Question:
I am planning to return to work soon, and I want to have a supply of milk stored up. How long can I store the breast milk that I pump?
Answer:
Great question! It is always helpful to have an extra bottle of breast milk ready and waiting in the refrigerator! And, if you have a good supply of breast milk, pumping and storing any extra milk you produce can help ease your mind as you prepare to return to work. Breast milk storage can be done in the refrigerator or freezer, depending on how long you plan to store the milk. If you plan to use stored breast milk within 48 hours of pumping, it is perfectly safe to store it directly in a baby bottle in the refrigerator. If you plan to store the breast milk for longer than that, it is recommended that you freeze the breast milk. Frozen breast milk can be stored for up to 12 months. To freeze expressed (pumped) breast milk, place the breast milk in a freezer bag, like the Ameda Mother's Milk Freezer Bags pictured below. Alternatively, you can freeze milk in baby bottles (be sure to use bottles made from safe plastic). It is recommended that you refrigerate the breast milk for a couple of hours (to bring the temperature down a bit) before placing it in the freezer for storage. Using freezer bags specially designed for storing breast milk and/or a bottle will help you easily see how many ounces of milk is stored in each container. Be sure to freeze milk in quantities that can be used within 48 hours after defrosting, and remember to use the oldest milk first. For all of your pumping and breast milk storage needs, please visit The Pregnancy Store.