Storing breast milk - help please

[foodaholic]

I should probably know this but just wanted to double check. There seems to be different advice on how long you can store breast milk in the fridge/freezer in the books, leaflets I have. What is the norm? I read something about your freezer having to be a particular temperature - is that right? Don't want to poison my baby! Also, is it best to freeze in the plastic bags and how is it best to defrost?

I am working on what my local BF counsellor told me (rather than the books) 5 days in the back of the fridge and 6 months in the freezer. My freezer supply is stored in the Avent via cups which I have bought 3 lots of - they will work with my Isis pump.

The 'rules' say to defrost in the fridge but in an emergency yesterday I defrosted in a bowl of hot water and my LO has survived!

Hope this helps?

Oh forgot to say, I always smell the milk when using from the fridge (we did have one that smelled a bit 'funky' in the hot weather) just to be on the safe side!