A matter of time, or how long does breast milk last in the refrigerator?

Breastfeeding is the best option for a baby, and conscientious mothers support this method of nutrition in every way.

But there are situations in life when a mother must leave her child for a certain time or there is a need to create her own milk bank.

Then every competent and caring mother is obliged to familiarize herself with the rules for storing expressed milk. Read the article about how long breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator.

General rules for storing expressed milk

The storage method depends on the prospects for using the expressed product. There are several options:

• at room temperature - if you feed for 6-8 hours;
• in the refrigerator - if you are making a daily supply for a nanny or grandmother during your absence;
• in the freezer - if you decide to create a strategic reserve in case of loss of milk, voluntary cessation of feeding or long-term absence.

The rules for handling expressed milk are the same for all storage methods and should be Every expectant mother, and especially one who has given birth, should memorize:

1. All manipulations with the product, container and milk collector (breast pump) must be carried out only with washed hands.
2. Store milk only in specialized containers, hermetically sealed and sterile.
3. It is mandatory to sign all containers filled and prepared for storage: date and time of packaging.
4. The volume of one container is equal to one meal, is packaged at a time and does not tolerate any additions.
5. Strictly observe storage periods.

If everything is done responsibly and strictly according to the rules, your baby will always have milk for feeding and for preparing cereals or additional nutrition.

How long can it be in days and hours?

Properly expressed milk before storing must cool for 4 hours at room temperature, but not above 25 °C. After the time has passed, it must be packaged in a sterile container, signed and put on the refrigerator shelf.

If portions are prepared for delivery to a hospital or nursery, it is necessary to write on the packages not only the time and date of collection of the product, but also the first and last name of the child.

According to the recommendations of British pediatricians, sterile expressed breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 7 days, provided the temperature in it is not lower than 4 °C.

Shelf life in the freezer

The temperature in the freezer is minus 18 °C, in such conditions the milk freezes, and can be stored for up to two years. Some American scientists claim that this is true, it can even lie there indefinitely, but it is better not to take risks and not check the assumptions of overseas doctors.

According to the standards approved by the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine of the Russian Federation, the shelf life of breast milk when deep frozen is from 3 to 6 months. It is necessary to place containers with portions deep into the depths of the refrigeration unit, where the temperature is most constant and its shelf life will increase.

The packaging container should not be filled to the top; milk increases in volume when frozen and can burst the container.

How to properly use frozen raw materials for feeding?

Frozen food for a small child must undergo proper defrosting before use and preparation for use.

The first step is to place the frozen milk package on the refrigerator shelf for a day. Here the product will gradually begin to freeze and take on a liquid state.

In the second stage, the bottle with food is transferred to room temperature, now it can be placed under warm water or in a special warming device. Milk is heated to a temperature of 37°C, the baby is used to eating this kind of milk from his mother’s breast.

The method of defrosting and heating breast milk in a microwave oven is not acceptable. This is dangerous and destructive to the product.

There are three main “don’ts” and every mother should remember them:

• You cannot freeze raw materials a second time;
• You cannot reheat defrosted milk;
• The remainder cannot be used for the next feeding.

The child should eat the reconstituted milk within 2 hours; if this does not happen, it is better to cook porridge from the leftovers or pour it out without regret. The introduction of dangerous bacteria is much worse than losing a few grams of milk.

Which container to choose?

Containers for long-term storage in refrigeration devices are sold in children's stores and pharmacies. You need to choose experimentally what is most convenient for you. There are the following types of storage packaging, each with advantages and disadvantages:

1. Sterile disposable bags – they have a measured volume, take up little storage space, but have only one-time use and therefore their price is not justifiably high.
2. Sealed packaging containers - made of safe material, can be sterilized, which means reuse is possible, but the disadvantages are that you need to carefully monitor the tightness of the container and again the price is too high.
3. Bottles with sealed lids made of food-grade plastic – made from durable material that will withstand more than one sterilization, the lid closes with a screw thread and ensures tightness even in a horizontal position, convenient for defrosting and heating and feeding the child.

Video on the topic of the article

This video will show you how to properly store breast milk:

Conclusion

An active and purposeful woman who has given birth to a child is not required to sit at home in voluntary seclusion for up to 1.5 or even 3 years. A grown-up child will appreciate your desire to maintain your career and breastfeed him, give him maximum health and immunity, but at the same time continue to improve in his professional field.