When the baby was born and lactation began, the question arises: what to do next with breast milk? Many people choose to create a milk bank for themselves in case of illness or lack thereof.
If conditions and volume of lactation permit, breast milk can and should be collected and frozen. There are several reasons for this: it will always help you out if you need to leave for a long time; if you need to take a medicine that is incompatible with breastfeeding; if you decide to go to work. Correctly collected and frozen milk can be stored in the freezer for about 6 months. Some women who have too much milk decide to donate it to a milk bank. Then the conditions for collecting and storing milk can be more stringent. All detailed information on this issue can be obtained from the hospital.
Defrosting milk may have an unpleasant, soapy or metallic odor. It can also delaminate during storage. Do not be alarmed - it has not disappeared. Just shake the container well and the milk will become smooth.
How to collect milk for storage
Wash your hands thoroughly before expressing. The dishes into which the milk will be collected must be sterilized. Use a glass bottle, BPA-free plastic container, special plastic bag, or drip tray to freeze milk. Milk can be expressed using a breast pump or by hand. Breast pumps are convenient in that with the help of an adapter, you can immediately attach a storage container to it. If you are expressing milk by hand, the easiest way is to use a bag. It stores one dose of milk, which is very convenient for feeding, and the collection process allows you to collect every single drop. Do not fill the container to the rim. It is best to fill up 2/3 or 3/4 of the container, as the liquid increases in size when frozen. Close container tightly. Write the date of collection in pencil and place immediately in the freezer. It is better to place containers with milk deep into the chamber, where the temperature is at its lowest.
Storage periods
Combined refrigerator with built-in freezer: milk is stored in the built-in freezer for about 1 month. Freezer compartment adjacent to the refrigerator with its own door (top / bottom placement or side-by-side refrigerators): milk shelf life is about 6 months. Freestanding freezer: If the freezer is not defrosted, the milk can be stored for up to 1 year.
Thawed milk can be kept in the refrigerator for another 24 hours. However, the leftover milk after feeding cannot be stored. It must be poured out.
Thawing breast milk
You can defrost breast milk on a shelf in the refrigerator, in a container of warm water, or under running warm water. In the refrigerator, the milk will thaw for several hours. Remember the deadlines and do everything in advance. If you decide to defrost milk in warm water, remember to change the water as soon as it cools. The hot tap water will defrost the milk the fastest. Never defrost breast milk in the microwave - this will destroy all the health benefits. Also, in the microwave, it is impossible to heat the container evenly, so there is a danger of burning the child.
