The most valuable and beneficial for your baby, of course, is breast milk. And no one alternative food can match the benefits of breastfeeding. Almost every mother knows about its benefits, but not everyone knows how to store expressed breast milk correctly in different conditions. During lactation, a young mother may face various problems and situations, for example:
- the need to go to work;
- the child has bitten through the breast;
- the baby suddenly refuses to breastfeed;
- an urgent need to leave;
- any other life circumstances when the child has to be left at home with a nanny, grandmother, with loved ones.
And during these periods, for the most accurate solution of problems, mothers try to express and leave milk so as not to disrupt the child's diet (How to express milk with your hands). And a natural question arises, what to store breast milk and how much is it stored without losing its beneficial properties?
Important! You do not need to sterilize expressed breast milk! Do not use milk after the expiration date!
Storage tanks for expressed breast milk
There are several types of storage containers: glass, plastic and plastic. It can be bags and various containers, cups, bottles.
Video instruction on the use of milk storage bags
The main criteria that they must meet:
- sterility;
- closing tightness;
- ease of use;
- a measuring scale is desirable.
Before purchasing a container, you should decide for what purpose it will be intended.
If for freezing, it is better to buy special disposable plastic bags. Their advantage is that they are hermetically and easily sealed, sterile, made of very dense polyethylene and ready for use. Also, they already have a measuring scale and there is a place for the date and time inscription. Such packages are sold in any pharmacy.
Some mums use disposable plastic bottle liners for freezing, but this is not reliable. They are not suitable for storage, and when frozen, the seams can burst. When defrosting, all contents will simply leak out. But if you still have to use them, then for reliability, pour milk into a double bag. And do not store for a long time.
The most popular among solid containers is glass, in second place is plastic, and in third place is plastic. But scientists have proven that milk can be stored both in plastic and in glass without compromising on quality.
For convenience, select a container that will only contain enough for a single feed. Be sure to indicate the date and time of pumping on the container.
How to store breast milk while walking
Young mothers may face another problem - how to store expressed milk while walking. For these purposes, the market offers several options for thermal bags, as well as special thermos for bottles. This is quite convenient, especially if you are on vacation for a long time and at the same time you can stock up on several servings of food.
Where to store breast milk
In between feedings and pumping, certain conditions must be adhered to for the correct storage of breast milk.
- If you plan to store milk for a long time, then the best way is to freeze it. Freeze only freshly expressed milk, but be sure to leave it in the refrigerator for a period of 1.5 to 2 hours before freezing. And don't forget to write down the date and time. A frozen product, of course, loses a number of its beneficial properties, but it is definitely better than artificial mixtures.
- If the expressed portion of milk will be consumed within a few days, it is best to store it in the refrigerator. Chilled milk will retain almost all nutrients. The main rule is not to store on the door.
- If fresh milk will be drunk during the day, it is best to store it in a room in a sterile container and tightly closed.
Rules for defrosting and heating milk
To defrost a portion of milk, first place it in the refrigerator so that there is no sharp temperature drop. Then pour the portion into a feeding bottle and heat in a water bath. A bottle warmer can be purchased for easy heating of milk.
Never heat milk for feeding in a microwave oven, do not heat it in saucepans, do not boil it - it will lose all its beneficial properties.
Never re-freeze already thawed breast milk. In this case, too, all properties are lost.
How much to store breast milk
Leaving stocks of breast milk, you need to know where, how long and at what temperature it can be stored.
In fridge:
In the refrigerator, expressed milk can be stored for up to 24 hours at a temperature of +4 + 6 degrees. In this case, it must be placed as deep as possible. Fresh milk must be cooled before placing in the refrigerator.
In the freezer:
In the freezer, expressed milk at a temperature of -13 to -18 degrees is stored from a month or even up to three months, and at a temperature of -18 to -20 degrees for no more than a year. Cool milk in the refrigerator before freezing.
At room temperature:
At room temperature (from +19 to +22 degrees), fresh product can be stored for no more than 10 hours. At a temperature not higher than + 25 °, milk can be stored for no more than 6 hours (4-6 hours). More than 25 ° - up to 3 hours. Scientists have researched that the substances that make up breast milk can counteract the multiplication of various microbes, so the milk does not spoil.
Shelf life of breast milk (visual table)
| Room up to 25 ° С | Up to 6 hours |
| In the refrigerator (no freezing) 4 ° C - 6 ° C | Up to 24 hours |
| In a freezer with a common door | Up to 2 weeks |
| In a freezer with a separate door -18 ° C | Up to 3 months |
| In the freezer -20 ° С | Up to 1 year (see video) |
Storing expressed breast milk is a great solution to many of your baby's breastfeeding problems. Even if you are forced to be absent for a period of time, then your baby will not stop receiving your love, protection and all the useful vitamins. The most important thing, of course, is to know the rules and conditions for storing this irreplaceable food for your baby.
On the topic of pumping:
- How to express milk with a breast pump?
- How to express with your hands?
- What you need to know about pumping
