In the life of a young mother, situations may occur in which breastfeeding is impossible: an urgent exit to work, a trip, exams, health problems, etc. You can save your expressed milk to ensure that your baby is not left without valuable nourishment.
Choice of dishes
Glass containers and containers made of transparent plastic are suitable for storing expressed breast milk. The selected dishes must be sterilized. To do this, the dishes are first washed with detergents and brushes, and then sterilized using special sterilizing devices, boiling water or steam. Many breast pump manufacturers sell special milk storage containers that fit the breast pump - this is very convenient.
Place and time of storage
Breast milk can be stored in the room (at 18-20 degrees), in the refrigerator and in the freezer. The storage period depends on the location chosen.
At room temperature, milk can be stored for about 6 hours, but it's best to take the risk and keep the milk in a cooler place. If the refrigerator is about 4 degrees Celsius, then milk can be stored for up to 8 days.
Storage in the freezer is designed for a longer period: at minus 5 degrees, storage is possible for up to 6 months, at a temperature of minus 20 degrees a year.
Using frozen breast milk. Milk containers should have information about the date and time of freezing. A portion of milk should be thawed in stages - first in the refrigerator, then at room temperature, and then heated to no more than 37 degrees. Changes in color and smell can be noticed after thawing, but if the smell is not very strong, then this is normal. Milk must not be frozen twice.
