Mothers, especially those who need to return to work, choose to express and store their breastmilk for their babies. Expressing breastmilk allows other members of the family or caregivers to feed the baby with breastmilk. Thus, it is important that mothers know how to properly store their breastmilk to ensure that they are still giving the best for their babies. Here are the tips in storing the breastmilk properly!
Before expressing breastmilk, mothers need to make sure their hands should be cleaned thoroughly. Also, equipment to be used such as pumping kits must be sterilized and free from dirt to avoid contamination. After milk expression, store the expressed breastmilk in a storage bag or clean food-grade containers with tight fitting lids made of glass or plastic. Avoid filling the storage bag fully since the breastmilk expands as it freezes. Plastic bags or containers that are not for breastmilk storage must not be used since it may contain contaminants that may harm the baby.
Each stored breastmilk must be properly labeled with time and date when it was expressed. Never put the breastmilk at the door compartment of the refrigerator since temperature fluctuates in the area and it may affect the breast milk quality. It is best to store it at the back of the freezer where the lowest temperature or coldest part is located. Also, it is recommended that breastmilk must be stored in batches (2 to 4 ounces or the usual amount of every feed) to prevent discarding excess breastmilk from unfinished feeds. When transporting expressed breastmilk or traveling, breastmilk can be stored in insulated cooler bag with frozen iced packs for up to 24 hours.
In thawing the breastmilk safely, always remember the first in, first out rule. Breastmilk that is stored longer must be stored first since the quality of breastmilk changes over time. Place the breastmilk bag or bottle in the refrigerator overnight and set it in warm running water to thaw a frozen breastmilk. Microwaving as method of thawing is discouraged since it may destroy the nutrients in the breastmilk and may create hot spots and may scald the baby. Thawed breastmilk should be consumed right away and should not be stored and refreeze again.
The proper storage location and temperature depends on the type of breastmilk to be stored. Freshly expressed or pumped breastmilk that are properly stored and packed can be consumed for up to 4 hours in room temperature (25 C or colder), up to 4 days inside a refrigerator (4 C) and can last up to 6 months – best quality or even 12 months – acceptable, in freezer (-18 C or colder). Whereas, for breastmilk that are previously frozen or thawed and stored in refrigerator, it is recommended to consume it within 1-2 hours. Thawed breast milk that is stored in refrigerator must be consumed within 24 hours. Mothers should remember that previously frozen breastmilk should never be refrozen to maintain the nutrients in the breast milk. For leftover breastmilk from previous feeding, babies should consume it within 2 hours after he/she has finished feeding. The human milk storage guidelines created by the Center of Diseases Control and Prevention must be followed to make sure that the baby still receives the best quality of breast milk. ###FVV
Source:
Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm#:~:text=Storing%20breast%20milk%20after%20expressing%3A&text=Freshly%20expressed%20or%20pumped%20milk,to%2012%20months%20is%20acceptable.
Tips for freezing and refrigerating breast milk. Retrieved from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Storing-and-Preparing-Expressed-Breast-Milk.aspx
