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 Next
step is storing the milk. Refrigerator or freezer?
If you are a back to work full time pumper you will
be freezing for sure. If you are only making occasional
bottles that will be used within 5 days (some sources
say up to 7 days but I feel more comfortable with 5) these
can be stored in the fridge. Pay careful attention to milk
storage temperature guidelines. You will be storing
milk in either :
- Bottles
- Collection and storage bags
It is important to store milk properly so that you maximize its "shelf life". Believe me, after all the work you go through to pump it out, breast milk seems as precious as gold...you will not want to throw even a drop of it away. You can store milk:
- At room temperature (66-72 degrees) for 10 hours
- In an insulated cooler tote or ice chest for up to 8 hours
- In the refrigerator for 3-5 days
- In a freezer unit that is contained inside a frig for up to 2 weeks
- In the freezer for 3-4 months if the freezer freezes ice cream hard and it is stored it in the back or sides of the freezer
- In a free standing deep freezer
for six months to a year
It
is also important to thaw milk properly so milk stays fresh
and bacteria free. Don't be surprised if the stored milk has
separated...just shake it gently after it has thawed and it
will look fine. Here are thawing options:
- In
the evening you can take milk from the freezer and
transfer it into the refrigerator. Defrosting in the refrigerator
takes 8-12 hours. Once the milk thaws you need to
use it within 24 hours
- You
can put the bottle or bag in a pan or bowl of warm water
for 30 minutes and swish it around until it is thawed
- If you're in a hurry
you can put the bottle or bag under warm running water until
it reaches room temperature
- You can also thaw milk in a bottle
warmer
Make sure you check the temperature
of the breast milk before feeding the baby. The best bet
is to tap a bit of milk from the bottle nipple onto the inside
of your wrist. It should feel tepid to the touch-not cold/not
hot.
 INFO TIPS:
Leave about an inch at the top of the bottle or bag if freezing
milk- the milk will expand when frozen. Freeze milk in small
portions- 2-4 oz at a time.
Frozen
milk can be transferred from a day carrier to a freezer if
it is in an insulated cooler tote or ice chest to prevent
any defrosting.
If
you are going to be doing a lot of pumping you might want
to consider buying a pump that comes with a built in insulated
cooler unit.
When freezing breast milk, label the storage containers. Put newest milk in back of freezer and use the oldest milk first.
 HEALTH ALERTS: Do not use the microwave for defrosting milk - hot spots can burn baby's mouth and microwave can also destroy valuable nutrients.
Once breast milk has been out of the refrigerator for one hour it needs to be thrown away. Throw away any milk that is left over after a feeding.
Always pump into a clean sterile container.
 LINKS: For more detail on pumping, storing and thawing breast milk go to www.4woman.gov/Breastfeeding.
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