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7.6 Breast Milk Storage Guidelines
7.5 How to Fit Your Flange
Check breast flange fit, if pumping causes discomfort a larger or smaller breast
flange size may be needed.
Human Milk
Room Temperature
Time in
Refrigerator
Time in Freezer
Freshly Expressed
Less than 6 hours
Less than 5 days
Ideal: 3 months
Optimal: less than 6
months
Acceptable: less
than 12 months in
a deep freezer (-20
o
or lower)
Previously frozen, thawed in
refrigerator but not warmed
Less than 4 hours
Less than 24 hours
Do not refreeze
Previously frozen and brought
to room temperature
For completion of
feeding - up to an
hour at room temp
and then discard
Less than 4 hours
Do not refreeze
Infant has started feeding
For completion of
the feed and then
refrigerate less than
4 hours
Less than 4 hours
Do not refreeze
Thawed previously frozen
pasteurized donor human milk
Less than 4 hours
Less than 48 hours
Do not refreeze
Frozen pasteurized donor
human milk in a deep freeze
N/A
N/A
9-12 months from
pumping date
NOTE:
when thawing frozen milk, label as thawed when completely thawed (i.e. no ice crystals present). Use the time
when completely thawed to base acceptable time limits for use rather than when it is taken from the freezer.
Source: Jones, F. Best Practice for Expressing, Storing and Handling Human Milk in Hospitals, Homes and Child Care
Settings. Forth Worth, TX: Human Milk Banking Association of North America, 2019
GOOD FIT
During pumping, your nipple
moves freely in the breast
flange tunnel. You see space
around the nipple. Not much
areola is drawn into the tunnel
with the nipple.
FLANGE TOO SMALL
During pumping, some or all
of your nipple rubs against
the sides of the breast flange
tunnel.
FLANGE TOO LARGE
During pumping, more areola
is drawn into the breast flange
with your nipple. Your areola
may rub against the side of the
breast flange tunnel.
