Breast Pump Reviews & Help

Breast Milk (breastmilk) Storage

Breast milk should ideally be refrigerated immediately and used within 24 hours after expressed - this according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Within the first 24 hours, the antibody count is 168/millimeter cube. After that it remains at about 145 for the next 24 hours. After 48 hours, the antibody count drops to 148. The antibody count will remain at 148 for several months stored appropriately. This number is still much higher than the best formula you can buy, which has the artificial antibiody count of less than 104.

Throw away all milk that has been refrigerated more than 72 hours. Frozen milk can be used for a month or longer. A deep freezer at zero degrees can store milk for 3 to 6 months. Do not refreeze milk. If you haven't used thawed milk within 24 hours - discard it.

Also, breastmilk stored in hard plastic containers retains a higher antibody count than when it is stored in glass containers or a soft plastic container (such as plastic bags) where antibodies tend to cluster and stick to the wall of those containers.

Remember, when you store breast milk, please allow enough air space for expansion as it freezes. A bottle filled to the top may burst under the frozen pressure.