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And how long can breastmilk stay out?

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Daniele - posted on 12/17/2009

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Quoting Whitney:

I am a breastfeeding mom and recently recieved a magnet from one of the lasctation specialist:
Fresh Breast milk:
4-6hrs in warm room (79* f)
10hrs in cool room (66-72*)
24hrs in insulated cooler with icepack
8 days in fridge (32-39*)
2weeks in freezer section of a one-door refrigerator
3 months in freezer in a two-door frigerator
6-12 months in a 0* deepfreezer

Thawed Breastmilk:
Thaw in a fridge- use within 24 hours.. do not store or re-freeze!
you can let previously froven milk sit at room temp for a max of 2 hours.

Hope this helps!



This. I pumped for 13 months and this was the guidelines I always followed. Also, make sure you do the smell/taste check if the milk is older than about 2 hours. Even if it has been in the fridge/freezer/deep freeze, check the milk. Depending on conditions the milk can sour faster than others.



You can also thaw frozen milk in cold water. Just put it in a bowl or a plugged sink and put cold water on the bag/bottle. It shoud only take a few minutes for it to thaw.

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Elaine - posted on 05/28/2014

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how about me iv been stopped breastfeeding for 6months but i still have milk on my breast its is ok if going to pump it again and give to my baby even its too long when i stopped

Whitney - posted on 12/17/2009

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I am a breastfeeding mom and recently recieved a magnet from one of the lasctation specialist:

Fresh Breast milk:

4-6hrs in warm room (79* f)

10hrs in cool room (66-72*)

24hrs in insulated cooler with icepack

8 days in fridge (32-39*)

2weeks in freezer section of a one-door refrigerator

3 months in freezer in a two-door frigerator

6-12 months in a 0* deepfreezer



Thawed Breastmilk:

Thaw in a fridge- use within 24 hours.. do not store or re-freeze!

you can let previously froven milk sit at room temp for a max of 2 hours.



Hope this helps!

[deleted account]

Thats weird i have a medela magnet on my fridge thats says 4 hours room temp, 7 days in fridge, 3 months in freezer, and 6 months in a deep freezer. (I also checked with my lactation consultant) I would follow the shorter times other ppl mentioned just to be safe. I havent given my son a bottle in a couple months but he had no problems when I followed the guidlines on my magnet :)

[deleted account]

It depends on how warm your house is, but generally not more than a couple hours at most. If you put it in the main part of the fridge (not the door), it can last 2 days, but generally only 24 hours. The freezer is the best place to store breastmilk. It'll last 3 months there.

Ange - posted on 12/17/2009

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I was told the 3 hour rule by my midwife - 3 hours on the counter, 3 days in the fridge, and 3 weeks in the freezer. She said some people go by the rule of "6" instead (e.g. 6 hours, days, and weeks) but that using the 3 rule is safer.

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