What and how to store breast milk
There is nothing better for a baby than mother's milk. Mountains of literature have been written about the benefits of breastfeeding. And indeed it is. Mom's milk is maximally balanced in terms of fat content and the composition of vitamins specifically for her baby. But some women have more milk than the baby now needs. The topic of the article is how to store breast milk.
How to store breast milk
Many mothers today do not go on a specific vacation at work, and do not take an academic for their studies. But at the same time, they want to continue fully feed a baby with your milk. And it is right. Mother's milk gives the baby all the nutrients and trace elements it needs. It also improves immunity.
First of all, you need to take care of the dishes into which the milk will be expressed. The container must be sterile. It is easier and safer to achieve this by boiling. Therefore, choose cookware that will withstand the heat.
Before freezing, you need to prepare everything you need. To avoid making mistakes, follow these rules:
- Do not pour milk from different expressions into one bottle.
- Before freezing, milk must first be cooled to a temperature of about 20 degrees, then put in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. And only after that put it in the freezer.
- Wash the dishes for freezing thoroughly, and preferably boil.
- Choose a container with a hermetically sealed lid or valve.
- Re-freezing is not allowed.
- It is better to freeze in portions - as much as the baby eats in 1 feeding.
- It is necessary to defrost the breast milk in advance, moving it to the refrigerator for 5-6 hours, and then warm it up in warm water to 37 degrees. If you heat breast milk more, it will lose all its beneficial properties. Therefore, you should not boil your mother's milk. If there is any suspicion of its quality, it is better to pour it out immediately.
- Sour milk has a pungent unpleasant odor and must be disposed of immediately.
- Most often, defrosted milk changes color and does not smell like "mom" - this is normal.
If you are afraid not to overheat the milk on purpose when warming it up, get an electric bottle warmer.
Where to store breast milk
Let's talk in more detail about containers for storing mother's milk. Best of all, it keeps its properties in glass jars and bottles. But this is not convenient for freezing. The following container options are also suitable for storage:
- Plastic containers. Some manufacturers immediately sell freezer containers as a set with a breast pump.
- Special bags for breast milk freezing.
You can store freshly expressed breast milk:
- at room temperature, and if it is cold at home - about 15 degrees, then milk can remain fresh for up to 10 hours;
- in the refrigerator;
- in the freezer.
Remember that there is nothing better for a baby than mother's milk. No formula will meet the micronutrient and nutrient needs of a child so accurately. To increase the amount of breast milk you need eat right and often, regularly apply the baby to the breast and think about the good. After all, milk is produced with the help of a hormone, which means that a positive attitude and self-confidence in this matter are not at all empty words.
How long can breast milk be stored
Storage of expressed milk at room temperature is allowed, but not more than 5 hours. Like any other natural product, it is best to store it in a refrigerator. At a temperature of about 4 degrees, it can retain its nutritional value for up to 7 days. If you need a longer preservation of milk, then use the freezer.
- at temperatures up to -5, milk can be stored for up to 6 months;
- if the degree in the freezer is -20, then the milk can be stored for up to a year.
Remember that storage utensils must be sterile and airtight. Also, devices for expressing - hands or a breast pump, should be as clean and dry as possible.
