Breastmilk Storage Guidelines
Storage Duration of Fresh Breastmilk (For Use with Healthy Full Term Infants)
| Location | Temperature | Duration |
| Countertop, table | Room temperature (up to 77°F or 25°C) |
6-8 hours |
| Containers should be covered and kept as cool as possible; covering the container with a cool towel may keep milk cooler. |
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| Insulated cooler bag | 5-39°F or -15-4°C | 24 hours |
| Keep ice packs in contact with milk containers at all times, limit opening cooler bag. |
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| Refrigerator | 39°F or 4°C | 5 days |
| Store milk in the back of the main body of the refrigerator. | ||
| Freezer compartment of a refrigerator | 5°F or -15°C | 2 weeks |
| Freezer compartment of a refrigerator with separate doors | -0°F or -18°C | 3-6 months |
| Chest or upright deep freezer | -4°F or -20°C | 6-12 months |
| Store milk toward the back of the freezer, where the temperature is most constant. Milk stored for longer durations in the ranges listed is safe, but some of the lipids in the milk undergo degredation resulting in lower quality. | ||
Reference: Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. (2004) Clinical Protocol Number #8: Human Milk Storage Information
for Home Use for Healthy Full Term Infants. Princeton Junction, New Jersey: Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.
