If you’re unsure how to store breast milk in the freezer, you may wonder how to do so safely. The first thing to do is to label your storage containers, as the collection date will help you keep track of when it was collected. For breast milk storage, you can also use plastic bags, glass containers, or trays. These containers can be stacked or stored flat, saving you space. Avoid using ordinary plastic sandwich bags, as these can break and leak.
Do not use plastic bottles or sterile bottle liners when storing breast milk. Store breast milk at room temperature for up to four hours, in the refrigerator for up to four days, or the freezer for up to six months. The recommended storage time depends on the amount of milk, but freezing preserves the best quality for longer. The best way to store the milk is in a clean, airtight bottle.
How to Store Breast Milk in the Freezer?
Wash your hands and all storage containers completely before expressing or pumping. If you provide the milk to a childcare provider, mark each container with the date the breast milk was expressed and the child’s name. Find out how your childcare provider wants breast milk labeled and stored.
Make tiny batches of breast milk to store. To minimize waste, use 2 to 4 ounces. After your baby has finished feeding, any breast milk still in a bottle must be consumed within two hours or, if rapidly refrigerated, used for the next feeding. An extra container can always be thawed if necessary.
Milk should be chilled or refrigerated as soon as it is expressed. The recommended practice is to cool freshly expressed milk as soon as possible. Freshly expressed milk can stay at room temperature (up to 77°F or 25°C) for 4 hours (or up to 6 to 8 hours if very cleanly expressed).
Breast milk can be kept at the back of the refrigerator at a temperature of 4°C or 39°F. Although it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 8 days, it is better to use chilled breast milk within four days.
Place the bottle in a bowl of warm water or run it under warm water to thaw chilled breast milk. Breast milk should never be microwaved since it could scald your infant.
If you don’t use breast milk within 24 hours, freeze it. Don’t fill the milk storage container to the top because breast milk swells as it freezes. Once more, place the milk on the freezer’s back shelf rather than the door.
Milk may be frozen for up to 9 months in a refrigerator with a freezer with a separate door that is kept at 0°F or 18°C.
Milk may be frozen for up to 12 months if the freezer is a chest or deep freezer (4°F or 20°C).
What Constitutes Breast Milk?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly advises breastfeeding for at least 12 months and exclusively for the first six months of life. It can shield infants from infections and lower their risk of developing later health issues, including diabetes, obesity, and asthma. Both mothers and babies benefit the most from it.
There are several benefits of nursing. Breastfeeding aids the uterus’s contraction and speeds up the period’s end for women. Breastfeeding is a fantastic way for women to develop close relationships with their children and can lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Ultimately, a newborn’s best source of nutrition is breast milk.
Breast milk contains various nutrients that defend your baby against illness and infection. Compared to formula or cow’s milk, the proteins in breast milk are easier to digest. Additionally, the calcium and iron in breast milk are absorbed more quickly.
How should Breast Milk be Thawed?
To ensure that your baby’s breast milk is safe, use caution when defrosting it:
Avoid letting frozen breast milk thaw at normal temperature. In the refrigerator, breast milk can thaw, usually taking 12 hours. Alternately, place the bottle or bag of frozen milk under hot running water (no hotter than 99 °F or 37 °C).
Previously frozen breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours after it has been fully thawed or at room temperature for no more than two hours.
Avoid using a microwave or boiling water to thaw or heat frozen breast milk. As a result, it may lose some of its protective and nutritional qualities and develop hot spots that could scald your child.
Breast milk that has been thawed and left at room temperature needs to be fed to your baby within two hours, or it needs to be thrown away.
After it has thawed, never refreeze breast milk.
What is the Correct Way of Feeding Expressed Breast Milk?
Warming breast milk is not necessary. It can be served chilled or at room temperature.
Here are some suggestions if you choose to reheat breast milk:
Maintain the container’s seal.
Put the tightly closed container in a basin of warm water or hold it for a short period under warm, not hot, running water.
Before giving your infant milk, test its temperature by dabbing a few drops on your wrist.
Avoid heating breast milk in the microwave or on the stove.
To combine any separated fat, swirl the breast milk.
Use the remaining milk within two hours of the baby’s last feeding if they didn’t finish the bottle. Breast milk that is still usable after two hours should be discarded.
What are the Different Phases of Breast Milk?
Colostrum
This is the initial, thick milk your breasts produce during pregnancy and immediately after giving birth. Due to its rich yellow color and high value for your kid, moms and doctors may refer to it as “liquid gold.” Colostrum contains antibodies that can shield your kid from illnesses and is incredibly rich in nutrition. Additionally, colostrum supports the development and health of your baby’s digestive system.
Transitional Milk
When mature breast milk gradually replaces colostrum, transitional milk results. You will make transitional milk from two to five days after delivery to two weeks following delivery. Your breasts may start to feel fuller and warmer, and the color of your milk may gradually turn bluish-white. Your breast milk adapts to your baby’s demands throughout this time. The production of milk will be aided by frequent nursing, thorough milk removal, and the reduction of engorgement.
Mature Milk
You begin producing mature milk ten to fifteen days after giving birth. It contains all the nutrients your baby needs, just like every stage of breast milk. As you feed your infant, mature milk’s fat quantity fluctuates. Before moving to the second breast during a feeding, let your infant finish emptying the first one. As a result, your baby will receive the ideal combination of nutrients at each meal.
How to Tell Breast Milk is Bad?
Smell
It Will Smell Terrible Breast milk that smells bad is likely to be spoiled. When this is the case, it will smell like rotting cow’s milk, the kind of scent you can’t take, being anywhere near your nose and making you want to throw up.
Breast milk can degrade and release specific scents from its enzymes, according to Georgakopoulos. “This is not necessarily a sign that it has gone bad; it could be anything from a soapy scent to a metallic smell. Although most babies will not be affected by this, others can be irritated by the fragrance. However, if breast milk smells “wrong,” it may not necessarily be ruined.
When in doubt, Georgakopoulos advises erring caution if your milk fails the nose test. She says it may be advisable to discard something if it smells like spoilt milk or is dubious in any other manner.
Swirling it Doesn’t Make it Mix.
Breast milk normally separates when it settles, and it may be mistaken for poor milk because the fat rises to the top. It could be misinterpreted for curdling or souring, according to Georgakopoulos.
If your breast milk doesn’t mix when swirled or if there are lumps in the milk that won’t mix, it’s taking a closer look to ensure that it has been stored properly and hasn’t gone bad. Swirling it around should solve the problem.
According to Petersen, it’s not always possible to discern whether milk is still edible simply by looking at it, smelling it, or even tasting it. Therefore, it is advised to follow the suggested storage instructions as strictly as possible to guarantee the security of your milk.
It was in the Refrigerator for More than Four Days
Fresh breast milk can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days, but once it has been used, it must be consumed within 24 hours, according to Georgakopoulos. To be safe, only pour into a bottle what you anticipate using.
Breast milk stored in the refrigerator for more than four days is probably unusable. Milk should be kept in the “heart” of your refrigerator rather than the door, where temperature fluctuations are greatest, for the best shelf life.
Label your pumped breast milk so you can keep track of time. Petersen states, “all milk storage containers should be labelled with the date the milk was pumped.” This will enable you to set up a mechanism that ensures the oldest milk is consumed first.
What is the Nutritional Value of Breast Milk?
Here is a quick rundown of what makes up breast milk and the nutrients it gives your baby:
Proteins
Whey and casein are two different types of proteins found in human milk. Whey protein makes up roughly 60–80% of the total protein in human milk. About 60% of it is whey, while 40% is casein. This protein balance makes digestion swift and simple. The amount of casein in artificial milk, often known as formula, determines how tough it is for the baby to digest. These proteins have excellent anti-infection capabilities. The following is a list of particular proteins contained in breast milk and their advantages:
In the digestive tract, lactoferrin prevents the growth of iron-dependent bacteria. This prevents some creatures, including coliforms and yeast, from requiring iron.
Additionally, secretory IgA shields the infant from bacteria and viruses, particularly those exposed to the mother, baby, and family. Additionally, it aids in preventing allergies and perhaps E. Coli infection. Breast milk also contains other immunoglobulins, such as IgG and IgM, which support defense against viral and bacterial illnesses. You can enhance the amount of these proteins in your breast milk by eating fish.
An enzyme called lysozyme guards against Salmonella and E. coli in the newborn. Additionally, it contains anti-inflammatory properties and encourages the development of good gut flora.
The Bifidus factor promotes lactobacillus development. By generating an acidic environment where dangerous bacteria cannot exist, lactobacillus is a helpful bacteria that defend the infant against harmful bacteria.
Fats
Fats necessary for your baby’s well-being are also present in human milk. It serves as a major source of calories and is important for the development of the brain and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. The brain, retina, and nervous system development depends on long-chain fatty acids. During the final trimester of pregnancy, they are deposited in the brain and present in breast milk.
Vitamins
Vitamin consumption by the mother directly impacts the quantity and types of vitamins in breast milk. She must therefore receive appropriate nutrition, including vitamins.
A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble vitamins essential for a baby’s health. Additionally crucial are the water-soluble vitamins pantothenic acid, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin C. Many medical professionals, including lactation consultants, would advise nursing moms to continue taking prenatal vitamins due to the requirement for these nutrients.
Carbohydrates
The main carbohydrate in human milk is lactose. It makes up about 40% of the total calories breast milk supplies. Reducing several harmful microorganisms in the stomach caused by lactose enhances calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium absorption. It aids in disease prevention and encourages the development of beneficial bacteria in the stomach.
Reference: Breast milk microbiota: A review of the factors that influence the composition
For babies, human breast milk (BM) is the best form of nourishment. BM contains a variety of immune cells as well as bioactive substances that have anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, and probiotic effects, in addition to essential nutrients (proteins, lipids, carbs, vitamins, and minerals). These include oligosaccharides, glycoconjugates, fatty acids, cytokines, chemokines, immunoglobulins, growth factors, and antimicrobial peptides (such as bacteriocin, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and cadherin). Atopic dermatitis, obesity, necrotizing enterocolitis, acute otitis media, oral candidiasis, enterovirus infection, and allergic illness are just a few of the conditions that are protected against by breastfeeding.
Conclusion
Breastmilk Storage Bags are perfect for storing, transporting, and warming breast milk. With their flat design, these bags are easy to transport and thaw. They also have a double zipper, which makes thawing a breeze. Made from sturdy material, they’re also incredibly safe. This article will explore the advantages of these storage bags and how they can help you during your breastfeeding journey. Here’s how to use one of these storage bags.
Labeling every storage container with the date you collect breast milk in the freezer is important. This will ensure that you’re not leaving any breast milk out, and you’ll be able to do the math if you need to quickly. Using a dating container is also a great idea. Label every storage container with the date it was collected and how much it was.
