Fresh breastmilk including colostrum.
Breast milk storage room temperature nhs.
If you need it on the go you can store your refrigerated breast milk for 24 hours in a cool bag or box with ice packs in it.
How long you can safely keep expressed breast milk depends on the storage method.
Breast milk storage guidelines.
For healthy full term infants here are the guidelines for keeping breast milk out at room temperature up to 77 degrees f or 25 degrees c.
What about storing expressing milk at room temperature.
5 days if temperature rises above 4 c after 3 days use within 6 hours or throw away frozen breastmilk.
In the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How to store breast milk.
In the fridge for up to 8 days at 4c or lower you can buy fridge thermometers online if you are not sure of the temperature of your fridge or it is higher than 4c use it within 3 days.
In a fridge use within 24 hours in a cool bag with an ice pack use within 4 hours at room temperature use within 2 hours.
Breast milk can be stored in a sterilised container or special storage bags remember to label and date it.
Your breast milk can then be kept.
Once fully thawed previously frozen breast milk may be kept at room temperature for a maximum of two hours or in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
However it s optimal to use or properly store the breast milk within four hours especially if the room is warm.
Consider these general guidelines for healthy infants.
Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored.
In contrast formula must be refrigerated and discarded after the first feeding attempt because it contains no antibodies or infection protection factors.
Never store breast milk in disposable bottle liners or plastic bags that are not intended for storing breast milk.
Store it in small quantities to avoid wasting any.
At room temperature 77 f or colder for up to 4 hours.
You can store breast milk in a sterilised container or in special breast milk storage bags.
Freshly expressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to six hours.
Breast milk can safely stand at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours and need not be discarded if the first feeding attempt is incomplete.
The guidelines for storage of expressed milk at room temperature between 16 25 c vary greatly as studies suggest different optimal times liebert 2017.
When defrosting in fridge.
Don t leave frozen breast milk to defrost at room temperature.
If made up formula is stored.
