This ticks me off.  Let’s be clear on an answer here, please.

According to Enfamil:

You can store breast milk in your refrigerator for up to 48 hours before feeding it to your baby.

According to Medela:

5-7 Days (see below)

This is frustrating to any breastfeeding Mom.  We need to know how long we can actually safely store milk in the refrigerator.  You can tell that both of these companies have an agenda here: Medela is the maker of breastfeeding equipment and encourages women to breastfeed; Enfamil on the other hand makes money when you buy their formula to replace or supplement your milk.  I guess it makes sense for Enfamil to make you think your milk will go bad faster because then you’re more likely to buy their product.

I’m not trying to get into a debate about breast vs. bottle nor do I have a beef with Enfamil.  I only wish they would produce consistent information for all of us.

Related links giving various guidelines:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/491772

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/birth/828.html

http://www.pamf.org/children/newborns/feeding/storing.html