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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and therefore cannot prescribe, treat, or diagnose. I’m a mom and health coach sharing my knowledge and experiences for educational purposes. This does not take the place of any professional medical advice.

From the moment that liquid gold leaves your body, a countdown begins. At room temperature (~25°C /77°F or colder), freshly expressed breast milk can maintain its nutritional integrity for about 4 hours. It’s important to store it in clean, food-grade containers with airtight seals. Exposure to air can introduce bacteria, which is why room temperature storage isn’t for the long haul.

Best Practices for Room Temperature Breast Milk Storage

  • Express milk directly into the storage container, if possible, to minimize potential contamination.
  • If you won’t be using the milk within four hours, consider refrigerating or freezing it promptly.
  • Don’t mix room temperature milk with previously stored milk from the refrigerator or freezer until they are at the same temperature. The warm milk heating up the cold milk can leave room for bacteria growth. I honestly did not always follow this rule.

When stored in the refrigerator at 4°C (39°F), breast milk can stay fresh for up to 4 days.

Essential Rules for Refrigerated Breast Milk Storage

  • Label your milk with the date it was expressed to ensure you’re using the oldest milk first.
  • Store milk in the back of the main body of the fridge, not in the door where temperature fluctuates more.
  • Keep the milk away from raw meat and eggs to prevent cross-contamination.

When you’re not planning to use breast milk within the span of a few days, the freezer is your best bet for long-term storage. At -18°C (0°F) or colder, breast milk can last for approximately six to twelve months. The secret here is consistent low temperature and the least amount of air in the packaging to reduce the risk of freezer burn.

Freezing Facts for Breastmilk Storage

  • Store milk in small portions to avoid wasted milk due to over-feeding or contamination.
  • Thaw frozen breast milk in the refrigerator or under cool running water. Never use a microwave, as it can cause hot spots and scald your baby’s mouth.
  • It’s recommended to use proper breast milk storage bags or containers that are specifically designed for breast milk, but I wanted to use glass, so I stored milk in tiny mason jars. We did deal with freezer burn issues for this reason, although scraping off the top layer helped with taste.

You got this, Momma! You can also read some breast milk FAQs here.

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xo, Mary