What and how to store breast milk

There is nothing better for a baby than mother's milk. A mountain of literature has been written about the benefits of breastfeeding. And this is true. Mother's milk is maximally balanced in terms of fat content and vitamin composition specifically for her baby. But some women have more milk than the baby currently needs. The topic of the article is how to store breast milk.

How to store breast milk

Many mothers today do not go on maternity leave from work and do not take academic leave to study. But at the same time they want to continue fully feed the child with your milk. And that's right. Mother's milk gives the baby all the nutrients and microelements he needs. It also helps improve 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’s easier and more reliable to achieve this by boiling. Therefore, choose dishes that can withstand high temperatures.

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, or better yet, boil them.
• Choose a container with a tight-fitting lid or valve.
• Repeated freezing is unacceptable.
• It is better to freeze in portions - as much as the baby eats in 1 feeding.
• Breast milk must be defrosted in advance by placing it in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours, then warming it in warm water to 37 degrees. If you heat breast milk more strongly, it will lose all its beneficial properties. Therefore, you should not boil your mother’s milk. If there are any suspicions about its quality, it is better to pour it out immediately.
• Sour milk has a strong, 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 of deliberately overheating the milk when warming it up, purchase an electric bottle warmer.

Where to store breast milk

Let's talk in more detail about containers for storing mother's milk. It preserves its properties best in glass jars and bottles. But this is not convenient for freezing. The following container options are also suitable for storage:

1. Plastic containers. Some manufacturers immediately sell freezing containers in a set with a breast pump.
2. Special packages for freezing breast milk.

You can store freshly expressed breast milk:

• at room temperature, and if the house is cold - about 15 degrees, then the 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 so accurately meet a child’s needs for microelements and nutrients. To increase your breast milk supply you need eat right and often, regularly put your baby to your breast and think about good things. After all, milk is produced with the help of a hormone, which means a positive attitude and self-confidence in this matter are not empty words at all.

How long can breast milk be stored?

Storing expressed milk at room temperature is allowed, but not more than 5 hours. Like any other natural product, it is best stored in the refrigerator. At a temperature of about 4 degrees, it can retain its nutritional value for up to 7 days. If you need to preserve milk for a longer period, use the freezer.

1. at temperatures down to -5, milk can be stored for up to 6 months;
2. If the freezer is -20 degrees, the milk can last up to a year.

Remember that storage containers must be sterile and airtight. Also, devices for pumping - hands or a breast pump - should be as clean and dry as possible.