How long can you keep breast milk in the fridge

Q: How will I know if breast milk is spoiled?

Some people describe a soapy” smell or taste in their milk after storage; others say it is a metallic” or fishy” or rancid” odor. Some detect a sour” or spoiled” odor or taste. Accompanying these changes are concerns that the milk is no longer good for the baby.

If you are a new mother and a working woman as well, breastfeeding is clearly a challenge for you. Many a times when you want to feed the child, he may not be willing to breastfeed and when he is hungry, you may not be around. To solve this problem, most moms consider using a breast pump.
Breast pumping and storing the expressed milk is completely safe and healthy. But there are some rules to follow and one of the most important rules is the ideal duration to store the breast milk. If you are a new mom or are about to become one, read this carefully.

Table of Contents Show

Can I put breast milk back in fridge after baby drinks from it?
Can you keep breastmilk in the fridge for 5 days?
How will I know if breast milk is spoiled?
Can you combine breast milk from 2 different days?

Before moving to the duration, first let us understand the right container for storing breast milk.
There is a wide range of breast milk storage containers available in the market and medical stores. Some of the most common and safer ones are glass container, hard plastic (BPA free) and breast milk freezer bags. One should avoid using thin plastic disposable bags for the purpose as these can get destroyed or damaged when stored in the refrigerator.

How long can breast milk be stored?

The pumped milk can be stored in a refrigerator, insulated bag, freezer and at room temperature (for a limited time).

The longer you store breast milk, the more antioxidants and vitamins it loses. But again, stored breast milk is still better than formula milk.

Freshly pumped milk can be stored for four hours at 22 to 26 degree Celsius room temperature and for eight hours at 19 to 22 degree Celsius temperature. It can be stored in a cooler place with ice packs for up to 24 hours and for eight days in a refrigerator. In a freezer, it can last for up to three to four months.

You will be surprised to know breast milk can be stored for up to one year at - 10-degree Celsius.

Should breast milk be warmed up?

A newborn baby should be given a little warm milk. You can do that by placing it in a cup of hot water. Do check that the milk is not too hot before you feed it to the baby. If your baby is six months or old, you can give him/her cold milk directly from the freezer. It also depends on how your baby likes it.

Can fresh milk be added to old milk?

Yes, absolutely. But for this, first fresh milk should be refrigerated and then be added to the already kept milk. The date on the bottle should that be of the old milk.

Tip

Never store breast milk in the door compartment of the fridge. Storage time may differ from baby to baby.

Handling the office and house together can make it difficult for moms to breastfeed their babies. Being hooked up to a breast pump is a reality for many new moms. To increase safety and freshness here is all you need to know about storing pumped breast milk.
Breast milk at room temperature

If the room temperature is more than 77 degrees, it's best to store breast milk in the refrigerator within four hours of expressing. A hotter room temperature makes the milk go bad faster.

If your baby has finished the pumped breast milk, you can leave it on the counter for not more than two hours. On the other hand, freshly expressed milk can be left for four hours at room temperature as it has not come in contact with the baby's mouth, which can introduce new bacteria into the milk and make it go bad sooner.
Storing pumped milk in the refrigerator

As per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, freshly expressed breastmilk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. While placing the breast milk in the refrigerator, you should put it at the back of the fridge and not at the door. This is because the door of the fridge is always exposed to room temperature. Make sure that the temperature of the fridge is between 39-40 degrees Fahrenheit. Before using this milk, place the bottle/bag in a pot of warm water or run it under warm water for a few minutes.

If you have stored multiple packs/bottles, start by using the oldest one first.

To increase the life of stored milk, keep it in the freezer

If you have surplus breast milk or you are stacking it for later, you can store breastmilk in the freezer for six to 12 months. Though it's best to use it as soon as you can.

This is because, after three months of storage, breast milk has fewer calories and less fat as compared to fresh milk.

Remember the rule of four

Simply remember this rule of storing breast milk "four hours at room temperature, four days in the fridge". Also, make sure to label the milk with the date and time before placing it in the fridge or freezer.

How to tell if the milk has gone bad

No matter how careful you are, breastmilk may still go bad. Spoiled breastmilk will smell bad or taste sour or even both.

Can I put breast milk back in fridge after baby drinks from it?

If your baby did not finish the bottle, the leftover breast milk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding. After 2 hours, leftover breast milk should be thrown away. To avoid wasting unfed milk, consider storing, thawing, and warming milk in smaller amounts.

Can you keep breastmilk in the fridge for 5 days?

Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of the refrigerator for up to four days in clean conditions. However, it's optimal to use or freeze the milk within three days. Deep freezer. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of a deep freezer for up to 12 months.

How will I know if breast milk is spoiled?

Some people describe a “soapy” smell or taste in their milk after storage; others say it is a “metallic” or “fishy” or “rancid” odor. Some detect a “sour” or “spoiled” odor or taste. Accompanying these changes are concerns that the milk is no longer good for the baby.

Can you combine breast milk from 2 different days?

You can add more breast milk to a container of refrigerated breast milk, but it should not be freshly pumped breast milk that is still warm at body temperature. If you'd like to add your most recently pumped fresh milk to a bottle of already refrigerated milk pumped on the same day, you need to cool it down.