How long would you keep breast milk?

Question

I am pumping breast milk because my baby won't latch on since they gave him a bottle in the nursery of the hospital. I am not freezing it, just pumping and storing in the fridge. How long would you PERSONALLY keep this milk... not what is suggested but what you would comfortably still feed your baby. I have a thing about dumping it if it's about 24 hours old.

Answer 1

Honestly.. I wouldn't keep it any longer than what the professional doctors say to keep it. There is a reason they give those guidelines. The milk can start to grow bacteria... all kinds of things. It could harm your baby. Frozen breastmilk in a deep freeze can keep for about 6 months. So freezing it is probably your best bet. Since the baby isn't latching on at all and you're having to pump so much. You can refrigerate breast milk for 5 days... and up to two weeks in the freezer section of the refrigerator... so if you're paranoid... stick with 4 days. You are throwing it out after 1 day. You are doing way more work than what you're needing to. Being a new mommy is hard enough work... don't be so hard on yourself... trust the experts... hints the word "experts"... :) Good luck! Don't make things harder than they already are. Good luck! Here is a website I found... maybe it will be helpful to you.

Answer 2

Breast milk is like liquid gold! I pumped when I went back to work, and I absolutely *cringed* when I had to throw some away, like if it got left out by accident or something...so I personally would have no problem feeding it to my baby for up to a week after it was in the fridge rather than throw it away.

I know you didn't ask for what "they" say about it, but KellyMom.com is a great resource on breastfeeding/pumping, and there's a good chart about recommendations on breastmilk storage. See link below...

Answer 3

It's good for 6 days in the fridge according to the pediatrician, but otherwise I'd give it at least 2-3 days personally. Keep it in the back of a shelf so it stays consistanly cold. On the door the temp fluctuates. Breastmilk is incredible, it really protects itself. It's good on the counter for 6-10 hours, formula is only good for like 2 hours. Good luck, I hope that helped you a little.

Answer 4

The Lansinoh storage bag training say this: Room temp - 10 hours In a refridgerator - 8 days In a freezer compartment interior refridgerator door - 2 weeks In a freezer compartment with separate door - 3-4 months In a separate deep freezer - 6 months or longer additionally, whilst waiting to apply, breastmilk should not be microwaved, yet thawed out under heat water. it is likewise commonplace for the milk to chop up. It has no longer long previous undesirable, it basically ought to be properly shaken.

Answer 5

In the fridge I'd keep for 3 days . But in the freezer I kept it for up to 3 months. It does turn color but that is normal. Also freezing does destroy some of the antibodies, but I agree that throwing it out does hurt a bit.

Answer 6

7 days in the fridge. why not freeze? You can keep it from 2 weeks to a month just by defrosting 24 hours in fridge before use.

Answer 7

I would probably keep it for no more than 3 days, and I'd smell it before giving it to my baby, just to see if it's not sour. But take heart, the only thing that can really be bad about breast milk is that it can go sour, and if that happens, it's not likely your baby will take it! You'll know! Good luck!

Answer 8

2 days TOPS. When I was pumping, my husband would refer to it as liquid gold.

My Dr. said 3 days was good but, I only kept it in the fridge for 2.

Answer 9

I'd give it about 3 days in the fridge.

Answer 10

2 days in the fridge and a week in the freezer. I really wouldn't keep it much longer than that; despite what doctors and others say you can keep it for.