Breast Milk Storage

[tankgirl136]

Total newbie question, what is the best way to store pumped breast milk? For Same Day use or future ues? Also how long is it good for? Thanks in advance.

[lifeguard]

For same day or within a couple days use I store it in glass bottles in the fridge. Originally I froze in glass bottles as well but dh found it took SO long to defrost that it was difficult for him so then I switched to the little zip top bags intended for breastmilk. Freezing the bags flat made for the quickest thawing & warming so that is what I do now. Someone on here suggested cutting a hole in the bottom side of a gift bag & then stacking the frozen bags in the bag with the oldest on the bottom & then you can just pull out the oldest through the hole & add the freshest to the top. Works like a charm.

The guidelines I've been using are 3 months in a top of the fridge freezer & 6 months in a deep freeze.

[kriket]

I like the dr.brown bottles for next day storage. They are nice and heavy and have good sealing lids. We don't use them to feed, just store. They are BPA free if you are into that.

www.kellymom.com has good info on storage

I have heard 5-7 days in the fridge, 3-6 months in a freezer and a year in a deep freeze.

I like to freeze in ice cube form. If the bags leak into a bowl DH won't use them because they "touched fridge air"