Tips For Storing Breast Milk
Knowing the tips to store breast milk correctly is very important for mothers who cannot directly feed their children. This can happen due to different day-to-day occupations or other inconveniences. Anyway, this is a great alternative.
Breast milk is, without a doubt, the best and most complete food for babies, so being able to preserve it is a great option. In this way the mother does not need to replace breastfeeding with infant formula . Here are some tips for storing breast milk correctly. See how practical and easy it is.
Tips for Storing Breast Milk
The first thing to know is when the milk must be pumped. Afterwards, it is important to know where to store it, how long it can be kept in good condition, at what temperatures it should be stored and how to heat it for consumption by the baby.
When should milk be pumped using the pump?
There are three types of pumps for expressing breast milk: the electric pump, the one that uses batteries and the manual one. All of them do their job very well. The difference is in the speed at which they extract milk and the force of suction. The suction force will increase or decrease the degree of discomfort in your nipples.
There are several times that are ideal for expressing milk using the pump . The best time is one hour after the baby is fed. Or, if you already know how much milk your child consumes, you can make one breast while he is nursing another.
Expressing the milk with the pump takes the same breastfeeding time as the baby: about 10 to 15 minutes. You can do this as often as you feel is necessary to have a good supply of milk.
Regarding the amount of milk you can extract, it is important to know that the more you use the pump, the more milk you will produce. This happens thanks to your body’s stimuli. But keep in mind that this also depends on the amount of water you drink and the quality of your food.
Where to store milk?
Experts recommend the use of previously sterilized glass containers with airtight lids. In case you use plastic containers or those milk bags made for this, make sure they are certified to store food and that they do not leak.
A practical tip is to keep the right amount of each baby’s feed in each container. That way you won’t have to throw away the excess.
How long can milk be kept in good condition and at what temperature?
As a final part of the tips for storing breast milk, let’s look at the issue of time and temperature. The shelf life of milk varies according to the temperature at which it is stored. At room temperature and in a cool place, it can last 6 hours. In the fridge, 24 hours . If you want to freeze it, it is possible to keep breast milk in good condition for three weeks or more.
No matter how long the milk has been stored, it is always necessary to check its condition before giving it to the baby. The ideal, therefore, is to try, smell and look at the color.
For added security, label the containers in which you store the milk, stating the date and time it was pumped. So you can keep a more accurate record of the time being saved.
How should milk be heated?
If you freeze milk, refrigerate it 24 hours before consuming. This will allow it to gradually return to its liquid state. If you can’t wait, place the container with the milk in lukewarm water, never hot, and shake it little by little until it becomes liquid again.
Do the same thing when you want to heat the milk . Soak the bottle in warm water, which is also known as a “bain-marie”. When you think the temperature is ideal, remove from heat. However, don’t forget to always check that the temperature is good so as not to burn your baby’s delicate mouth.
As you can see, it’s not complicated to apply these tips for storing breast milk at home. In short, expressing breast milk and reheating it to give it to the baby are quite easy tasks. Remember that breast milk provides the best vitamins, antibodies and defenses your body needs to grow.
