Breast milk storage and use guidelines are pretty standard across the board which makes it easier for those who manage it on a daily basis. It’s easy to get confused when there’s so much different information floating around, but the good part is in this instance we don’t have to worry about that!

According to the CDC the timeline for breast milk is as follows:

1. Freshly expressed – 4 to 6 hours at room temperature (66 – 78 degrees Fahrenheit or 19 – 26 degrees Celsius)

2. Refrigerated – 3 to 8 days at 39 degrees Fahrenheit or lower (4 degrees Celsius)

3. Fridge Freezer – up to 6 months

4. Deep Freeze – 6 to 12 months at 0 – 4 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to 20 degrees Celsius)

Notwithstanding the above, I’d say that if you’re creating a milk stash of any kind it would be good to start rotating the milk out once you reach the 3 month mark. That way the milk wouldn’t be susceptible to losing all of its health benefits as the longer it’s in the freezer the less ‘potent’ it will be for lack of a better word.

Whether you’re nursing or pumping, you’re doing an amazing job! So be sure to take care of your liquid gold and secure it properly for minimal risk!