
Written by Editorial Team
Knowing how to keep breast milk is important whether you are expressing or pumping it. Storing your breast milk enables you to have it ready for your baby whenever you need it. It is essential to preserve milk correctly so that it remains fresh and retains its nutritious and antimicrobial properties.
Gone are those days when mothers were totally accountable for household chores and 24*7 childcare. The current era has transformed traditional mothers into outgoing and professional working mothers. In order to take care of their infants while being out on their jobs or shopping, they have resorted to breast milk storage, which gives them the benefit of flexibility along with personal space.
In This Article
Breast milk remains fresh even after a tenure of 3-5 days – but only if it is stored in a cooler area. In hot areas, even after refrigerating milk, it has the tendency to lose its freshness, as the fridge constantly gets opened and closed. Breast milk must always be stored at the back of the freezer behind other items, and never near the door.
When you consistently open your freezer for some reason or the other, breast milk will not get receptive to the changing temperature conditions. The below pointers can help in keeping stored breast milk fresh for longer periods:
To thaw breast milk that has been kept in the freezer, you can move it in the freezer and it should be alright to consume. Some babies prefer cold milk, while some may like it warmed up. Run some warm water over the bad or bottle to warm the milk up.
You need to use this thawed milk within 24 hours, after which it should be discarded and not refrigerated again. Once the baby has started to drink it from the bottle, use it within 1 hour of time. Because temperatures can vary at different places, it would be wise to discuss this with your doctor once.
A baby generally has about 2 ounces of milk at a given time, hence it is advisable to store breast milk in containers or pouches with a 2-ounce to 4-ounce capacity. You can label the containers or the bags with the date and time so that the earlier ones are used first.
A covered ice tray can also be used to store small quantities of breast milk if you may need it for adding to your baby’s food once solids start. Or you can use some cubes to make one full bottle and do the math accordingly.
If you opt for freezing the milk, do it as soon as you express and leave the bag or bottle somewhat empty at the top because breast milk expands when frozen.
If you are a working mother and plan to resume your job, you may try to get into the routine of expressing and storing breast milk before you go back. This will ensure that your baby gets all the benefits of breast milk even when you are not around. You need to follow some precautions so that bacteria do not develop and spoil the milk.
If the milk has been expressed the same day, you may store it with milk that has already been refrigerated. However, never add more quantity than what is there already in the bag. This can be stored only till the earlier expressed milk is 5 days old.
It is not recommended to microwave stored breast milk. Because it can render the milk unsafe for the baby’s consumption. Always run warm water over your baby’s bottle and check the temperature of the milk by pouring a few drops on the underside of your wrist. Bottle warmers can be used to warm milk in the car or at home. Your baby will surely enjoy the taste and the benefits of your efforts.
Most mothers find it favorable to collect their breast milk and store it for future purposes. If you have to use it within a short span, say in a day, you may refrigerate it rather than freezing. It is imperative to check the cleanliness of the materials you are storing the milk in.
Clean bottles with screw caps. Clean hard plastic cups with the tight fitting caps. Also, clean pre-sterilized nursing bags that are exclusively designed for storing. There is nothing bad about storing your breast milk to be put to use later if you follow the Do and the Don’ts diligently. Remember, frozen or refrigerated breast milk is still better than the formula for your baby.
More on breastfeeding and formula feeding in our section here.
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