Expressed milk stored in the refrigerator. How much and how can you store expressed breast milk in the refrigerator and without it? Specific timing, storage tips

Many modern mothers after the birth of a child quickly return to the previous rhythm of life, leaving the newborn in the care of relatives. At the same time, they do not stop breastfeeding, realizing the value of lactation for the development of the child. Nursing mothers express milk for the future, which, under certain conditions, retains freshness and benefits. Let's try to figure out how much breast milk is stored at room temperature.

Rules for expressing milk

The possibility of using expressed raw materials allows nursing mothers to lead an active lifestyle. Most often, this need arises due to the following reasons:

• mother’s absence for a long time due to (passage of medical procedures, a long trip, going to the cinema, an invitation to a celebration, etc.);
• inflammation of the mammary glands, cracked nipples;
• refusal of the child from the breast due to a poorly developed sucking reflex;
• constant pumping to increase lactation.

Experts have proven that expressed breast milk retains its beneficial features within half a year. The main thing is to observe the conditions of decanting and storing the product.

Breastfeeding consultants have made the following recommendations in this regard:

1. when expressing with a breast pump, do not forget to sterilize / boil it before each feeding;
2. with the manual method, you need to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and dry;
3. use only clean sterilized containers;
4. do not fill containers to the brim as frozen liquid expands;
5. label the container with the pumping period.

To keep milk for a long time, it is necessary to express it correctly. The value and sterility, as well as its taste, directly depend on compliance with the above rules.

How long does breast milk last?

Nutrition Preservation dairy product, expressed from the chest, is not an easy task. After all, it is important for a newborn that a tasty delicacy keeps warm, does not contain harmful bacteria, is easily digested and improves immunity. Therefore, every breastfeeding woman is interested in how long the expressed breast milk can be stored.

The problem has been studied by many world-class scientists. They concluded that breast milk can be stored indoors, as well as in a refrigerator and. It is important to observe the storage conditions that allow you to prepare the necessary supply of healthy treats for the crumbs. Let's take a closer look at how much breast milk can be stored and what storage location better fit for each specific case.

In room

Most of all, mothers are interested in the topic of how long breast milk can be stored at room temperature. Breastfeeding experts respond that even short-term storage of expressed breast milk at room temperature requires air control. Based on the results of the research, they came to the following conclusions:

• mother's milk is stored for a day at a cool room temperature not higher than 16-17 ° C;
• the storage time is halved (about 10-12 hours) if the air in the room warms up to 19-22 ° C;
• only 5 hours is allowed to keep milk in a room with a temperature above 25 ° C.

If you leave the newborn for no more than a day, do not use the refrigerator for the expressed product. Breast milk at room temperature perfectly retains valuable qualities and does not deteriorate due to the content of active substances (beneficial bacteria) that prevent sourness.

However, storage of breast milk for longer than the indicated time at room temperature is prohibited. If you have a veranda, balcony, basement and other rooms that keep cool (10-15°C), put the product there and be sure that it will last for a day.

In a refrigerator

Lansinoh is a well-known American company specializing in the production of breastfeeding products. Its founder, Rishida Hagen, gave birth to her first child in 1978 and faced most of the problems of nursing mothers: cracked nipples, pain during feeding, etc. It was these circumstances that prompted her to open her own company for the production of quality products for a long and successful feeding of babies.

Lansinox packages meet all quality standards:

• Made from durable food-grade plastic, free of toxic materials such as BPA
• have a strong clasp that eliminates even the slightest risk of leakage;
• when filled, they have a stable bottom;
• on the package, you can make inscriptions with the date of pumping and freezing.

Almost all mothers are very satisfied with these packages and leave positive reviews on iHerb. Many note that these packages are suitable for all breast pumps.

The volume is 180 ml, however, judging by the reviews, one package can easily hold 250 ml.

The comparison table below clearly shows that the cheapest packages can be bought on the iHerb website.

Online store name	Price per pack of 25 pcs.
iHerb	427 r. the price depends on the exchange rate (10% discount on the first order using the code zhs081)
utkonos.ru	690 rubles
eapteka.ru	570 r.
olant-shop.ru	780 rubles
zavitaminom.ru	950 r.

If you have stopped breastfeeding, and the bags remain, then you can easily freeze mashed potatoes for feeding your baby at home!

NUK Seal ‘n Go breast milk bags

Buy at a discount

The motto of this company, which has been operating in the breastfeeding market for 55 years: “Every mother breastfeeds differently. But for everyone, breastfeeding should be easy.”

The quality of the packages is beyond doubt:

• environmentally friendly plastic;
• secure clasp;
• the ability to make the necessary notes;
• special oxygen air exchange system keeps milk fresh and tasty maximum amount time;
• all packages are pre-sterilized;
• packages can be frozen.

The volume of one package is 180 ml.

On iHerb, there are packages for sale, where there are or 100 sterile bags.

The company warns not to defrost milk packs in the microwave! It is better to get them out of the freezer in advance so that the milk becomes liquid at room temperature. And don't forget to check the temperature just before feeding.

Rules for heating and defrosting expressed milk

When defrosting a portion of the mother's treat, you must adhere to the following algorithm:

1. move the container with milk from the freezer to the refrigerator and wait until the raw materials are completely defrosted;
2. mix the required amount of melted raw materials until a homogeneous structure, pour into a bottle and heat to the desired temperature in a water bath.

In specialized stores, you can buy a bottle warmer that keeps the raw materials warm at a constant level of 37 degrees. This is the best way to warm up your expressed milk.

We offer a few more useful tips for defrosting milk, in practice tested by many experienced mothers:

1. defrost only 1 serving of milk;
2. choose a product that is frozen before everyone else;
3. prepare in advance by removing raw materials from the freezer 8-12 hours before use;
4. heat only melted raw materials;
5. thawed products can be stored indoors for about 4 hours and a day in a refrigerator;
6. before feeding the baby, smell and try the heated product: it is strictly forbidden to give spoiled (with a sour smell and bitter taste) raw materials;
7. to determine the readiness of warmed milk, put a few drops on your wrist.

Often breastfeeding women ask the question: is it necessary to warm breast milk? If the child has grown up (over 6-7 months) and is accustomed to drinking water at room temperature, then it is permissible not to heat the expressed product stored in the room. Everything else depends on the room temperature. It is up to the mother to decide whether to heat the breast milk or not.

What can't be done?

• re-freezing of strained raw materials;
• use of a microwave oven for heating;
• heated over an open fire in a saucepan and boil;
• reheat previously heated milk.

These actions lead to the loss of valuable properties of mother's milk.

The ability to keep expressed milk fresh and nutritious is a lifesaver for moms that solves many problems. It is important to remember that the most healthy treat is the milk that the baby receives directly from the breast. In addition, it is physical and emotional communication with the mother, which forms the psychological health of the child. Keep this in mind and try to give your newborn milk directly from the breast.

If your family has infant, the whole life of the household revolves around the baby. But sometimes it becomes necessary to express mother's milk for storage in order to feed the baby in the absence of the mother. Several hours of storage at room temperature are allowed, but if left for a long time, put the product in the refrigerator.

Is it possible to preserve the usefulness of breast milk?

Preserving precious nutrition so that vitamins and trace elements remain, as in direct feeding, is not an easy task. scientists different countries studies have been conducted on whether it is permissible to leave breast milk in the refrigerator for an hour, for a day, for several days. After all, breastfeeding involves warm, natural, sterile milk, which is easily absorbed by the child, protects him from diseases, and participates in the formation of children's immunity.

It is also important that when breastfeeding, the baby receives the biologically active substances necessary for its growing body, which contribute to the production of digestive enzymes, immune modulators, and regulating hormones. Will this healthy, baby essential product also be useful after pumping and storing for some time? How many hours or days it remains fresh, we have to find out.

But most importantly: at breastfeeding the baby is emotionally and physically in contact with the mother, and this is a lot for the formation mental health child. In a bottle, expressed milk, even if heated to the right temperature, will not give the baby that feeling of warmth, care, love, protection that he receives when in contact with his mother.

To keep maximum in milk useful substances, it must be properly expressed, namely, before pumping, wash your hands (if the process will be done manually), sterilize the breast pump and container for the product. The resulting milk cannot be sterilized in the future, otherwise nothing useful will remain in it.

Rules for storing breast milk

Everyone understands that in the refrigerator, protein products of animal origin, including much longer than without a refrigerator, and frozen even longer.

In order to properly preserve the nutrients and taste, pour the expressed milk in portions for one feeding of 60-120 ml into the intended dishes. Use a bottle, a plastic container, and preferably a special bag for freezing milk. Dishes are used sterile, tightly closed.

It is important to choose the right container for storage: it can be glass or plastic bottles. Ideal - special bags for freezing milk. Bottles must be sterilized and sealed with lids.

But immediately after pumping, putting the bottle in the refrigerator is not recommended. Dishes with precious liquid cool for some time at room temperature, then put into storage in the refrigerator or freezer.

Mandatory rule for long-term storage of products: it is necessary to mark the day, month, year and time of pumping. Do not rely on memory, sign the bottles so as not to inadvertently feed the baby with spoiled milk.

How long does breast milk last

Let's see how long breast milk is stored at different temperatures, whether it can be left indoors or must be kept in the refrigerator:

• at a temperature of +20-+25°С - 5-6 hours;
• at a temperature of +15-+16°С - 24 hours;
• at a temperature of +3-+6°С - 5-7 days;
• at a temperature of -18°С-24°С - up to 12 months.

The temperatures for storage and use of human milk are given for healthy babies. For children with health problems, reduce the indicated expiration dates by a third, or even by half. .

Where is the best place to store milk in the refrigerator?

The latest models of refrigerators include a freshness zone, the temperature of which is automatically maintained at 0-+1°C. Bottles or bags in the freshness zone are cooled but not frozen. Such cooling allows you to store the product for 1-3 days without loss of useful properties. The temperature of the freshness zone slows down the reproduction of bacteria, allows you to preserve the taste and usefulness of the products.

If the refrigerator does not have a freshness zone, put the milk on the shelves under the freezer, where it is cooler than on the lower shelves. The temperature inside the refrigerator keeps +3-+6 degrees. This is enough to store fresh milk for up to a week.

Try to put the bottles closer to the back wall and open the refrigerator door less often, as temperature changes adversely affect the products. It is not recommended to store bottles on the refrigerator door, as the temperature drops sharply when opened.

Appearance and taste of frozen milk

Not all mothers know that when cooling and freezing, the appearance of milk changes. Therefore, when cooling the bottle in the refrigerator for the first time, seeing the strange appearance of the contents, the mothers get scared, they pour out the milk, the children remain hungry. The fact is that stratification occurs from the cold, fats float up, and a fat-free residue remains below. This does not spoil the product, one has only to shake the bottle until smooth.

Not only does the type of milk change, but the taste can also change, which the child does not always accept. The taste should not be bitter or sour. This would mean that the product is gone and it is not recommended to give it to the child.

Before you give your baby thawed warm milk, you should taste it. If it is bitter or sour, then the milk is gone.

Freezing milk: important nuances

If too much milk is collected or your long absence, storage of stocks in a frozen form is allowed. Long-term feeding of the baby requires a large amount of reserve supplies. If the mother’s absence is not long, 3-5 servings are enough for a reserve.

If possible, always breastfeed your baby or breastfeed milk that does not last long. With the growth of the newborn, the composition of milk changes. For a one-month-old and one-year-old child, different useful substances are required; milk for a long period of freezing is not suitable for a constantly growing child.

The freezer allows food to be stored for up to a year. The temperature of the freezer compartment is minus -18°С-24°С. Optimum cooling at -18°C is sufficient. At a constant temperature of -20°C, milk can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months.

• The freezer container should not be filled to the top; since liquids expand when frozen, the integrity of the packaging may be compromised.
• Be sure to note the date the milk was expressed.
• Before storing the product in the freezer, first cool the bags or bottles at refrigerator temperature for a couple of hours, then send them to freeze.
• Put the bags in the freezer and try to open the door as little as possible.

Set the thermometer relay to -18 degrees. This is a normal temperature for constant cooling; milk in such a cold is stored for up to a year without losing its beneficial properties. If it is not possible to set such a low temperature, it is enough to freeze and store at -5-8 ° C, the milk will remain fresh and suitable for feeding a child for six months.

After defrosting milk, it should not be re-frozen in any case.

Defrosting milk

Defrosting milk requires the following rules:

• Remove the product for defrosting in advance, approximately 8-12 hours before use.
• Defrost only one serving of milk.
• Take the portion that has been frozen longer than the rest.
• Let the product first thaw in the refrigerator or in a container with cold water until the ice melts. Just warm up the melted milk.
• Store thawed milk for no more than 4 hours in the room or no more than 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• Before warming the milk or giving it to the baby cold, gently stir until smooth.
• To warm the milk, use a bottle warmer that does not overheat above 37°C, or dip the container in warm (37°C) water. It is not recommended to heat milk on the stove, in boiling water or in the microwave.
• Be sure to smell and taste the warmed milk. A spoiled product should never be given to a child.
• Put a few drops on your wrist to make sure it's warm and not hot.
• It is absolutely impossible to freeze the product again.

If the baby has grown up and is happy to drink a cool drink at room temperature, then it is better not to warm the milk, but to give it cool.

But always remember: The healthiest milk comes directly from the mother's breast. Eating such milk, the child receives everything necessary for life, health and well-being.

Everyone knows about the benefits of mother's milk for babies and a lot has been said about it, so there is no doubt that mother's milk cannot be replaced with the best infant formula. But what to do if the mother needs to leave for a couple of hours, and the child will soon be fed? Do not worry, your baby will not starve, because milk can be expressed and stored in a special container. But not everyone knows how to store expressed breast milk so that it does not lose its unique properties? We will talk about this and much more today in our article.

Some mothers forget about breastfeeding their baby if they have to leave the house for a short time or for a longer time. But why formula feed your baby when you can express your own milk? Many young mothers do not yet know how to properly express breast milk and therefore are afraid of such a process, thinking that they will harm either themselves or the baby. But for the female breast, there is nothing wrong with that.

Expressing milk from the breast is harmful only if the woman has cracks on the nipple. If you are so afraid of such a thing - consult a doctor and everything will fall into place.

Reasons why you need to express milk

Expression of breast milk is carried out in the following cases:

• if the mother has too much milk. But it is not advised to get carried away with this, it is necessary to “unload” the chest only until relief comes. This is especially true immediately after childbirth, when there is a lot of it;
• if milk, on the contrary, is too little. In this case, pumping is a kind of breast stimulation, it is better to use a breast pump for this or try to put the baby to the breast more often. There is one rule - the more milk you can express, the more it will be in your chest for the next feeding of the baby;
• if the mother needs to leave the house somewhere and there is no way to feed the baby at the set time;
• if milk remains in the breast after feeding;
• during the fight against blockage of the mammary glands. This is expressed as suspicious seals;
• mother became seriously ill. It is forbidden to breastfeed the baby for a while, but there are no contraindications for expressing breast milk.

What is the normal fat content of breast milk

Women's milk is completely different from cow's milk. It is heterogeneous and, when settled in a bottle, it has two layers: the upper yellowish layer is fatty milk, and the lower layer will be a bluish-white hue. If you shake the bottle, it becomes homogeneous. When a baby suckles, at first he gets a less fatty meal, which is a drink for him, and only then the fattest milk enters the baby’s body, it is much more nutritious, digested longer and it is with them that the baby eats up.

Many mothers worry about whether they have enough fat in breast milk for a baby.

There are reasons for concern:

• in a certain period of time, the baby stops gaining the weight necessary for his age;
• the baby is often applied to the breast and sucks it greedily;
• when expressing, the mother notices that the milk is bluish and decides that the fat content should be increased.

Normally, 100 ml of breast milk should contain 1.3 g of protein, 4.2 g of fat and 7 g of carbohydrates. Its calorie content, in general, is 280 kJ, and the reason for the low fat content of breast milk is not always the woman's diet. Most often this is a hereditary factor and therefore there are mothers who have it fatter, while others have less fat content. But both of them, quite successfully will be able to feed their child.

Proper technique for hand expressing milk

What to do before pumping

During this process in female body It is not at all what is happening with the usual breastfeeding of the baby. The body will distinguish from the baby's breast pump and during pumping, the breast is not stimulated enough, so milk production may deteriorate.

To prevent this from happening, mom is recommended to “feed” the body with hot tea with milk before decanting. You can lay out a not very hot towel on your chest or just stand under a warm shower. Before expressing, it is useful to massage the chest, then the process will go faster.

Manual way to express breast milk

Many young mothers are interested in how to express breast milk with their hands. It's very simple and your steps are as follows:

1. wash your breasts and hands well and massage your breasts a little. Such actions will contribute to the release of the hormone oxytocin, it will expand the ducts and increase milk production;
2. with one hand grasp the chest from below and slowly press from the base to the nipple. Don't press hard. big c index finger the other hands are located above and below on the halo, respectively;
3. Start pumping with your fingers forward. Press on the edge of the nipple from both sides and see that it does not hurt.

Now you know how to express breast milk with your hands. It is worth noting that you need to get used to this process.

Using a breast pump

There are no special recommendations for choosing a breast pump, it all depends on financial capabilities and your desire. But it must necessarily be such that all its components can be sterilized. On some Chinese devices there is a mark “do not boil”, it is undesirable to buy such a breast pump, there is a high risk of infecting the baby.

Whether to buy an electric or conventional device is also up to you. A manual breast pump can be constantly monitored, and an electrical device will free you from, albeit a small, but physical activity. Some models of electric breast pumps can pump two breasts at the same time.

Now let's talk about how to properly express breast milk with a breast pump.

Do you want something interesting?

First of all, preparatory activities:

1. sterilize and dry all elements of the breast pump;
2. wash your hands well with soap;
3. wash your breasts with warm water and massage your nipples, a rush of milk will then be better.

Further, the pumping process differs depending on the model of the breast pump. But in any case, the device must be attached to the chest so that the nipple is in the center. The device must be firmly attached to the skin, otherwise a vacuum will not be created.

Now squeeze the pump of the device and press the piston handle or turn on the switch of the electrical device. Look at the flow of milk - if it is very strong, then you do not need to press the handle or pump the pump until the milk flow decreases. If you use an electric breast pump, be sure to adjust the pumping strength.

Before the end of the process, do another breast massage and direct the last milk droplets to the nipple, because they are the most nutritious. Now you can disconnect the bottle from the device and tightly cover it with a lid and then you will learn how the expressed breast milk is stored. Wash the pump with baby soap immediately after use and set it aside for the next use.

How a breast pump is used to express milk

An interesting way to express milk from the breast

This pumping technique was used by our grandmothers. Sterilize the bottle, cool it a little and apply its neck to your chest. Now you have to be patient and wait for the air to gradually begin to cool in the bottle, and the nipple will be slightly sucked inward into its neck, and the milk will slowly pour. Well, then, you just need to find out how breast milk is stored and stock it up.

It is clear that such a pumping technique is absolutely safe, but it will take a long time to work and the bottle cannot be removed from the chest, since the air will immediately come out of it and the procedure will have to be started again.

Proper storage of expressed breast milk

You have already learned everything about the pumping process, and now let's try to figure out how to store breast milk, because even expressed it is much more useful than infant formula and can be stored for quite a long time.

Numerous studies have shown that expressed human milk stored in right conditions half a year in its beneficial properties far exceeded many well-known milk formulas for children. So draw your own conclusions.

Where should expressed milk be stored?

Glassware is considered the best option, followed by solid opaque plastic and opaque plastic vessels. But on this moment The safest means are special bags for storing breast milk. They are made of dense quality material, very comfortable, they are easy to seal and a big plus is that the bags are sold already sterilized. These breast milk bags even have a special place where you can write the name of the crumbs and the time of pumping.

Storing expressed breast milk in bags

There are also special containers for storing breast milk made of polyethylene or plastic. The cleanest in terms of ecology are polyethylene, they are quite durable and do not emit any harmful substances. Glass containers are suitable for storing milk for a short time in the refrigerator, because such dishes take up a lot of space in the freezer.

Shelf life at room temperature

Many mothers are interested in: how much breast milk can be stored? It all depends on where it is stored.

It is worth noting that breast milk after direct expression will not deteriorate for six or even ten hours without placing it in the refrigerator.

And if mommy needs to leave for 3-4 hours and skip a couple of feedings, then you can have lunch or dinner for the baby and not put it in the cold, but just leave it in the room. A bottle of milk does not need to be heated, and all useful substances are completely preserved. It should be borne in mind that the storage of breast milk at different temperatures in the room will also be different in terms of shelf life, namely:

• up to 25 degrees - up to six hours;
• up to 20 degrees - up to ten hours;
• up to 15 degrees - a day.

Based on these indicators, you can calculate how much expressed milk you can take with you on a trip with your baby and feed him there, and during a walk it is very convenient to use special thermoses for baby bottles that can keep the temperature of milk.

Shelf life in the refrigerator

Now let's figure out how much breast milk is stored in the refrigerator. If you need to leave the house for five or six hours, you can put some of the pumped milk in the refrigerator. Chilled in the refrigerator, it contains much more valuable substances than frozen, and at a temperature below 15 degrees it can be stored for two days.

The expressed milk is poured into portioned bottles and heated as usual before feeding. When heated, it is not devoid of its nutritional and beneficial properties, and you can safely cook it for five to seven feedings, because you already know how breast milk is stored.

Storing frozen breast milk

If you are leaving for a long time or needed to stock up on milk in order to express less of it for a whole week, then you can freeze a certain part in the freezer. But you need to know how much breast milk is stored in the refrigerator in the freezer. After all, you can’t store it for a very long period of time either.

The storage time in a conventional freezer is up to three months, and in deep-freeze chambers it can be stored up to six months.

How to defrost breast milk and how long it can be stored later

The defrosting process proceeds gradually - first, let the milk container stand a little in the refrigerator after the freezer, then just in the room, and then take a container for storing breast milk or a bag and place it under the tap and send a stream of warm water to it. The highest heating temperature is 37 degrees and it is not advisable to exceed it.

There are specially designed heaters for this purpose, which will always be useful to parents when storing breast milk. It must not be thawed by boiling or heated in the microwave. On the container with milk, it is necessary to mark the date and time of pumping, so that when defrosting and freezing various portions, you should not make a mistake with the date. Of course, when frozen, breast milk will lose some of its nutrients, but in any case, it is more useful for the crumbs than infant formula.

Many are interested in how long can breast milk be stored after defrosting? It is stored no more than three days, and the second time it is impossible to freeze. It is normal that the frozen product will change its odor and color, thus certain non-fatty acids will show up when frozen. But you saw that it has a strong sour smell, then the product is spoiled, and immediately pour it out.

So you learned how expressed breast milk is stored, and now you can, in case of urgent need, create a real milk supply for your baby. The most important thing is to follow all the rules for its storage and then the milk will fully retain all its useful and nutritious properties.

This material is for informational purposes only, before using the information provided, it is necessary to consult with a specialist.

Everyone knows about the benefits of breast milk. Thanks to him, the baby receives all the necessary vitamins and minerals for proper development. In addition, along with milk, maternal antibodies enter the child's body, which support the immunity of the crumbs and protect it from various kinds of infections. However, it happens that the mother does not have the opportunity to breastfeed the baby (illness, work, urgent departure). In this case, there is an alternative option - expressing milk, which then needs to be properly stored.

Where can expressed breast milk be stored?

You can store expressed breast milk in both plastic and glass, plastic containers. It can be containers, bottles, cups, etc. The requirements for him are quite simple:

• sterility;
• reliability in operation;
• ease of use;
• the ability to close tightly;
• a measuring scale on the wall is desirable.

Which container is better to choose for storage depends on where the breast milk will be stored. Ideal for freezer storage for single use, which will not burst when milk is frozen, strong enough, sterile, compact, hermetically sealed, with a measuring scale and a place to write the date of pumping. You can buy such bags at any pharmacy, but in ordinary plastic bags you should not, as they are very unreliable.

Important! It is better to choose such a container so that it corresponds to a volume equal to a single feeding. Don't forget to label the containers.

Glass and plastic bottles, containers are suitable for storage in the main chamber of the refrigerator. reusable. In this case, it is important to keep the containers clean and they must be sterilized before filling with expressed milk. Boiling water will kill all microorganisms that have penetrated into the container and prevent them from entering the body of the crumbs.

Rules for storing breast milk in the freezer

If you intend to store breast milk in the freezer, then there are several important nuances, which will help you get the most out of the expressed product.

1. Before placing milk in the freezer, it must first be cooled in the refrigerator (at least 5 hours). Freshly expressed product should not be frozen immediately.
2. For storage, it is preferable to choose
3. Before freezing, labeling is mandatory so that the shelf life is not violated.
4. The amount of milk for freezing should be equal to the amount for a single use. If this is a larger volume, then the remaining product will have to be poured out, since re-freezing is prohibited.
5. If possible, it is better to place milk in a separate section of the freezer, where mom looks less often.

Rules for storing breast milk in the refrigerator

The use of a refrigerator increases the shelf life of milk without freezing, but has its own characteristics.

1. Milk should not be put in the refrigerator immediately after. You need to keep it indoors for a while, preferably in a dark and cool place.
2. For storage, you can use containers made of different materials (glass, plastic), both disposable and reusable.
3. Do not place the product on the door, otherwise constant temperature changes will significantly reduce its shelf life.

Video how to store expressed milk - pediatrician's advice

How long can breast milk be stored at room temperature and in the refrigerator

The duration of storage in the refrigerator is determined by the temperature. Inside the freezer, it will be larger, especially if you place the container closer to the back wall. Outside the freezer, in the main chamber, milk storage is also possible, but the shelf life is significantly reduced. The shelf life of expressed milk, depending on the conditions, is given in the table.

Approximate shelf life of expressed milk

Storage conditions	Freshly expressed milk	defrosted in the refrigerator	Defrosted and reheated	Thawed, reheated and started
Room temperature +26-+32ºС	3-4 hours	0.5-1 hour	Until the end of feeding
Room +22-+25ºС	4-6 hours	1-2 hours	Until the end of feeding
Room +19-+22ºС	6-10 hours	3-4 hours	Until the end of feeding
Portable cooler or thermal pack with ice +10-+15ºС	24 hours	4 hours	Do not store
Refrigerator 0-+4ºС	6-8 days	24 hours	4 hours	Do not store
Freezer of the old sample -10-15ºС	2 weeks	Do not refreeze
Freezer -15-18ºС	3-5 months	Do not refreeze
Deep freeze chamber below -18ºС	6-12 months	Do not refreeze

How to defrost breast milk

1. Most the best option gradual, natural defrosting of milk is considered. In no case should you use a microwave oven, place the container in hot water, boil (it will lose all its). It is better to leave the product in the refrigerator or other cool place for 8-12 hours.
2. If milk is needed urgently, and for some reason mom forgot to get it out of the freezer in advance, then you can use the quick defrosting method. You need to place the container with milk in warm (not hot!) Water. This will speed up the defrosting time.
3. After heating, the container must be shaken well, as the milk may separate. You should not be afraid of this.
4. Only one serving of milk is defrosted. The remaining product must not be re-frozen.
5. You must definitely try the product. If the milk is sour, bitter or gives off some foreign odors, it is better to pour it out. Perhaps the rules for storage, defrosting were violated and the product simply turned sour.

Important! To feed the baby, you need to take the milk that was placed in the freezer before everyone else (that's why the marking!).

Are all the beneficial properties of mother's milk preserved after defrosting?

Many mothers are interested in whether it changes even after freezing. In the course of medical research, it was found that it decreases only by reducing the amount of fat in the product. But these indicators are quite insignificant and therefore do not have any negative impact on the baby's body (or its development).

As for the taste, after defrosting or cooling, milk can give off soap. This is due to the presence of the enzyme lipase in it, which immediately after pumping breaks down milk fat. Many children do not notice such a taste and eat the product with pleasure, while others flatly refuse unusual food.

To change the taste of milk, you should heat it and then cool it quickly. Then the lipase will be destroyed and the taste of the product will be restored. The only negative is the loss of milk properties. and its sharp cooling leads to the loss of vitamin C, which is useful for the baby.

How to store expressed milk outdoors during summer walks

Expressed breast milk can also come in handy on the street if the baby is hungry and there is no opportunity to breastfeed. But how do you keep it useful qualities if the weather is hot? Everything is very simple. The ideal option is the purchase of cold packs. You can buy them at any hardware store. All you need is to cover the bottle on all sides and enjoy the walk.

Mother's milk is the best food for a baby: it contains healthy proteins, carbohydrates and fats, as well as essential minerals and vitamins. No artificial feeding will bring the same benefit to the baby. That is why mothers try to provide the child with breast milk, even if they are separated from him for a while. To do this, they use pumping. But not everyone knows how to store expressed breast milk.

Choosing a capacity

You can use plastic or glass utensils. The container must meet the following criteria:

Sterility;
- tightness of closing;
- Ease of use;
- the presence of a measuring scale (desirable, but not required).

Various containers with lids, bottles for preparing and storing formula, resealable cups, etc. are suitable. If long-term storage of breast milk in the freezer is expected, the best option is plastic bags sold in pharmacies. They are durable and sterile, easily and quickly sealed, have a measuring scale and a place to record the date.

How to store breast milk after pumping

If you are preparing a portion that the baby will eat within a couple of hours, then it is best to store it at room temperature in a tightly closed container. In the refrigerator, you can store supplies for a day or several days. Milk needs to be cooled a little, poured into a closed container and put deep into the refrigerator: if you leave it on the door, it may turn sour.

For long-term storage, you can resort to freezing, and in this case it is important to follow the technology: first leave the milk in the refrigerator for 1.5-2 hours, and then place it in the freezer. Be sure to write the date and time on the package.

When defrosting, avoid temperature differences: first place the portion in the refrigerator, and when the product becomes liquid, pour into a bottle. Use a water bath for even heating.

How long can breast milk be stored

Under natural conditions at temperatures up to + 15 degrees - 24 hours, up to +22 degrees - 10 hours, above +22 - 6 hours;
- in the refrigerator, where the temperature is not more than +5 degrees, milk is stored for up to 8 days;
- in the freezer at temperatures up to -18 degrees - 6 months, from -20 degrees - 1 year.

Freeze the product in portions and place it at the back wall of the freezer;
- do not mix portions expressed at different times;
- do not be alarmed if you notice that frozen milk has changed color: this is a natural process associated with the effect of low temperature on fatty acids;
- do not reuse leftover frozen portions: they must be discarded.

Always check for freshness before feeding your baby with expressed milk. To do this, just smell the product. If it has gone bad, you will smell a pronounced smell of sour milk.