🥛 Storing expressed breast milk

What to prepare

• Clean food-grade containers with tight lids or purpose-made breast milk storage bags.
• Labels for the expression date and time.
• Fridge and freezer thermometers.
• An insulated cool bag and frozen ice packs for transport.

Store, thaw and use safely

1. 1. Clean and label

   Wash your hands and clean pump parts according to their instructions. Store in small portions and label each with the expression date and time. Cool fresh milk before combining it with already chilled milk, and use the oldest date.

2. 2. Refrigerate promptly

   Fresh milk can generally be kept for up to 4 hours at 25°C or cooler under clean conditions. Rooms in Nigeria may be warmer: do not apply that limit to a hot room or car. Refrigerate promptly when it will not be used soon.

3. 3. Use a reliably cold fridge

   At 4°C or below, freshly expressed milk can generally be stored for up to 4 days. Keep it at the back, not in the door. If temperature control or hygiene is uncertain, ask your maternity team for a more conservative plan.

4. 4. Freeze and transport

   At −18°C or colder, using frozen milk within 6 months is best. Leave space for expansion and use the oldest milk first. Transport chilled milk with frozen ice packs and refrigerate promptly at your destination.

5. 5. Thaw gently

   Thaw overnight in the fridge or warm the sealed container in warm water. Use refrigerated thawed milk within 24 hours of complete thawing, not from when it first entered the fridge. Do not refreeze.

6. 6. Feed and discard on time

   Milk can be offered cold if baby accepts it. Once warmed or brought to room temperature, use within 2 hours. Use milk left from a feed within 2 hours after the feed ends, then discard; do not extend any earlier deadline.

Classic mistakes

• ❌ Microwaving milk Microwaving can create hot spots that burn baby's mouth. Use warm water instead and check the temperature before feeding.
• ❌ Guessing after a power cut Safety depends on how warm the milk became and for how long. Do not rely on smell alone. Ask your maternity team or local primary health centre for advice if the cold chain is uncertain.

Same topic

• 🍼 Measuring and preparing a formula bottle
• 💨 Burping baby after a bottle or breastfeed
• 🥕 Starting solids: a practical beginner's guide
• 📈 Growth spurts: beyond the 3-6-9 rule