How long can i keep breast milk at room temperature

Topic Overview

The antioxidant and other protective properties of breast milk are most important and beneficial to your baby when breast milk is fresh. The protective components of breast milk decrease with refrigeration and freezing. But stored breast milk is the next best thing to fresh breast milk as a complete and nutritious food source for your baby.

Breast milk can be stored and then used in the following ways:footnote 1

• Kept at room temperature [ 16°C (60°F)] to [ 29°C (85°F)] for 3 to 4 hours. If the milk was collected under clean conditions, such as properly washed hands and properly cleaned pump parts and containers, milk may be kept at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours.
• Kept fresh in a cooler with an ice pack [ 15°C (59°F)] for 24 hours
• Stored fresh in the refrigerator [ 4°C (39°F)] for up to 72 hours. If the milk was collected under clean conditions, it may be stored for 5 to 8 days.
• Kept in a refrigerator freezer [ -18°C (0°F)] for up to 6 months

Safe storage tips

Follow these tips when you prepare breast milk for storage.

• Be sure to wash your hands before pumping or handling milk that will be stored.
• Storage containers should be clean and dry. They do not need to be sterile. Wash them in hot soapy water or in the dishwasher.
• Plastic bottle liners or small ziplock bags can be used for storage, held upright in cups. Be sure the bags are sturdy and stored in a place where they will not get punctured or damaged.
• If you plan to freeze the milk, allow a little space at the top of the bag—the milk will expand when it freezes. It's also important to put the date the milk was pumped on the outside of the bag. The date will help you know which milk to use first and when to get rid of milk you didn't use.
• Milk from both breasts expressed during the same session can be combined in one container. It is best to use a container that holds enough milk for one feeding. You are less likely to have to discard unused milk.
• For the most consistent temperature control, store milk at the back of the refrigerator or freezer compartment.
• When thawing or warming breast milk, run warm water over the storage container (which may be a bottle or a plastic bag) until the milk becomes slushy. You can then heat the container gently in a pot of warm water on the stove until the milk is slightly warm to the touch.
• Frozen breast milk will separate because the fat floats to the top. This separation is normal and does not mean that the milk has spoiled or is otherwise unusable. After thawing breast milk, shake the container gently and the fat will redistribute evenly.

Do not:

• Refreeze thawed milk.
• Use thawed (and then refrigerated) breast milk after 24 hours.
• Use a microwave oven for warming milk. Microwaves heat unevenly, creating hot spots that can burn your baby's mouth and throat.

There is very little research about how safe it is to refrigerate and reuse breast milk left over from a previous feeding. But many experts say it is best to throw away any breast milk left in the bottle after a feeding.

References

Citations

1. Eglash A, et al. (2017). ABM Clinical Protocol #8: Human milk storage information for home use for full-term infants, revised 2017. Breastfeeding Medicine, 12(7): 390–395. Available online: https://abm.memberclicks.net/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/8-human-milk-storage-protocol-english.pdf. Accessed February 1, 2018.

Credits

Current as of: June 16, 2021

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Sarah Marshall MD - Family Medicine
Thomas M. Bailey MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Mary Robbins RNC, IBCLC - Lactation Consultant
Kirtly Jones MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology

How long can breast milk sit out? And how long will it last in the fridge? Get answers to these questions and more in this post on safe breastmilk storage.

If you’re pumping breast milk for your baby, you may be wondering, how long can breast milk sit out? And how do I store it?

First of all, good for you! Breastfeeding isn’t always easy, but you’re making sure baby is getting the very best food even while you’re away. In this post, we’ll unpack how long breast milk can sit out, plus answer some breast milk storage questions.

How long can breast milk sit out?

It’s always best to refrigerate or freeze milk right away, but what if you’re at work? Or what if you forgot about a bottle on the counter? Luckily, breast milk is a live food that can withstand being left out for a relatively long amount of time.

Fresh milk

Freshly expressed milk can be stored at room temperature for 6–8 hours. If the room is particularly warm, it’s more like 4 hours.

Insulated cooler

Freshly expressed milk can be stored in an insulated cooler with an ice pack for 24 hours.

Refrigerator

Fresh milk can be stored in the back of the refrigerator for 3–8 days (assuming it was collected as carefully as possible). Ideally, it should be used or frozen within 3 days. Thawed milk can stay in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Don’t refreeze.

Freezer

Fresh breast milk should be stored in the back, away from the door, and should be used within 6 months.

Deep freezer

Fresh milk can be stored in a deep freezer for 6–12 months.

Tips for pumping and storing breast milk

If you are pumping breast milk for baby, there are a few guidelines that will make life much easier and ensure that your milk is safe.

• Wash hands before pumping.
• Use containers that were properly sanitized with warm water and soap.
• Store milk in 1–2 oz amounts (or whatever you know your child will finish at a feeding).
• Leave an inch or so of space at the top for expansion if putting in the freezer.
• Date each container.
• Freeze or refrigerate as soon as possible. If a refrigerator isn’t available, an insulated cooler is the next best choice.

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Thawing and heating frozen milk

The best way to thaw frozen breast milk is gradually in the refrigerator. If that’s not an option, then place the bottle of frozen milk in lukewarm water (or hold it under the tap). Increase the temperature of the water slowly until the milk is no longer cold (but not hot). Here’s more information on how to warm breast milk.

Never microwave human breast milk. The microwave may cause hot spots in the milk that can be very dangerous for baby’s sensitive mouth. Microwaving may also destroy some of the antibodies in the milk. Who wants that?!

Keep in mind that once milk is refrigerated or frozen, it loses some of its antioxidants and bacteria-fighting abilities. It’s still the very best food for baby but will not last as long as fresh milk.

Can leftover breast milk be served?

The potential problem with serving leftover milk is that bacteria from baby’s mouth may enter the bottle and contaminate the milk, so it’s best to avoid feeding leftovers if possible.

However, many moms have trouble with this answer, since breast milk is like liquid gold, and wasting even a small amount is devastating to a pumping mom. Many sources say that despite the possibility of bacteria growth, it is safe to feed leftover breast milk.

One study found that some breast milk that was refrigerated for 8 days had less bacteria than when it was expressed. This is because breast milk contains live cells and antibodies that help fight bad bacteria.

According to Ruth Lawrence, MD, author of Breastfeeding, A Guide for the Medical Professional:

“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. In contrast, formula must be refrigerated and discarded after the first feeding attempt because it contains no antibodies or infection protection factors.”

So, a good rule of thumb is to avoid feeding leftovers by storing breast milk in smaller amounts. If you do feed leftover breast milk, offer it within a few hours of the last feed, ideally (possibly up to 6–8 hours later).

How Long Can Breast Milk Sit Out? (Breast Milk Storage)

Final thoughts on breast milk storage

Human milk is pretty amazing. It can sit out for much longer than any other food and still be safe. It can be frozen and still be nutritious. What kind of a wonder food is this?! Oh, right—nature’s perfect food for baby, which comes from your amazing bod, mama!

So, next time you leave some breast milk out accidentally, you likely won’t need to throw it away. Considering how much time and energy it takes to pump that precious liquid gold, that’s music to the ears!

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