Where and how to store expressed expressed breast milk?

Milk of the mother is the most useful source of nutrients and microelements, which is necessary for the baby immediately after birth. That's why all pediatricians recommend feeding the baby not with mixtures, but exclusively with breast milk. Of course, if there is such an opportunity.

There are situations when the mother must leave for some time and leave her child in the care of other family members or nannies. And for this it is necessary to be able to express correctly and store milk in order to preserve all its useful properties.

How to store expressed breast milk? First of all, the container for expressing should be used either glass, or made of food plastic. In today's world, there are many special reservoirs for this purpose, which can be purchased with a breast pump. As a rule, they are produced by companies manufacturing products for mother and child.

Proper storage of expressed breast milk implies complete tightness. It is forbidden to use open containers or other devices for this purpose. You can use special packages, which are very convenient for expressing. Some mothers, leaving for a short period of time, freeze the milk in ice bags for storage.

If you went to work and the baby is still feeding on your milk, you can use a portable refrigerator bag or freezers that are specially designed to store breast milk. Thus, you can express it at any time and in any place that is right for you.

Regarding how to store expressed breast milk, there are several practical tips:

1. If the container contains expressed milk, it is not recommended to add new portions to it. Of course, this option is not excluded, however, it is better to use a new container for a new portion.
2. Milk portions should be fractional (up to 100-120 ml). So it is stored longer and better. If necessary, it is better to warm up two portions. When storage is carried out in large volumes, the half-eaten part of the liquid must be poured. And this is irrational.
3. On each container with milk should indicate the date of decantation, so that the person replacing the mother, could quickly orientate which portion to warm up first.
4. Defrosting can be done either in a water bath, or under running warm water, or the milk can thaw at room temperature (if you are not in a hurry).
5. It is forbidden to heat milk in a microwave oven.

Sometimes, not knowing how to store expressed breast milk, moms begin to do stupid things: choose the wrong dishes, defrost properly, or store at high temperature.

There are certain temperature parameters that indicate how much expressed expressed breast milk is in this or that condition:

• From 5 to 15 degrees - no more than a day;
• From 15 to 19 - not more than 9 hours;
• From 19 to 22 - not more than 11 hours;
• 25 degrees - about 5 hours;
• From 0 to 5 - 8 days

If you store milk in a freezer:

• Freezer compartment with a separate door - about 4 months;
• Freezer with deep freezing without a refrigerator - six months or up to 8 months.

After defrosting, milk can acquire a specific soapy odor. This is not fearful, it can be eaten. If the acquired smell is sour, this product is spoiled and unsuitable for use. Also, warmed milk can exfoliate. In this case, you just need to shake it.

Milk can not often be heated or frozen. It may lose its properties or simply deteriorate.

Often, milk after cooling acquires a specific hue: blue, yellowish or just pale. Such a change depends on its chemical properties and is therefore quite natural.

How to store expressed breast milk, and under what conditions, each mother chooses independently. But be sure to remember that a child should receive a quality and balanced food product, which with 100% probability can only be provided by the mother's breast!