What are the CDC guidelines for safely storing and thawing pumped breast milk?

What are the CDC guidelines for safely storing and thawing pumped breast milk?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides specific time and temperature guidelines for storing, thawing, and serving pumped breast milk safely for healthy, full-term infants.

Storage Best Practices

Container types: 

Store milk in breast milk storage bags or food-grade containers made of glass or BPA-free plastic with tight-fitting lids. Avoid disposable bottle liners or general household plastic bags.

Freezing volume:

Freeze milk in small batches (2 to 4 ounces) to prevent waste. Leave about 1 inch of space at the top of the container, as liquid expands when frozen.

Placement:

Store milk toward the back and middle of the refrigerator or freezer, not in the door, to avoid exposure to temperature fluctuations.

Labeling:

Always label containers with the date expressed. Practice "first in, first out" to use the oldest milk first.

 Thawing and Warming Guidelines

Safe thawing methods:

* In the refrigerator overnight (the 24-hour clock begins once the milk is completely thawed).

* Under lukewarm running water.

* Submerged in a bowl of warm water.

Never use a microwave:

Microwaving destroys delicate antibodies and creates uneven "hot spots" that can scald an infant's mouth.

Do not refreeze:

Once frozen milk has completely thawed, it must never be placed back in the freezer.

Swirl, don't shake:

Stored breast milk naturally separates into a milk layer and a cream layer. Swirl the bottle gently to recombine before feeding.

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