
Did you know?
You can keep germs from getting into the milk by washing your pumping equipment with soap and water and letting the equipment air dry.
You can keep germs from getting into the milk by washing your pumping equipment with soap and water and letting the equipment air dry.
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Whether you're going back to work, want to have your partner help with feedings, or want to make sure you have breastmilk for your baby if you are away for a few hours, you will need to pump and store your breastmilk. Get tips on pumping your milk and storing it safely.
If you are unable to breastfeed your baby directly, make sure to pump during the times your baby would normally eat. This will help you to continue making milk.
Before you pump, wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol. Make sure the area where you are pumping and your pump parts and bottles are clean. You do not need to wash your breasts and nipples before pumping.
If you need help to get your milk to start flowing without your baby there, you can:
Ways to express your milk by hand or pump |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Type |
How it works |
What's involved |
Average cost |
Hand expression |
You use your hand to squeeze and press on your breast to remove milk. |
|
Free |
Manual pump |
You use your hand and wrist to operate a hand-held device to pump the milk. |
|
$30 to $50* |
Electric breast pump |
Runs on battery or plugs into an electrical outlet. |
|
$150 to over $250* |
* You can rent an electric pump from a lactation consultant at a local hospital or from a breastfeeding organization. This type of pump works well for creating a milk supply when a new baby can't feed at the breast. Mothers who have struggled with other pumping methods may find that these pumps work well for them.
Most insurance plans must cover the cost of a breast pump. You may be offered a rental or a new one for you to keep. Your plan may provide guidance on whether the covered pump is manual or electric, how long the coverage of a rented pump lasts, and when they'll provide the pump (before or after you have the baby). Learn more about your breastfeeding benefits at HealthCare.gov and talk to your insurance company to learn their specific policies on breast pumps.
After each pumping, you can:
When storing breastmilk, use breastmilk storage bags, which are made for freezing human milk. You can also use clean glass or hard BPA-free plastic bottles with tight-fitting lids. Do not use containers with the recycle number 7, which may contain BPA. Do not use disposable bottle liners or other plastic bags to store breastmilk.
Storage bottles or bags to refrigerate or freeze your breastmilk also qualify as tax-deductible breastfeeding gear. Most insurance plans must cover breastfeeding supplies, such as storage bags, in addition to breast pumps. Call your insurance company to learn more.
View our guide to storing fresh breastmilk or learn tips for freezing milk.
Guide to storing fresh breastmilk for use with healthy, full-term babies |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Place |
Temperature |
How long |
Things to know |
Countertop, table |
Room temperature (up to 77°F) |
Up to 4 hours |
Containers should be covered and kept as cool as possible. Covering the container with a clean cool towel may keep milk cooler. Throw out any leftover milk within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding. |
Refrigerator |
40°F |
Up to 4 days |
Store milk in the back of the refrigerator. When at work, it's OK to put breastmilk in a shared refrigerator. Be sure to label the container clearly. |
Freezer |
0°F or colder |
Within 6 months is best. Up to 12 months is acceptable. |
Store milk toward the back of the freezer where the temperature is most constant. Milk stored at 0°F or colder is safe for longer durations, but the quality of the milk might not be as high. |
Source: Adapted from 7th Edition American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Pediatric Nutrition Handbook (2014); 2nd Edition AAP/American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Breastfeeding Handbook for Physicians (2014); Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) Clinical Protocol #8 Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Full-Term Infants (2017); CDC Human Milk Storage Guidelines (2018).
|
Room temperature |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
---|---|---|---|
Thawed breastmilk |
1 to 2 hours |
Up to 1 day (24 hours) |
Do not refreeze. |
Source: Adapted from ABM Clinical Protocol #8 Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Full-Term Infants (2017).
For more information about pumping and storing breastmilk, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or check out the following resources from other organizations:
You can keep germs from getting into the milk by washing your pumping equipment with soap and water and letting the equipment air dry.
To receive Breastfeeding email updates
All material contained on these pages are free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.
Page last updated: July 09, 2018.
Whether you're going back to work, want to have your partner help with feedings, or want to make sure you have breastmilk for your baby if you are away for a few hours, you will need to pump and store your breastmilk. Get tips on pumping your milk and storing it safely.
If you are unable to breastfeed your baby directly, make sure to pump during the times your baby would normally eat. This will help you to continue making milk.
Before you pump, wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol. Make sure the area where you are pumping and your pump parts and bottles are clean. You do not need to wash your breasts and nipples before pumping.
If you need help to get your milk to start flowing without your baby there, you can:
Ways to express your milk by hand or pump |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Type |
How it works |
What's involved |
Average cost |
Hand expression |
You use your hand to squeeze and press on your breast to remove milk. |
|
Free |
Manual pump |
You use your hand and wrist to operate a hand-held device to pump the milk. |
|
$30 to $50* |
Electric breast pump |
Runs on battery or plugs into an electrical outlet. |
|
$150 to over $250* |
* You can rent an electric pump from a lactation consultant at a local hospital or from a breastfeeding organization. This type of pump works well for creating a milk supply when a new baby can't feed at the breast. Mothers who have struggled with other pumping methods may find that these pumps work well for them.
Most insurance plans must cover the cost of a breast pump. You may be offered a rental or a new one for you to keep. Your plan may provide guidance on whether the covered pump is manual or electric, how long the coverage of a rented pump lasts, and when they'll provide the pump (before or after you have the baby). Learn more about your breastfeeding benefits at HealthCare.gov and talk to your insurance company to learn their specific policies on breast pumps.
After each pumping, you can:
When storing breastmilk, use breastmilk storage bags, which are made for freezing human milk. You can also use clean glass or hard BPA-free plastic bottles with tight-fitting lids. Do not use containers with the recycle number 7, which may contain BPA. Do not use disposable bottle liners or other plastic bags to store breastmilk.
Storage bottles or bags to refrigerate or freeze your breastmilk also qualify as tax-deductible breastfeeding gear. Most insurance plans must cover breastfeeding supplies, such as storage bags, in addition to breast pumps. Call your insurance company to learn more.
View our guide to storing fresh breastmilk or learn tips for freezing milk.
Guide to storing fresh breastmilk for use with healthy, full-term babies |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Place |
Temperature |
How long |
Things to know |
Countertop, table |
Room temperature (up to 77°F) |
Up to 4 hours |
Containers should be covered and kept as cool as possible. Covering the container with a clean cool towel may keep milk cooler. Throw out any leftover milk within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding. |
Refrigerator |
40°F |
Up to 4 days |
Store milk in the back of the refrigerator. When at work, it's OK to put breastmilk in a shared refrigerator. Be sure to label the container clearly. |
Freezer |
0°F or colder |
Within 6 months is best. Up to 12 months is acceptable. |
Store milk toward the back of the freezer where the temperature is most constant. Milk stored at 0°F or colder is safe for longer durations, but the quality of the milk might not be as high. |
Source: Adapted from 7th Edition American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Pediatric Nutrition Handbook (2014); 2nd Edition AAP/American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Breastfeeding Handbook for Physicians (2014); Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) Clinical Protocol #8 Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Full-Term Infants (2017); CDC Human Milk Storage Guidelines (2018).
|
Room temperature |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
---|---|---|---|
Thawed breastmilk |
1 to 2 hours |
Up to 1 day (24 hours) |
Do not refreeze. |
Source: Adapted from ABM Clinical Protocol #8 Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Full-Term Infants (2017).
For more information about pumping and storing breastmilk, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or check out the following resources from other organizations:
This content is provided by the Office on Women's Health.
A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20201
1-800-994-9662 • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (closed on federal holidays).