Quick question re: storing breastmilk

[supergolden88]

How long does EBM last in the fridge (in a medela bottle)? And do you know how long it is safe outside the fridge? I have googled but not sure I trust the results!

thanks!

[buggie]

5 days - big thing is to make sure it's in the fridge rather than the door. If you've frozen, once defrosted need to use it within 24hrs. When I was expressing 200ml+ a day I used the milk storage bags (boots ones) and would decant milk in there from the medela bottles.

[VictoriaL]

Hi,

Have a look at www.kellymom.com I found this site really useful.

Victoria

[millsa]

two years ago my health visitor said: 24 hours in the fridge, but last time I saw her 2 months ago she said that according to new research it is now 3 days in the fridge. outside the fridge: 1 hour.

I have never questioned it and never researched for more info, it seemed reasonable and I just followed her advice.

[Fuschia]

Safe out of the fridge for 8h I thought

[Fuschia]

Interesting: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/reusing-expressedmilk.html

Milk storage info: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html

[helibell]

maybe best thing (v. unscientific) is always to taste it first.

I used to freeze breast milk & couldn't work out why my son refused the bottle... until I tasted it & realised it was going off when frozen. Yuk.

I found an article on kellymom which said that this is not uncommon because some women's milk is v. high in certain enzymes. Or something.

[Fuschia]

helibell Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> maybe best thing (v. unscientific) is always to

> taste it first.

>

> I used to freeze breast milk & couldn't work out

> why my son refused the bottle... until I tasted it

> & realised it was going off when frozen. Yuk.

>

> I found an article on kellymom which said that

> this is not uncommon because some women's milk is

> v. high in certain enzymes. Or something.

It hasn't gone off, just tastes odd. It's to do with lipase, if you scALD IT BEFORE FREEZING IT WON'T HAPPEN

[EmilyE]

Kelly mom says 8 days in fridge, as does something else I have - but having tried it several times, I can assure the assembled company that my milk is off after 8 days in our fridge.

Maybe I don't put it near enough the back, but I don't leave it in the door.

And tasting it does work, but isn't so great if you taste it just before you wanted to go out, and realise that if you do the baby will have nothing to eat...