Here is the most important information on storing pumped breastmilk correctly.
- Use sterilised equipment whilst pumping and to store your milk in. I would recommend milk storage bags as they are space-saving and you can label them and use them right away.
- Milk at room temperature lasts 6 hrs.
- Milk in a cooler bag (-150 – 40) will last 24hrs.
- Milk stored in the refrigerator (40) will last 3-6 days.
- Milk stored in the freezer compartment (-150) lasts 2 weeks. Milk stored in the deep freezer (-200) lasts 6 months.
- Make sure you label the date and even time to store correctly.
- When you want to reheat the milk, thaw frozen milk in a warm water bath first and then reheat in a bottle in a bottle warmer.
- When out and about I used to take milk from the fridge and carry it in my diaper bag. By the time I wanted to offer it, it had warmed up a little and was available to offer, I also pumped ahead of my baby’s feeds so most of the time I took a bottle I had pumped before she would drink, so she would have warm and fresh milk whilst out and about.
- As with all foods, I would recommend getting used to smelling the milk and even trying a little to see if it tastes “off”.
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