Breastmilk Storage and Shipping Instructions

The following table gives information regarding how long breastmilk can be safely stored under various temperature conditions.

Before storing, all breastmilk (even that collected at home for use at home) must be labeled with the time and date of collection.

Milk that will be used in the hospital must also be labeled with the baby's name and medical record number.

*Do not store milk in the door compartments of the refrigerator or freezer.

If you are flying home, we recommend you call the airline for their breastmilk packaging/labeling recommendations. For long flights you will need dry ice. You will need to let them know the milk is a ‘bodily fluid’ and may need to declare the dry ice as a ‘hazardous substance'. Plan to ship your milk frozen.

If the airline charges a prohibitive amount (as the containers will be heavy), consider overnight express service via FedEx. A list of dry ice providers with their location and contact information is listed below. 

You will need the following items to package breastmilk for either airline transport or for shipping.

• Coolers large enough to hold milk bottles, newspaper layers, and dry ice (if needed)
• Duct tape for sealing coolers after inspection (in the event the airlines needs to inspect the containers)
• Shipping labels per airline instructions
• Markers
• Old newspapers
• Large zip lock bags
• Dry ice (about 2 lbs per cooler)

Target or a large drugstore will have the coolers, tape, markers and bags.

For packaging, use frozen breastmilk and follow the steps below

1. Put as many bottles of milk into zip lock bags as will fit.
2. Seal the bags.
3. Wrap dry ice in paper and put in bottom of cooler.
4. Layer newspaper over the ice.
5. Put the bags of milk into the cooler.
6. Pad the bags of bottles with crumpled newspaper.
7. Have shipping labels and tape on hand on hand when you check in.
   We advise you to number the containers and have labels both on the inside and the outside of the cooler.

FedEx nationwide: 800-463-3339
FedEx San Jose: 408-268-9600 or 800-845-4647

They can provide you with shipping charges and information on how to pack the milk.

Information for some of the dry ice providers in the San Francisco Bay area is listed below. We recommend you contact the providers to determine availability (may be seasonal), price, and hours of operation.

Alameda:

LUCKY   815 Marina Village     510-521-9113

SAFEWAY   867 Island Drive      510-521-4833

Belmont:

SAFEWAY   1100 El Camino Real     650-596-1730

Berkley:

SAFEWAY  144 Shattuck Place     510-526-3086

Burlingame:

MOLLIE STONE'S   1477 Chapin Ave   650-558-9992

SAFEWAY   1450 Howard Ave   650-343-3488

Daly City:

LUCKY   6843 Mission Street   650-992-6260

SMART & FINAL    6967 Mission Street    650-997-3151

Emeryville:

SAFEWAY    3889 San Pablo Avenue    510-450-1200

Los Altos:

LUCKY   2175 Grant Road   650-969-1326

SAFEWAY   160 First Street    650-941-1801

Menlo Park:

SAFEWAY   325 S. Sharon Drive   650-854-3056

SAFEWAY   525 El Camino Real   650-847-2901

Milbrae:

LUCKY    45 Murchison Drive    650-692-0429

Mountain View:

NOB HILL FOODS   1250 Grant Road   650-654-2106

SAFEWAY   645 San Antonio Road    650-948-4533

Oakland:

FOOD MAXX   3000 E. 9th Street     510-437-8000

SAFEWAY    3747 Grand Avenue    510-465-4187

Pacifica:

SAFEWAY  1380 Linda Mar Blvd   650-359-6706

SAFEWAY   12 Manor Plaza   650-359-2751

Palo Alto:

MOLLIE STONE'S   164 S. California Ave    650-323-8361

Redwood City:

LUCKY    200 Woodside Plaza    650-369-8678

SAFEWAY   850 Woodside Road   650-365-2522

San Bruno:

LUCKY  1322 El Camino Real    650-742-9733

MOLLIE STONE'S   22 Bayhill Shopping Center    650-873-8075

San Francisco:

SAFEWAY   2020 Market Street    415-861-7660

UNITED LIQUORS   2401 Chestnut Street    415-567-0580

San Jose:

SAFEWAY   5146 Stevens Creek Blvd    408-556-0610

San Mateo:

SAFEWAY   1655 El Camino Real    650-341-0374

SMART & FINAL   1840 S. Norfolk Street    650-345-1335

Santa Clara:

LUCKY   3705 El Camino Real   408-247-5200

Saratoga:

SAFEWAY   12876  Saratoga-Sunnyvale Rd    408-867-0180

South San Francisco:

SAFEWAY    2255 Gellert  Blvd   650-588-9005

Sunnyvale:

LUCKY  484 N. Mathilda Avenue   408-737-1834

SAFEWAY   639 S. Bernardo Ave    408-732-5900

On August 4, 2007 the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lifted the restrictions that were previously imposed on mothers who wanted to carry expressed breastmilk in their carry-on luggage. Mothers are now permitted to bring any amount of breastmilk on board, along with cold packs, as long as these items are declared prior to security screening.

For more detailed information, see the Transportation Security Administration website.