Storing breastmilk
Breast milk should be handled carefully to prevent contamination from bacteria. Always wash your hands prior to expressing and store milk in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible.
If you are storing breast milk in the fridge, use an airtight and sterile container with a lid; if you are freezing it, you can buy special thick bags that are designed for storing breast milk or use suitable plastic containers – these are sold in good chemists and baby stores. If you are freezing your milk for long periods, mark the container with your name and the date of expressing and check the model of your freezer as its temperature will affect the length of storage.
When storing breast milk in a fridge, place your container at the back and not in the door, well away from meat products, eggs and uncooked foods.
If you are storing breast milk in the fridge, use an airtight and sterile container with a lid; if you are freezing it, you can buy special thick bags that are designed for storing breast milk or use suitable plastic containers – these are sold in good chemists and baby stores. If you are freezing your milk for long periods, mark the container with your name and the date of expressing and check the model of your freezer as its temperature will affect the length of storage.
When storing breast milk in a fridge, place your container at the back and not in the door, well away from meat products, eggs and uncooked foods.
Breast milk storage guidelines
Every breastfeeding organisation has different guidelines for storing breast milk, the following recommendations have been compiled by the Health Service Executive. They are suitable for mums storing breast milk for healthy, full term babies. If your baby has been very ill or was born prematurely, please discuss these guidelines with a healthcare professional.- Freshly expressed breast milk placed in a closed container can be kept: at room temperature (no warmer than 26C or lower) for up to eight hours
- in a fridge (4ºC or lower) for 3-5 days (stored at the back)
- in freezer compartment inside a fridge: 3 months; in chest freezer: 6 months.
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