Important rules for your baby's health: how to store breast milk after pumping in a bottle
The period of breastfeeding can be quite long, during which mothers are forced to leave the child with other people.
To ensure an uninterrupted supply of breast milk to your baby, you need to know the conditions for its storage. Bottles are considered one of the convenient options.
How to store breast milk after expressing in a bottle, how long is expressed milk stored in such a container, and what does the period depend on? What rules are important to follow and are there alternatives to bottles?
Content
How long does it last until the next feeding?
You can store milk bottles in several ways. Among them:
- room;
- fridge;
- thermal bag;
- thermos;
- thermal container;
- freezer.
The storage period for expressed milk depends on the ambient temperature. You can focus on the following values:
- +15 C – day;
- +19–22 C — 10 hours;
- +25 C – 4–6 hours;
- above +25 C - no more than 3 hours;
- in the refrigerator from 0 to +4 - up to 8 days.
Frozen milk lasts longer depending on temperature and location:
- Freezer without a separate door - 2 weeks.
- Freezer with a door - 3-4 months.
- Separate freezer with a constant temperature of -19 C - up to 6–12 months.
Frozen milk when the baby was 1–2 months old will no longer be suitable for a one-year-old.There is also a risk of losing valuable elements as a result of long-term storage.
Selection of containers
Special bottles for storing expressed breast milk have many advantages. This container closes tightly, has a measuring scale, and is easy to use.
Material safety rating for child health as follows:
- glass;
- plastic (polycarbonate);
- plastic (polypropylene).
Glass is considered the safest material for a child, but is not entirely suitable for storage at low temperatures: it can easily crack. Plastic and resin are more practical, but you need to carefully study the composition of the manufacturing material.
If the baby is fed expressed milk only occasionally, the raw materials for making bottles are not particularly important, since they are not capable of causing significant harm to the baby’s health. In this case, they focus on the simplicity and ease of use of a specific brand.
Which is correct?
To prevent breast milk from spoiling, you need to express and store it properly. The general instructions are as follows:
Before pumping, you need to wash your hands and breasts well.- To wash the bottles, it is not necessary to boil the container; you can simply pour boiling water over it or wash it with baby dishwashing detergent.
- Close the bottles tightly with a lid.
- Make a note of the date and time of pumping.
- Place in the coolest place, you can cover with a wet cold towel.
- It is better to collect small portions of milk, for about one feeding.
If you need to freeze expressed breast milk, first cool it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, then freeze it.When frozen, liquid expands, so do not fill the container completely.
It is not recommended to add fresh portions of the product to frozen ones.. The remainder of defrosted and reheated milk should not be re-frozen. It needs to be poured out.
Alternatives to the bottle
In addition to bottles, modern industry offers mothers sterile containers and bags for storing expressed milk. Each option has its pros and cons.
Bags for storing expressed milk are equipped with special clasps or ropes. They don't take up much space in the refrigerator. The bags can withstand low temperatures and are convenient for freezing products for a long time.
Useful tips
The choice of a specific bottle model will depend on the needs of the family. If you need to store expressed milk for up to one week, then glass containers are quite suitable. If you need longer storage, it is better to choose plastic containers or bags.
You need to warm up the expressed milk if the baby refuses to eat. The recommended temperature is no higher than 37 C. You can check by dropping a drop of milk on your wrist.
It is allowed to warm up:
- in a water bath;
- under running hot water;
- using a special electrical device.
There are conflicting opinions about heating in the microwave. The Russian Union of Pediatricians claims that this is not dangerous, but it is difficult to control the temperature.
Do not heat milk by boiling or in a pan on the stove.. If you need to heat up frozen milk, you need to take it out in advance and place it in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Then move it indoors for a while and heat it to the desired temperature using the above methods.
Refrigerated or thawed milk may have a soapy odor. This is considered a variant of the norm and does not indicate its depravity. Cooler bags are ideal for travel and travel.
Video on the topic of the article
This video will show you how to store breast milk:
Conclusion
Depending on your specific situation, expressed breast milk can be stored in a bottle for anywhere from 3 hours to 12 months. The period directly depends on the ambient temperature.
Compliance with hygiene rules and deadlines will protect the product from souring and will allow the child to receive ideal nutrition for full growth and development.
