Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Healthy Full-Term Infants
Please see Appendix J-8 , Table F-1 , and Box F-1 for guidelines on milk storage and thawing.
| Breast Milk | Room Temperature | Refrigerator | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshly expressed into closed container | 6-8 h (78° F or lower) | 3-5 days (39° F or lower) | 2 weeks in freezer compartment inside refrigerator 3 to 6 months in freezer section of refrigerator with separate door; 6-12 months in deep freeze (0° F or lower) |
| Previously frozen Thawed in refrigerator but not warmed or used | 4 h or less (i.e., next feeding) | Store in refrigerator 24 h | Do not refreeze |
| Thawed outside refrigerator in warm water | For completion of feeding | Hold for 4 h or until next feeding | Do not refreeze |
| Infant has begun feeding | Only for completion of feeding; then discard | Discard | Discard |
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Wash hands thoroughly.
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Polyethylene bags are acceptable for home use.
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Refrigerate or freeze milk after expressing.
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Use fresh milk whenever possible.
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Freeze milk that will not be used within 2 days.
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Use milk stored in a self-defrosting freezer within 3 months (top of refrigerator).
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Use milk stored in a deep freezer within 12 months.
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Use the oldest milk first. Date container at time of collection.
Human Milk Banking and the HMBANA
The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) was established in 1985, drawing together representatives of donor milk banks and members of the medical community. The goals of HMBANA are as follows:
- 1.
Provide a forum for networking among experts in the field on issues relating to human milk banking;
- 2.
Provide information to the medical community on the benefits and appropriate uses of banked human milk;
- 3.
Develop and annually review guidelines for milk banking practices in North America;
- 4.
Communicate among member milk banks to ensure adequate supplies for all patients;
- 5.
Encourage research into the unique properties of human milk and its uses;
- 6.
Act as a liaison between member institutions and governmental regulatory agencies;
- 7.
Ensure quality control of donor human milk banking among member banks through adherence to the mandatory guidelines and periodic inspection of member banks.
What is a Human Milk Bank?
A donor human milk bank is a service established for the purpose of collecting, screening, processing, storing, and distributing donated human milk to meet the specific medical needs of individuals for whom human milk is prescribed by physicians. A small processing fee is charged by each milk bank on a per-ounce basis.
How Does a Human Milk Bank Operate?
Donor human milk banks solicit lactating mothers to donate milk. Donors are carefully screened for health behaviors and tested for communicable diseases before they are accepted as donors.
Donors are taught how to express their milk using sanitary collecting methods.
Donated milk is heat treated to destroy any bacteria or viruses that may be present.
Frozen, heat-treated milk is dispensed to recipients with a medical need for donor milk. A physician’s prescription is required.
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