Breast Milk Storage Conditions, How to Warm and Use?
How to Store Expressed Breast Milk?
How to store breast milk? It attracts attention as a question that bothers the minds of working mothers and all mothers. Due to the hectic life during breastfeeding, it will sometimes be necessary to preserve milk. It is necessary for the mother to protect the milk she expresses in the best possible way, whether she is at work or wants to use it later. Preserved milk is the most important nutritional source for the development of the baby. Everyone knows that breast milk is the most natural food for all babies.
Breast milk is the cleanest and most nutritious food source for a baby. For this reason, experts recommend that mothers breastfeed their babies for the first 6 months unless there is any health problem. An emotional bond is established between breastfeeding mothers and their children, and the muscle and bone development of breastfeeding babies is healthier. For a newborn baby, breast milk meets the water needs and is a satisfying and nutritious option. It is considered healthier to give breast milk whenever possible, rather than giving formula.
According to the statement made by UNICEF, the rate of babies receiving breast milk in the first 6 months is only 1.3%. This rate is quite low. Nutritional deficiency and various diseases are more common in children who breastfeed too little. Now, in this article, we have prepared information for you on how to store breast milk. All the information you need to learn about expressing, storing, using and warming breast milk is here!
For the most accurate information and healthy results, consult your specialist doctor. The information contained in our content does not constitute a prescription.
How to Express Breast Milk?
Expressing breast milk is an important issue for mother and baby. It will be very convenient for the mother to express milk on days when she is temporarily separated from her baby. Breast pump devices are available in pharmacies or medical stores to express breast milk. With these pumps, you can express milk in a few minutes. Pumps are sold in two different types: manually operated and automatic.
Manual Milk Pumps
These types of breast pumps, which have lower economic value, are easy to use. To use it, you must first pay attention to hand hygiene. Then you should also clean the nipple:
- Before expressing milk, massage the nipple area and ensure blood circulation.
- Place the tip of the pump on the nipple and squeeze and release the handset.
- Milk will come into the milk chamber with the vacuum effect created here.
- While slowly filling the chamber, do not be stressed because your milk is too low.
- These devices will extract milk in small amounts.
Automatic Breast Pumps
To use such mechanical pumps, you must pay attention to hand and chest hygiene.
- Place the nipple device on the breast area and adjust it to the degree of expression you are comfortable with.
- You can fill the milk tank in approximately 15 minutes.
How to Store Breast Milk?
You will have many options for storing expressed breast milk. You can preserve breast milk for a certain period of time in the refrigerator, freezer and at room temperature. The usage time will also vary depending on the environment it is in. If you are wondering how to store newly expressed breast milk, let us explain it to you as follows:
How to store breast milk in the refrigerator?
When you want to store breast milk in the refrigerator, you can choose clean glass or hard plastic products . Use these containers only for breast milk. When putting the milk in these containers, do not forget to add small labels on which you will note the day and time of milking. These labels will make your job easier. You can also buy special breast milk storage bags from medical shops or pharmacies and store the milk in these bags. Remember, you can preserve it in the fridge for a maximum of 3 days.
How to store breast milk in the freezer?
You can also choose the freezer section to store breast milk. You can preserve the life of milk for a maximum of 3 months, provided that it is at -18 degrees . You can choose milk bags suitable for the freezer. You should not fill the entire bag with milk. Since frozen milk will become more solid, it may stretch the bag. The middle parts of the freezer will be the ideal place to store milk.
How to store breast milk in a bottle?
Breast milk in a bottle can last for a maximum of 3 hours at room temperature . After 3 hours, the milk will start to sour. You can preserve breast milk in a bottle at temperatures between 19 and 26 degrees and give it to your baby. However, just in case, it would be beneficial to taste the milk before giving it to your baby.
How to store breast milk in a bag?
You can choose milk storage bags that do not contain BPA and BPS substances . The amount of milk to be stored in the bag should be small. Be aware that leakage may occur from the bag. You should also make sure that the bag is completely securely closed. You can store the milk in the bag in the refrigerator or freezer.
Breast Milk Storage Periods
When you want to store breast milk, every drop of which is very valuable and healthy, you will need to know some details. You should be informed about the storage period of breast milk to prevent the milk from spoiling . If the milk spoils, it can become dangerous for your baby. Therefore, do not forget to keep it labeled. Depending on the time of use, you may want to store the milk at room temperature or in the refrigerator. At such moments, you should definitely remember the following information:
- Breast milk at room temperature, out of sunlight: 3 hours
- Breast milk in the refrigerator: 3 days
- In the deep freezer: You can keep it for up to 3 months.
How to Warm Breast Milk?
You will need to warm the milk you have stored in different environments to give it to your baby. We recommend that you review when you express milk before warming it. In some cases, you may have absentmindedly spent the milk’s usage period. The following information may help you to heat milk stored under appropriate conditions:
- To warm the milk in the refrigerator: You can warm the breast milk taken from the refrigerator with warm water under the tap .
- To warm the milk in the freezer: You will need to put the milk taken from the freezer on the refrigerator shelf the night before. You can warm the milk that starts to thaw on the shelf in a container filled with warm water. If you give up using this milk, you should not put it in the freezer again. This milk will expire. We say be careful!
You should avoid using direct fire or the microwave method to heat milk. It will be ideal for your baby if the milk is at a warm temperature, not too hot. To check the temperature, you can pour a drop of milk on your wrist and check it, or you can drink a few drops to take the temperature of the milk.
How to Use Expressed Breast Milk?
Working mothers expressing and storing milk helps them a lot during the day. So how should expressed milk be used? You can give breast milk to the baby without keeping it in too hot temperatures. It would be beneficial to check the temperature of the milk before giving it. You can pour the expressed milk into the bottle your baby uses and feed your baby. We would like to remind you to pay attention to hand hygiene when using milk.
How to Store Breast Milk for Use Outside the Home?
You can keep breast milk with you when you spend time outside the home. For this reason, it is possible to preserve the nutritional value of milk under suitable conditions by acting according to the recommendations of doctors . If you are wondering how to store expressed breast milk until you bring it home from work; Here is some important information for you:
- By milking at work, you can preserve the milk that you will save to take home in milking bottles, along with a towel that has been kept in the refrigerator, for 2 hours.
- When the temperature rises above 25 degrees in an office or any other working environment or social venue, the nutritional value and structure of expressed breast milk will deteriorate.
- When you meet these conditions, you can store breast milk for approximately 3 hours to give to your baby.
For the most accurate information and healthy results, consult your specialist doctor. The information contained in our content does not constitute a prescription.
