Whether to refrigerate or freeze fresh breastmilk depends upon how soon you will use it. Follow these guidelines:

• Fresh pumped milk can be stored at room temperature for up to ten hours. Once breastmilk has been refrigerated or frozen and then brought to room temperature, it will only be good in room temperature for ½ hour.

• Fresh pumped milk may be refrigerated for up to five to seven days. Smell or taste your milk for freshness before offering it to your baby.

• Fresh pumped milk can be stored in the average freezer for up to six months depending on the freezing capacity of your refrigerator. If ice cream stays frozen solid, your freezer is adequate for storing milk for six months. If ice cream stays soft, your freezer is adequate for storing milk for only three months. Milk can be stored in a deep freeze (20 degrees Fahrenheit) for up to 12 months. Store milk in the coldest part of the freezer, away from the door.

• Fresh pumped milk that has been refrigerated for up to 48 hours may be frozen. (DO NOT FREEZE milk that has been refrigerated for longer than 48 hours.)

Breastmilk expands when it freezes. Fill the bottle or bag to within one inch of the top to allow for this expansion. If using a bag, fold the top of the disposable bag over and fasten with a twist tie or rubber band.

Label the milk container with the date and time expressed.

If large quantities of milk are easily expressed, fill several plastic bottles or bags rather than one big bottle. The baby will only be taking a few ounces in the beginning, so do not waste your precious milk.

When transporting breastmilk for use away from home, keep it cold until just before use. A small cooler with ice or frozen packs may be used to keep the milk cold during transport.

Use the oldest milk first.