When planning to pump during work, how long can frozen breast milk be stored in a 0°F freezer?

When planning to pump during work, how long can frozen breast milk be stored in a 0°F freezer?

• A. Once she begins pumping the infant should drink only pumped breast milk.
• B. Pumped breast milk must be discarded after 3 days when stored in the refrigerator.
• C. Frozen breast milk may be stored up to 3 months in a 0° F freezer.
• D. Unused defrosted breast milk may be stored in the refrigerator for 48 hours.

Answer: (C)

Freezing slows bacterial growth and preserves breast milk, but how long you can keep it depends on the temperature. In a true 0°F freezer, pumped milk can be stored for about three months. This matches standard guidance for long-term storage in an ultra-cold freezer and is why this is the best choice. The other statements mix up temperatures and timeframes (refrigeration versus freezing) or are overly permissive about thawed milk, which should be used within 24 hours and not refrozen. So, up to three months is the appropriate guideline for a 0°F freezer.

Freezing slows bacterial growth and preserves breast milk, but how long you can keep it depends on the temperature. In a true 0°F freezer, pumped milk can be stored for about three months. This matches standard guidance for long-term storage in an ultra-cold freezer and is why this is the best choice. The other statements mix up temperatures and timeframes (refrigeration versus freezing) or are overly permissive about thawed milk, which should be used within 24 hours and not refrozen. So, up to three months is the appropriate guideline for a 0°F freezer.