastic.
- At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours.
- In the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- In the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable. Although freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, recommended storage times are important to follow for best quality.
Detailed Expressed Milk Storage tips:
- Store small amounts to avoid wasting milk that might not be finished. Store in 2 to 4 ounces or the amount offered at one feeding.
- Leave about one inch of space at the top of the container because breast milk expands as it freezes.