Health Tip: Store Breast Milk Safely: MedlinePlus

Health Tip: Store Breast Milk Safely: MedlinePlus

 

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Health Tip: Store Breast Milk Safely

Wash your hands before expressing the milk

By Diana Kohnle

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Related MedlinePlus Page

• Breast Feeding

(HealthDay News) -- Breast milk must be pumped and stored properly to be safe for your baby.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers these suggestions for handling and storing breast milk:

• Wash your hands before expressing breast milk, making sure all pump parts are properly cleaned and milk is stored in clean bottles.
• Always refrigerate breast milk and use within four days. Or freeze the milk for later use.
• Put dates on stored breast milk and use the oldest first. Store in 2 oz. to 4 oz. servings.
• Throw away any milk left in the bottle after a feeding.
• Never thaw breast milk in a microwave; thaw on a stovetop, under running water or in the refrigerator.
• Don't refreeze breast milk. Use within 24 hours of thawing.

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