How long does breast milk last after being refrigerated? How and how long is breast milk stored in the refrigerator and at room temperature? How long can breast milk be stored at room temperature

Breast milk is an invaluable nutritious food for a newly born baby. It contains all the nutrients and vitamins that contribute to the harmonious development of the crumbs.

None, even the highest quality imported formula, can completely replace mother's milk..

But there are circumstances when a mother cannot feed the baby herself and she has to entrust this important matter to her father or grandmother.

And here serious questions await the young mother.

How much is stored breast milk in a refrigerator? What is the best container to store it in? Can it be frozen? And will it not lose its valuable qualities after such actions?

Let's take it in order.

Everyone knows that chilled foods lose their nutritional properties more slowly. And breast milk is no exception. It will retain its value longer if it is in the refrigerator, and even better - in the freezer.

How long can breast milk be stored after pumping?

In the following table, you can see how the storage time of expressed milk depends on temperature.:

Temperature regime - ᵒС	+21/+25ᵒС	+15/+18ᵒС	+3/+5ᵒС	-18/-24ᵒС
Storage time	Up to 5 - 6 hours	Up to 24 hours	Up to 5 - 7 days	One year

Thus, milk can stand no more than 6 hours without a refrigerator, but still, if it becomes necessary to leave it outside the refrigerator, try to find a cool place.

Expert opinion

Smirnova Luiza Dmitrievna - medical worker

Pediatrician's assistant at a private clinic

Despite the long shelf life, it should still be remembered that the less time a bottle of milk is stored in the refrigerator before feeding, the better, the more beneficial properties it has.

Beneficial features expressed milk is stored longer if a special container is used for its storage. Bottles made of plastic or glass with a volume of 60 or 120 ml, as well as plastic containers, ensure sterility and ease of use.

It will be much easier for you and your baby when the bottle contains a serving at a time. If you have to store milk for a longer period, then it is better to use special bags for this.

Here the main task for any container is the observance of sterility and tightness.

But pumping milk into a clean container and immediately putting it on the shelf in the refrigerator is also not recommended. It must be cooled to ambient temperature and only then cooled.

A uniform decrease in temperature will maximize the preservation of all the necessary useful components. The date and time should be marked on the package.

What bottles can be used

You can express and keep milk in the refrigerator or freezer in a container made of any material, as long as it has sufficient sterility and is hermetically sealed.

It does not matter what it is made of, plastic or glass.

It should be noted that, of course, the leading position is occupied by glassware, slightly inferior to them are bottles made of polypropylene. It is better if the bottle contains one serving.

When choosing a container for storage, it is better to be guided by the convenience and ease of its use.

For example, specially made bags are perfect for freezing breast milk. They are freely sold in pharmacies. In addition, they are made of dense polyethylene, sterile, have a scale, you can write the date on them.

Polyethylene bottle inserts are not so convenient. Made of thin plastic, they can tear in the freezer and the contents will leak out. If you are using them, it is recommended that you pump in a double bag with one insert inside the other for better reliability.

Where is the best place to keep it in the fridge?

At the back wall of the refrigerator, the temperature is lower than in the main part, and it is also less likely to drop when the door is opened.

This is where breast milk bottles should be stored.

For the same reason, do not place milk bottles on the refrigerator door. Since when the door is open, the temperature rises sharply, and then drops.

This contributes to the breakdown of nutrients in breast milk.

How long can it stay in the refrigerator

IN modern refrigerators there is a special freshness zone where the temperature range is maintained from 0 to +1ᵒС. In this zone, the products only cool and do not freeze.

Bottles here can be kept from one day to three days without fear that the milk may lose its nutritional properties. They will be preserved due to the fact that at this temperature the spread of bacteria is inhibited.

If your refrigerator does not have such a special zone, it's okay, the best option would be the refrigerator shelf immediately below the freezer, where it is much colder than on the shelves below.

The refrigerator is usually maintained at a temperature of +3 to +5 degrees. Milk is well preserved at this temperature for up to seven days.

How to freeze and how long to store

Have you used frozen milk?

YesNo

Freezing expressed milk will be a lifesaver for many mothers who have to work, and especially spend a lot of time on business trips.

This method is suitable for those who have enough a large number of milk.

If you plan to be away for no more than a few days, then 4-5 additional bottles will be enough as a reserve.

But don't get too carried away with freezing. It is better to breastfeed more often, and in the absence of such an opportunity - with expressed milk, which is not stored in the refrigerator for long. The composition of breast milk is constantly changing to meet the needs of a growing baby. So milk intended for a newborn baby is unlikely to suit a six-month-old, and even more so a one-year-old baby.

The temperature in the freezer usually reaches -24ᵒС, products can be stored in such conditions for up to one year.

Breast milk is well preserved frozen at a temperature of -20ᵒС.

There are the following rules for freezing milk:

a container intended for freezing cannot be filled to the top, since milk, like any other liquid, expands at sub-zero temperatures and the tightness of the package may be broken.
Be sure to include the date you expressed your milk.
bottles or bags of milk should first be cooled for several hours in the refrigerator, and only then sent for storage in the freezer.
open the freezer less frequently to avoid temperature fluctuations.

On modern refrigerators, it is enough to set the relay at minus 18 degrees to maintain a constant required temperature. If your refrigerator is not designed to keep temperatures too low, setting the temperature from -5 to -8ᵒС will be enough, it will also allow you to keep milk for up to six months.

How to defrost and heat expressed milk

How to properly defrost breast milk:

take the bottle out of the freezer in advance, no later than 8-10 hours before the planned feeding,
defrost milk in the amount of one serving,
Place the bottle in the refrigerator to defrost evenly. For the same purpose, it can be put in cold water. Only completely thawed milk can be heated in the warmer,
defrosted milk can be stored up to 24 hours in the refrigerator,
shake well and stir the milk just before giving it to the baby,
use a bottle warmer to warm up the bottles. The heating temperature is not higher than 37ᵒС. You can also warm the bottles in warm water (up to 37ᵒС). A microwave cannot be used for this purpose, as milk can be quickly overheated in it and the baby can be burned.
be sure to taste the milk before feeding. A sour or bitter taste will indicate that the milk is gone.
To check the temperature of milk, place a drop on your wrist.
Never re-freeze milk that has already melted.

Appearance and taste after defrosting

When the temperature drops appearance expressed milk varies greatly. Because of what, many young mothers are frightened and rather pour milk. The fact is that the fats contained in breast milk float up, and at the bottom there is a white fat-free part rich in proteins - the milk is stratified.

Shaking the bottle causes the parts to mix and the milk to look familiar. Its useful properties do not change at all.

It is very important for all mothers to know.

How to take it for a ride

Another difficult task awaits young mothers - how to save the expressed milk during a walk. Here special thermoses for bottles and thermal bags will come to the rescue. Thanks to them, you can take up to several portions of valuable food with you on a long walk.

And yet, according to many doctors, including Dr. Komarovsky, if possible, try to breastfeed your baby, and not with expressed milk. You can even do this while walking.

In order for no one to interfere with feeding, there are special aprons for feeding, blankets and shawls. Many large supermarkets have a special children's room where you can feed and swaddle your baby.

Useful video on the topic

Every mother dreams of breastfeeding for a long time and fully, but there are circumstances when it is necessary to leave the child and feed him with expressed breast milk.

And then the question invariably arises - how to properly store expressed breast milk, how long it does not deteriorate, and how to create a supply of breast milk just in case.

Where to store breast milk?

Usually, women express breast milk using their hands or a breast pump. The latter for frequent use and expressing large volumes is more preferable. At the same time, jars with volumes of 100-200 ml are usually included with breast pumps, which are quite suitable for further storage of breast milk.

In principle, breast milk can be stored in any sterile container. Particularly convenient:

glass bottles and jars with lids
plastic bottles and jars
special sterile bags for freezing milk.

If you need to be away for a couple of hours, milk can be expressed into a clean sterilized cup so that you can then give milk to the baby.

It is worth abandoning the use of baby food bottles for storing breast milk. They can partially destroy useful trace elements due to contact with the walls.

It is also worth refusing to store expressed milk in plastic containers, albeit food ones. Cheap plastic can release substances hazardous to the health of the baby.

If you need to store milk in the refrigerator, glass or special plastic jars from a breast pump will do. They must be tightly closed with a lid.

Freezing milk in glass jars is dangerous, they can crack from temperature changes and changes in the properties of the liquid.

For freezing, plastic containers from a breast pump and freezer bags are more convenient.

The latter are preferred in that they are initially sterile and do not require pretreatment. In addition, they take up little space in the refrigerator, they are marked to sign the date of milk collection.

How long does breast milk last?

Breast milk is a unique "live" product, it contains special factors that inhibit the growth and reproduction of dangerous microbes. Due to its properties, provided it is decanted into a clean sterile container, it can be stored:

at an air temperature of 23-25 degrees up to 6 hours
at a temperature of 18-22 degrees up to 10 hours
at a temperature of 10-15 degrees up to 24 hours

At the same time, it loses its properties, does not sour, and dangerous microorganisms do not multiply in it.

If you need a longer preservation of breast milk without freezing it, provided that the refrigerator is at a temperature of up to +4 degrees, it can be stored in sterile closed containers for up to seven days.

Freezing breast milk makes it possible to create its stock for long-term storage up to 3-5 months in a conventional freezer, subject to a temperature of -18-19 degrees in the freezer up to 6-12 months.

Breast milk can be transported in a special refrigerator bag with the presence of refrigeration elements; it will lie quietly there without loss of quality for up to a day. You can also use thermoses to transport frozen milk.

Milk for subsequent freezing can be safely stored at room temperature about 2-3 hours and then put in the freezer.

The main conditions for storing and freezing breast milk is keeping hands, breast pump and storage containers clean.

How to store expressed breast milk

To maximize the preservation of the useful properties of the product and prevent its deterioration, it is worth following certain rules in its collection and storage. First of all, you should not immediately place expressed breast milk immediately after receiving it in the freezer, you must first cool it in a refrigerator.

It is advisable to freeze milk in portions, about one feeding in order not to pour out the remains of the product. Breast milk should not be re-frozen.
You should not mix different portions of breast milk, especially strained on different days, such a mixture will be worse frozen and stored.
An extremely undesirable place for storing expressed breast milk is a shelf in the refrigerator door. There the temperature is not stable and the milk can spoil quickly.
To avoid confusion with when to freeze or refrigerate milk, label all containers with the date when you express them.
In the freezer, it is worth placing milk against the far walls in order to less expose the product to temperature changes due to the opening of the door.

It is important to remember that when stored refrigerated or frozen, milk can change its color and smell due to its fatty acids. Milk may separate during storage and should be shaken well before use.

After defrosting, milk can be stored only until the moment of feeding, no more than an hour, or it can be thawed smoothly for a day in a refrigerator. In this case, the milk must be closed.

How to defrost breast milk?

Proper defrosting of breast milk occurs in stages. After removing the milk bags from the freezer, they are placed in the refrigerator, and only then, as they are defrosted, at room temperature.

After defrosting milk, it must be heated no higher than 37-38 degrees so that it does not lose its useful qualities. A microwave is not suitable for such purposes.

Before feeding the child, you need to smell the milk, if it has a pronounced smell of acid, it is spoiled and you should not give it to the child.

Other related information

Is it safe to drink beer while breastfeeding?

Everyone knows that mother's milk has unique properties. No artificial mixtures can replace it. But what if the mother is busy, and soon to feed the baby? You should not be upset, because milk can be expressed and stored. However, you need to know how to store expressed breast milk. After all, such a mixture must necessarily retain its useful qualities.

Modern moms don't stay at home. Often they work and are constantly busy. Sometimes a woman needs to leave for a long time, but how to feed the baby? This can be done by dad or someone from the family.

However, it is not necessary to purchase a special formula, because you can express your own milk and keep it in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

Not all women know how to properly express formula for feeding, so they are afraid to do it. Don't worry: for female breast this process is not dangerous.

Reasons why pumping is a must:

Usually, immediately after childbirth, a young mother has a very large amount of milk. If it is not consumed, the woman may feel unwell. Pumping is necessary for this reason, although it should not be abused. How long should the process take? Pumping must be carried out until it becomes easier.
In some cases, breast formula may not be enough. In such situations, pediatricians are advised to breastfeed the baby more often or use a special breast pump. This procedure will stimulate the breasts in a special way. If you express milk, the next time before feeding the mixture will be more.
If after feeding the “food” is still left.
If the mother is ill and the doctor forbids her to breastfeed. However, pumping is not prohibited.

How to do it right

Pumping and feeding are different processes. Therefore, the body reacts to them in different ways. During the first, the body “feels” a catch, so milk is not secreted enough. Doctors advise drinking hot tea with milk before the procedure. You can take a warm shower or apply a warm washcloth to your chest. The main thing is to provide the mammary gland with enough heat.

You can also massage the mammary glands. This will stimulate the release of milk.

There are two ways to carry out decanting:

hands

Some women are afraid to do something wrong and thus hurt themselves. In fact, everything is simple. You just need to follow a couple of recommendations:

Before the process, wash your hands well and rinse your chest with warm water. You can lightly massage it.
It is necessary to clasp one breast with a hand and gently press with massage movements from the base to the nipple. big and index fingers located at opposite ends of the halos.
You need to gently press, so the movements should be soft and careful. Pain should not be felt.

It may not be possible to express milk for the first time, but everything will come with experience. You just need to get used to it.

Such devices are presented in assortment. There are no special instructions, you just need to choose quality products.

The main thing is that all components of the breast pump can be washed and sterilized. Do not buy products that cannot be boiled. They can contribute to infection.

There are special electric breast pumps. They do not require physical effort and can express milk from both breasts at once. However, they cannot be controlled. Manual mechanisms are easy to operate, but require the use of force.

The slicing process is as follows:

You can't do without preparation here. First, it is necessary to rinse well not only the hands and chest, but also the components of the device. It is very important that they can be sterilized.
The chest can be washed with warm boiled water.
Then the device must be applied to the center of the chest. Usually, the instructions for the breast pump allow you to quickly get the hang of it. The process itself depends on the specific model. The pressing force can be adjusted. You also need to keep an eye on the flow. She doesn't have to be very strong.
Immediately after use, the breast pump is well washed and cleaned. All is ready.

How to store

Even expressed milk is much healthier than artificial formula. So that such a substance does not lose its healing properties, it should be stored properly.

How to store expressed breast milk? How long should the period be? The first thing to do is to determine the storage capacity. Doctors believe the best option glassware. You can also use plastic. However, now there are special dishes and bags for storing milk. It is better to use them, because only high-quality materials are used for the manufacture of such products. Another advantage is that the containers are already sterilized. Pediatricians are advised to choose these products.

You can also use containers. They are convenient to store and use in different situations.

What should be the deadline

How to store breast milk? It is not necessary to store it in the refrigerator. After expressing, milk can be safely stored at room temperature for 6-8 hours. Therefore, mom can leave, while leaving milk on the table in the room.

However, the lower the temperature, the longer the useful mixture will be stored. So, at 25 degrees, storage lasts about 6 hours, at 20 - 10 hours, at 16 degrees - a day.

Many mothers try to store their expressed milk in the refrigerator. If you need to leave or do important things, you can put the dishes in a cold place. But in the refrigerator, the product loses its healing substances much faster. They keep better at room temperature.

How long can storage be carried out correctly? Breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days. Warm up before feeding.

There are situations when a mother needs a large amount of milk at once for a long time. How to be? You can freeze a small portion in the freezer. Frozen milk can be stored for 6 months.

You need to defrost it properly. The process must be very gradual. First, the container is simply left in the refrigerator, and then left indoors for a short time at room temperature. And only then you can place the container or bottle under a warm stream of water.

For heating, you can use special devices. Doctors forbid heating the mixture in the microwave or boiling.

It is important to remember that the processes of freezing in the refrigerator and thawing can adversely affect the beneficial properties of milk. No matter how much it is stored, part of the benefit is still lost. Although such milk will still be more useful than infant formula, it is still better not to get involved in such procedures. Real breast milk is the most nutritious and beneficial for the health and well-being of the crumbs.

How long can expressed breast milk be stored in the refrigerator after thawing? Not more than a day. However, it cannot be frozen again.

If the substance has acquired a new color, an unusual smell has appeared, you should not worry, this is quite normal. One has only to be wary of a too sour smell: the milk has deteriorated and is not suitable for a child.

Every breastfeeding mother had to express breast milk at least once.

There are various situations that force you to express milk, but if the mother is not going to stop breastfeeding and the child is not lactose intolerant, then mother's milk should be preserved (provided that it is not possible to breastfeed directly).

Common situations leading to storage of mother's milk:

At the birth of a weak or premature baby.

Usually, babies born at a period of 30-35 weeks do not develop the skill of sucking, and even more so increased sucking from the chest. For feeding such babies, softer pacifiers are used, through which it is quite easy to drink the product.

If the milk in the breast stagnates and forms solid formations.

When decanting such seals, it is not necessary to store it obtained from these dense accumulations. If in the process of pumping, the breast has already become soft, and the milk is still left, then it can be saved for feeding the baby.

If a mother needs to leave and miss her baby's natural feeding, she should express the required amount of food for bottle feeding.
If the product is brought by nurses for children in intensive care or a shelter.

Milk at the time of the mother's illness, taking medication, when drinking alcohol, when breaking clots formed in the chest - it is not necessary to store.

How to store breast milk after pumping

There are several ways to store and it all depends on how much milk should be stored.

At room temperature in a bottle

Milk stored without refrigeration should be consumed within the first 3-4 hours after pumping.

The dairy product is a comfortable breeding ground for bacteria, so after four hours, the milk, if not sour, is likely to cause flatulence in the baby.

Room temperature in summer should be at the level of 19-20°C, in winter from 21-23°C.

Storage utensils, such as a bottle, must be pre-washed and sterilized. At the time of storage, the liquid must be tightly covered with a lid.

Utensil options: baby bottle, glass jar, Plastic container, special package.

In a cooler bag

Preservation in a portable cooler bag is possible for up to 12 hours.

When using this method of storage, it is better to clarify the information from the instructions for the bag.

The advantage of this cooling function of the bag is that you can stock up on more than one portion of the product. But if the product stored in the bag has not been drunk within the specified time, it must be poured out.

It is better to store in a container that will not open or break.

Thermo containers for bottles

The container for bottles works like a thermos, very convenient when walking with a child. The freshness of milk in such a container is provided for 4-5 hours.

The advantage of storing in this way is that the temperature of the milk remains the same as it was immediately after pumping.

Since these containers have special holes in the shape of baby bottles, milk is supposed to be stored in them.

Keep in refrigerator

In the main compartment of the refrigeration equipment, the product is stored for no more than a day.

It is impossible to put a container with mother's milk in the door, because when the refrigerator is opened, the temperature on the doors goes down.

Choose better place closer to the far wall of the refrigeration equipment.

Dishes for babies fit glass or plastic.

For a long time in the freezer built into the refrigerator

Freezing is the longest preservation. If the approach to the freezer is only through opening the main door of the refrigerator, then the milk can be stored for no more than 2 weeks.

This period of freshness limitation is associated with regular churning temperature regime due to opening doors.

It is better to freeze in special bottles or bags to preserve breast milk.

If the freezer has a separate door, then the time for which the product can be left increases to three months.

Freestanding freezer

You can store for six months.

You will learn how to express milk, how to store it in the refrigerator, defrost and heat it in the video.

With such a long-term retention of the product in the cold, you should not use non-specialized containers.

Features when storing in the refrigerator and freezer

Milk may stratify when stored in the refrigerator, it is necessary to stir a little before serving. Can't be shaken.
Chilled should be brought to the temperature required for feeding (from 25-36 ° C) by pouring warm water on the container or leaving it in a water bath.
Ice cream cannot be heated immediately; it must be left in the main compartment of the refrigerator to thaw.
Milk that has been stored in the freezer for a long time can change its taste and color. Useful properties will not disappear completely, but due to taste changes, the child may refuse it.
It is impossible to heat strongly and even more so to boil the product. At the time of heat treatment, useful properties disappear from it.
Thawed can not be stored in case of disuse, and even more so frozen again.
The choice of dishes for storage follows from the rule of fewer transfusions.
With prolonged freezing, half of its useful properties disappear in the product.
If there is a need to save the product, then you need to sign the date and time of pumping.
Storage containers should contain no more than one serving of milk.
Freshly expressed can be added to defrosted or previously chilled.

How to understand if milk for feeding is spoiled?

Subject to the storage rules, the same thing happens that breast milk deteriorates.

Signs of unusable:

when defrosted, a sour smell is felt;
tastes bitter or sour;
stratification according to the principle of sour products, i.e. kefir-like mass below, and water (whey) on top.

If the color of the product confuses, then you should know that bluish or, conversely, too yellow milk is only an indicator of its fat content. Color has nothing to do with freshness.

It is better to feed the baby with mother's milk as long as possible. Long-term breastfeeding provides the baby essential vitamins and trace elements for proper development and resistance to colds and viruses. If it is not possible to feed the baby directly and you need to store milk, then you need to do this correctly so that the baby does not suffer from the stomach as a result or does not remain hungry at all.

Is there any point in expressing breast milk ? Whether it is advisable to pump while breastfeeding is still actively discussed by both young mothers and specialists. It is not uncommon for doctors to promote pumping for no reason, without providing convincing motives to support such a need.

But if you follow the WHO recommendations, there is no need to express milk with a properly established lactation. Under such conditions, mother's milk in the breast is produced on demand, since the release of the hormone oxytocin occurs at the exact moment when the mother needs to feed the baby.

Therefore, it is worth expressing milk only if there is a need to save it for a nursing mother. Below we will talk about when to do it, how to express milk correctly, as well as how to store it properly at home.

When should you practice pumping?

So, whether you need to express milk after feeding depends on the situation. In fact, there are not so many cases when you need to express. But it is precisely in those cases that will be mentioned that it is really necessary to do this. If questions arise about why pumping after feeding and whether it should be done, a woman can always ask her doctor.

So, expressing breast milk should be practiced in the cases listed below:

If the baby was born prematurely

When a baby is born prematurely, sucking reflex he doesn't have one yet, so he just can't breastfeed. However, the body of such a baby can easily absorb mother's milk, and, moreover, it is vital for a premature baby to receive natural nutrition that will provide him with all essential substances that activate its growth and improvement of all body systems.

The presence of pathologies in the baby, a poorly developed sucking reflex

Babies who have a poorly developed sucking reflex are called "lazy suckers" in medicine. A poorly developed sucking reflex may be associated with various reasons, among which are pathologies central nervous system . But even if such a problem occurs, this is not a reason to suspend lactation. You can practice pumping and bottle feed your baby to make it easier for him to suckle.

The formation of lactation

After begins to be produced, which is not yet milk. Colostrum is thicker, richer. And although it is produced a little, but the baby is very quickly saturated.

Breast milk appears 2-3 days after the birth of a child, and its volume is usually very large. The kid just can't handle it. That is why mom has to release her breasts, which are getting heavy. After all, if the baby does not suck out the milk, this is a signal for the body that it needs to be produced less. In order to ensure sufficient milk production, it is necessary to carry out pumping. But you need to do this only until the chest is relieved and softened.

Insufficiency of lactation

Many new mothers come across advice that milk should be expressed if it is produced little, in order to stimulate its production in this way. However, not all doctors give such recommendations. After all, breastfeeding and pumping are completely different things.

It is feeding that best stimulates the stay of milk. However, if a woman is still trying with all her might to establish lactation, you can try everything available methods. So, if the mother stays next to the baby and thinks about him while pumping, this helps to stimulate the release of milk.

Stagnation of milk and the threat of mastitis

This condition can develop if the baby does not suckle properly, if the child has a poorly developed sucking reflex. Also stagnation leading to development , possible if a woman expresses incorrectly. With mastitis, you need to try to decant aimingly, from those slices that have hardened.

The use of drugs that are excreted in breast milk

During breastfeeding, very few drugs, both plant-based and synthetic-based, can be used. If, nevertheless, circumstances develop in such a way that a nursing mother is forced to take medications that are prohibited during feeding, it is necessary to regularly express and pour milk. The baby during this period will have to be fed mixtures. However, this way you can save lactation.

If the mother knows that she will have to start a course of treatment, you can try to prepare breast milk for the future, knowing how to freeze it properly for storage.

Inverted, flat nipple

But if even with the help of such a device it is not possible to establish a baby’s nutrition, you will have to express the breast and practice feeding with a bottle.

The need to be separated from the baby

If breast-feeding- for mom a priority, but at the same time she needs to be absent from time to time, pumping is a real way out of the situation. A similar situation occurs if the baby is being treated without a mother. Then you can express milk and transfer it to a medical facility.

Harvesting for the future

To practice natural feeding for as long as possible, mothers sometimes feed the baby in parallel and express milk to use it in the future.

However, it makes sense to do this only if the mother plans to stop breastfeeding soon, but wants to provide the baby with such a valuable product for as long as possible. It is important to remember how much milk costs in the freezer. It also has its own expiration date. In addition, during such storage, mother's milk to a certain extent loses its properties.

How to express breast milk correctly manually?

A mom who is going to practice pumping for a reason needs to know more than just how to pump breast pump right, but also how to express breast milk with your hands correctly.

So, before you start expressing breast milk with your hands, you need to properly prepare for this process. To do everything the way you want, you should initially watch a video on how to express milk manually.

If a woman needs to stimulate the flow of milk, it is necessary to carry out the procedure next to the baby or at the same time look at his photo and think about him. Ideally, you need to touch the baby. Approximately 15 minutes before the start of the process, it is worth drinking some warm water or tea, then doing a light breast massage or letting the child touch it. A warm shower helps stimulate lactation.

How to express correctly so that the process is most effective? First of all, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Next place thumb on the areola from above, 3 cm from the nipple, and place the index and ring fingers below, opposite the large one, stepping back from the nipple in the same way. The chest should be squeezed with fingers in the direction of the ribs, doing it gently but surely, squeezing out the milk. Such movements must be repeated.

A young mother needs to consider the following points:

To properly express stagnant milk, you do not need to feel sorry for yourself, squeezing your chest confidently enough.
A woman should tune in to the fact that at first she may be hurt.
If the whole procedure is carried out correctly, then not drops are released, but trickles.
To express from all the lobules, you need to gradually move your fingers in a circle.
It is important to ensure that your fingers do not slip on the nipple, as it can be injured.
If the skin of the breast becomes too wet, you should gently wipe it and your hands with a clean tissue and continue to express.
Pumping should be carried out not to the last drop, but until the chest becomes lighter and there is a feeling of emptiness.

How to carry out this whole process, as well as how often to express milk, the woman should be explained even in the maternity hospital. However, if certain difficulties arise with its implementation, and the question arises of what to do if it is not decanted, then it is better to seek help from a specialist.

How to express with a breast pump?

To facilitate this process for modern young mothers, now widely used breast pumps . These are special devices with which you can significantly simplify pumping. Currently, there are many varieties of such devices. How much a breast pump costs depends on the manufacturer of the device, the mechanism of action and other features.

You need to prepare for the process of using a breast pump in the same way as for the manual process. It is important that the device is sterile. The breast pump is always sold with an attached instruction manual. It is important to understand it carefully, because different models work differently.

It is also necessary to take into account all general rules mechanical pumping:

The funnel of the device must be applied to the breast so that the nipple is directly in its center.
The funnel should fit very tightly to the chest so that a vacuum is created. To do this, the chest must be dry.
Next, you need to act as written in the instructions: either first squeeze the pear or pump, or press the piston handle, or turn on the device by pressing the button, if we are talking about an electrical device.
If the breast pump is manual, you need to constantly rhythmically press the pump, pear, piston handle.
The use of an electrical device requires only control - it is important to regulate the force with which it works, setting the power for itself. When the process is completed, the breast softens and becomes empty, and the milk from the trickle turns into droplets.

It is important that milk flows in an even, active flow. As a rule, expressing with a breast pump does not cause pain, discomfort when using some types of such a device, they appear only in the first minutes. After the end of the process, you need to thoroughly wash the breast pump and sterilize it.

How to store expressed breast milk correctly?

It is equally important for young mothers to know how to store breast milk after pumping and where to store it so that the baby gets the most useful product. You should strictly follow the rules on how to store mother's milk for the baby. Indeed, if stored improperly, it becomes not only useless, but also capable of causing harm. Breast milk is exactly the same food product as other dairy products. Therefore, it can deteriorate, turn sour. So, first of all, it is important to choose suitable capacity for storage.

If the mother is expressing milk at one time, a bottle is enough to store after pumping, from which she can later feed the baby. Of course, before storing expressed breast milk in a bottle, it must be sterilized.

If the mother uses an electric breast pump, then, as a rule, special containers are attached to it. In them, milk is collected, stored, and then from them you can give it to your baby by putting a nipple on top.

However, many mothers are interested in where to put milk and whether it can be stored in the refrigerator if it is supposed to stock up for a longer period. Those who are interested in whether it is possible to freeze breast milk should pay attention to special plastic containers that can be purchased at pharmacies or children's stores. Such sterile containers with contents can be stored both in the refrigerator and in the freezer.

If it is expected that the storage of expressed breast milk will be carried out for a day or more, glass jars that contained baby food are suitable. Beforehand, they, together with the lids, must be boiled in water for 2-3 minutes. However, it is better not to place glass containers in the freezer.

There are also special bags designed to store food. They are very convenient to use, as they have graduations, as well as a place for marking the date and time of pumping. Close such containers with a rivet or cord. And the answer to the question whether it is possible to freeze milk in such a package is unambiguously affirmative: it is the most convenient.

Mom should take into account that the contents should not be poured from one container to another: you need to express it immediately into the container in which it will be stored.

How long can milk be stored?

It is important for every mother to clearly know how much expressed breast milk is stored, so as not to make a mistake and not give the baby a spoiled product. First of all, it is important to know how long breast milk is stored at room temperature. Without a refrigerator, it can be stored for no more than 4 hours. Therefore, you can store the product for future use only for one feeding. It is important that it is not exposed to direct sunlight.

Those who are interested in how long breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator should take into account that at a temperature of 0 to 4 degrees it can be kept for about 4 days. But it is very important at the same time that the temperature is constantly the same, so it is better to keep it near the back wall of the refrigerator. How much breast milk is stored in the refrigerator also depends on the quality of the unit. If the refrigerator works intermittently and is not able to maintain the same temperature, it is better not to risk keeping the milk in it for several days.

Another issue that is important for mothers seeking to store frozen milk for the future is how long breast milk can be stored after pumping in the freezer. How long breast milk is stored in the freezer depends on the temperature regime. If the freezing temperature is approximately -18 degrees Celsius, the shelf life of the product is about six months. You can get a huge amount of time with low-temperature storage, which is why freezing is so popular among moms.

Freezing Rules

Before freezing milk, it must be refrigerated in the same container in which it will later be stored in the freezer. Care must be taken not to overfill the milk. The fewer transfusions, the more sterile and of high quality the product will be. When the container is completely cool, it must be placed in the freezer and turn on the freezing mode. It is important to immediately allocate a separate shelf or drawer in the freezer for storing baby food in order to exclude its contact with any other products. You should also sign the containers, be sure to indicate the date when the freezing was carried out.

How to store breast milk if you have a long move?

To provide your baby with safe and healthy nutrition, it is best to buy special devices before moving:

cooler bag with ice packs;
thermal bag with the same elements;
a thermos that is able to retain not only heat, but also cold, for which it must first be cooled and pour chilled milk into it.

With such devices, the baby can be provided with a fresh and high-quality product even in conditions of moving.

How to feed your baby with expressed milk?

For those mothers who want to know how to properly breastfeed their baby, you can watch the corresponding video or just take into account important points. First of all, it is important to properly reheat the frozen product.

How to warm up expressed milk?

Before warming up baby food from the refrigerator or freezer, you need to take exactly the amount that the baby needs. You need to warm it up in a water bath, in a special device on which the bottles are heated, or in hot water. It is best to gradually defrost the product in the refrigerator to a liquid state, and later reheat using the methods mentioned.

Do not use convection or microwave ovens for heating. Since exposure to microwaves is fraught with the fact that useful material destroyed, and the structure of milk will change, such a product can harm the baby. After warming up, the product can only be used once - all residues after feeding should be discarded. Shake the bottle before you start feeding.

How to use milk that has been expressed?

Depending on how much milk can be expressed at one time, a woman can use it in different ways. So, it is used as the main food, children's cereals are bred with it. However, if you boil mother's milk, preparing cereals, omelettes and other children's dishes on it, the final product will not be useful for the baby. Indeed, after boiling, the beneficial substances in its composition will be destroyed, and the protein will become poorly absorbed.

Important Points

New mothers have a lot of questions about pumping, and the answers to some of them can be found below.

Should both breasts be pumped?

It all depends on what goals the woman is pursuing, for how long she intends to part with the baby, and, accordingly, how much breast milk will have to feed the baby.

If the mother is expected to leave for several hours, and she will have to feed with expressed milk once, then expressing from one breast is quite enough. But if the absence of the mother takes a longer time, then full feeding with expressed milk from a bottle can be ensured by expressing both breasts.

How often should you pump?

A woman must independently determine how much to feed the baby and how often you can express your breasts. However, you should not do this more than once an hour. It is best that the interval is from one and a half hours to three. To make everything as convenient as possible, you can give one breast to the baby, and express the second.

How many times do you need to pump?

It all depends on the life situation in which the young mother finds herself. In some cases, you have to practice this all the time, sometimes only periodic pumping is enough to ensure uninterrupted natural feeding. If this process is regular, then it is important to focus on the time when the baby is used to breastfeeding. Of course, the mother must take care of the required amount of breast milk while she is absent.

Do I need to pump at night?

If the baby is separated from the mother immediately after birth, it is very important to pump at night, as this process will help maintain lactation. But for the successful establishment of lactation, you need to do this at least once every three hours. During this period, you can prepare milk for the future, or simply pour it out if the newborn cannot consume such an amount. The most important thing these days is to establish a feeding process, which will help regular pumping. If the baby no longer suckles at the breast at night, night pumping is not needed.

Will it be possible to feed the baby and at the same time pump the second breast?

It is very difficult technically to practice such a thing. However, some women still succeed. Many mothers believe that this method allows them to stimulate milk production. If this does not interfere with the baby, you can practice this method. However, most women find it distracting from the baby. Therefore, it is desirable to still distinguish between feeding and pumping.

How long does this process take?

The procedure that a mother performs without a breast pump lasts approximately 20-30 minutes. Using a breast pump speeds up the process - it takes about 15 minutes.

Should I mix milk obtained at different times?

This is not necessary, regardless of the size of the portions received. It is worth feeding the baby only the product that was expressed at one time.

Is it acceptable to feed the baby with milk that has been stored for more than 4 hours outside the refrigerator?

Despite the fact that breast milk in theory does not spoil for 6 hours, being at temperatures up to 25 C, it is not worth the risk. It is especially dangerous to give a baby a bottle that has been stored for so long in the summer.

What is the best way to express - with a breast pump or manually?

Using a sterile breast pump is reliable and safe. However, it is better to choose the method, guided by the individual feelings of the mother. Proper hand pumping, provided that the mother adheres to all the rules, can also be practiced.

Is frozen food good for a baby?

Even if breast milk has been exposed to low temperatures, it is still much more useful than any artificial mixture. However, it is important to adhere to the technology of freezing and defrosting and not to boil it after defrosting.

Can you drink your breast milk?

Most doctors believe that for adults, breast milk is not as beneficial as some resources make it out to be. It provides an immunostimulating function, but nothing more. After all, the purpose of this product is to feed babies, but not adults.