Storing expressed milk

How to store expressed milk safely

Breast milk must be expressed into a sterilised bottle or specially designed breast milk freezer bag or container that can then be sealed and (if the bottle has not been fed from) stored:

• In the coolest part of the fridge (usually at the back) for up to 5 days, at 4°C
  or lower
• In the freezer compartment of the fridge for up to 2 weeks
• In a freezer for up to 6 months

In the freezer

Breast milk should be frozen or refrigerated as soon as possible after expressing.

Defrosting

• Frozen breast milk should be thawed in a fridge or in lukewarm water and used within 24 hours
• Once defrosted and warmed to room temperature, it must be used immediately or thrown away
• It should never be refrozen
• It should never be defrosted or warmed in a microwave as uneven heating could scald the baby’s mouth
• The bottle should be thoroughly shaken before feeding