Breastfeeding for the First Time

For those of you who are planning to breastfeed for the first time, or may have already started, and are storing breastmilk, I thought the following information would be helpful.

Mature milk

15 degrees C (59-60 degrees F) --24 hrs
19-22 degrees C (66-71.6 degrees F) -- 10 hrs
25 degrees C (79 degrees F) -- 4-8 hrs
refrigerated 0-4 degrees C (32-39 degrees F) -- 8 days

Frozen milk

Freezer compartment located inside a refrigerator -- 2 weeks
(very few 'modern' household fridge/freezers are like this)

Separate door refrigerator/freezer -- 3 or 4 months
(temperature varies because the door opens frequently) (This is the more common type)

• Separate deep freeze at constant -19 degrees C (0 degrees F) 6 months or longer

Thawed milk
If milk has been frozen and thawed, it can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours for later use. It should not be refrozen. It is not known whether milk that is left in the bottle after a feeding can be safely kept until the next feeding or if it should be discarded.