how long can i store my breastmilk in the fridgerator???? I looked it up on yahoo and i got 8 day, 4 days, etc. i just want to know how long other breastfeeding mamas keep their milk in the frigde. ~Fallen Fairy~
In the fridge its just 24 hours isn't it? I would never store it for longer. Frozen it can be stored a lot longer, although I'm not sure how long (although I seem to recall a month).
Up to 8 days. If it was previoulsy frozen, then 24 hours, but fresh KILLS bacteria and other pathogens and it stays good a long time. 6 months in a regular freezer (put it in the coldest part of the freezer, not on the door.) 12 months in a deep freeze (0 degrees F or below.) It can stay good for many hours at room temperature. Especially if it is freshly pumped. Frozen milk is great, but fresh is heartier and stays good longer.
Good article with the most updated info from La Leche League. Ladymoms, if you are reading milk in only good for 24 hours, you are getting info from formula companies who intentionally give out improper information so you throw out perfectly good milk and buy their stuff instead. NEVER get information from a company, website or individual who will lose money if you use your own milk. (Aka formula companies and their workers.) Unfortuntely there is a LOT of outdated and intentionally bad data out there. Look to La Leche League, Medela, or other PRO breastfeeding places for up to date breastfeeding info. It is pretty awful to see a mama throwing out milk, (liquid gold) only to find out later you could have kept it for an other week or more! Here's the article:
I am sure in the UK we were told 24 hours in the fridge and then at room temperature no more than 2 hours. Good thing mine always drank straight from the breast then!
thank you so much for that information maggie i am so glad that you are basically an expert on breastfeeding information. why should we not warm the breast milk in the microwave????
Haha, humans shouldn't eat anything thats been 'nuked' in a microwave period, unless that is, you don't honor your body and soul. Namaste Francine
Not warming baby milk or food in the microwave is because microwaves don't heat evenly so there may be hot spots in the food or drink. You just have to make sure its shaken or mixed really really well and its not too hot before you give it to the baby. This is why you're advised not to do it.
microves kill living things. Everything that is so good and vital about breastmilk will be destroyed. (as in any other good food).
Good thing! LLLUK has the same data as LLLUSA, though. Unfortunately, many hospitals and even some HCPs often give outdated, untrue information, not knowing any better, I am glad you didn't throw out any milk, though. Microwave heating can also decrease (although not eliminate) the antibodies in human milk (still, safely nuked human milk is still superior to anything you can buy in a can!) Of course, you don't want to shake human milk, as some will turn to a soapy substance. Some womyn have a lot of an enzyme which actually makes the fat denatured if shaken. Always gently swirl your milk, and don't worry about "reincorporating" the fat. It can't be done, (human milk is never homogenized, like store bought cow milk is, which breaks the fats into TINY bits so it floats in suspension.) Just swirl it and feed.
