How long is it good for?

[cnfusd]

Hi Everyone,

I am so disappointed! My DS was born first week of June. I have been pumping since to build up a frozen milk stash so that he can have that when I return to work. For now he is still exclusively put to breast. I have been able to build up a really nice stash. Only thing is I have been putting it in my regular freezer. We have a side by side one. I was under the impression that it would be good for three months! Well my DS just had his 2 month checkup and his pedi told me that it was only good for one month!! I was so sad!

I have looked up various sites online and pretty much have found one month and 2-3 months.... that it depends on the freezer and that it should not be stored on the door. Well I was putting mine on the door and the top shelf. The freezer side is not really opened much since we have the ice dispenser on the outside. Only time it is is when we are putting groceries in or taking something out which does not even occur on a daily basis.

What do you all think? Am I going to have to throw all of this milk away??? Please tell me what you think!!!

Thanks!

[mysticmomma]

I was taught 3 months.

[larzanna]

Have you looked at kellymom.com. The info there would be accurate.
I was under the impression it was 6 months in a regular freezer and 12 in a deep freeze.
But it really should go in the back at the coldest part, not in the door.

I read on kellymom that human milk is only bad if it smells bad or tastes sour, so you probably won't know until you go to use it and thaw it. But i might mark those ones, and of course move them to the back, and try to use them first to see.

-L

[YummyYarnAddict]

I've found that it varies from freezer-to-freezer (I've used 5 or 6 different ones in the 7.5 years that I've been breast feeding). While I haven't stored breast milk on the door of a freezer, I have had it last about 6 months in the coldest section of a refridgerator freezer and a year in an upright freezer (I haven't needed it longer than that, but I've heard of people using breast milk that was frozen for up to 18mos). The only way to tell if it's good or not is to thaw some and taste it.

Good luck!

[PatioGardener]

This may be a sign that you don't want to listen to your ped about breastfeeding issues

In a side-by-side I would think 6 months (they are best not on the door) and at least 12 in a deep freeze. The PP had a good idea - thaw some and try it! If it tastes OK then you're OK.

Congrats on your baby and your stash!

[leigh09]

the guidelines my public health nurse had given me (i'm in Canada) was also 6 months in the fridge-freezer, 12 months in the deep freeze. they also don't recommend using the door of the freezer.
i've never been able to store enough breast milk to have it last that long. i also personally wouldn't consider frozen breast-milk expired after only one month.

[MamaPhD]

I read 2-3 months in separate freezer (with its own door) from several places. Door is probably not the best place within the freezer, though. Don't throw anything away!!!!!
Im my experience, in my size by size freezer, 3 month old milk tasted a little bit like freezer burn. 2 month old milk was OK. Try giving baby the oldest ones and see if he likes it.

As far as saving up, the best way is to have a rotation. This way not all of your milk will be old. So, if you have 10 bags frozen and pumped 3 bags, I would freeze the new bags and thaw 1 oldest bag and give to baby in bottle. Now you have 12 bags frozen, plus the oldest one is used before it's too old. Repeat the next day. This way, you're building your stockpile and using up the old milk at the same time.

Good luck returning to work!