Every NICU will have unique policies in regards to labeling and storing breast milk.  Because of this, it is important for a mother to ask the baby’s NICU nurse what should specifically be done in regards to the laebling and storing of her breast milk.

A common practice for many NICUs is to have the mother use a label that has her baby’s name and medical record number on it.  These labels will be placed on the storage container for the breast milk.  It should have the date and time the mother pumped the milk.  The labels for the breast milk can easily be provided by the NICU nurse or the Unit Secretary.

Types of Breast Milk Storage

There are three common types of breast milk storage, and their usage in the NICU depends on what the unit’s preference is.  The most common containers for breast milk in the NICU are:

• Syringes
• Breat milk bags
• Breast milk storage containers (often with a screw-on lid or cap)

Syringes are often used as storage at first, especially when the mother’s milk is just coming in.  The NICU staff often uses the storage containers with lids, and mothers use both the bags and containers.

Refrigerated or Frozen

Depending on how quickly the breast milk will be used, breast milk is either refrigerated or frozen.  Mothers who are at home, and pump while their baby is in the NICU, will often freeze their breast milk, and bring it up to the NICU the next time they visit.  Asking the NICU nurse is the best way to determine whether or not to refrigerate or freeze breast milk.  They will know how much and how often the breast milk is needed.

For mothers with infants at home, breast milk is usually good in a refrigerator for around 24 hours after being thawed.  Frozen breast milk can remain so anywhere from 3 to 6 months.  An excellent answer to breast milk storage at home can be found here.