Here in Australia we have different rules for storage of breastmilk at home
and in hospital.
The National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines state that
breastmilk can safely be stored for 3-5 days in the home refrigerator but
must be discarded at 48 hours if stored in the hospital refrigerator. Is
there any rationale to this? Is there any evidence that milk is more likely
to become contaminated in hospital than at home? Is there concern that
infants in hospital are more likely to be affected by contaminated milk?
This issue is of some concern. The shorter storage times in hospital may
mean that a mother who is having trouble with expressing will have her
infant given formula if the breastmilk she has stored is over 48 hours old.
I would appreciate Lactneters input into this with references if possible.
Laureen Lawlor-Smith
South Australia