How long can breast milk be stored?

When starting to return to work and can not spend much time with their children, many mothers often express milk to keep in the refrigerator and give it to the baby gradually. So how to store breast milk to keep the nutrients intact and how long to store breast milk?

Before expressing or handling breast milk, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, mothers can wash their hands with a quick hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Milk can be expressed manually by hand or with a breast pump. If a breast pump is used, its components also need to be properly cleaned, disinfected and stored to protect breast milk from contamination. Current popular breast pumps such as the MB-029 Moaz BéBé milking machine are manufactured from high-quality materials, do not contain toxic BPA, ensuring absolute safety for the health of mothers and babies. . The machine also has a modern design with a compact design and quiet operation, providing maximum comfort for mothers when using.
After that, expressed breast milk should be stored in a clean, covered glass container or hard plastic container that is not made with the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) or has a recycling number 7 (see bottom of the box). . You can also use specialized plastic bags designed to collect and store milk. Do not store breast milk in disposable bottles or plastic bags designed for general household use.

Always remember to use waterproof labels and ink to label each container. The information on the bottles must include the date and time the breast milk was expressed. If you are storing expressed milk at your child's daycare, add your child's name to the label.
Place the container in the back of the refrigerator or freezer where the temperature is coolest. If you don't have a refrigerator or freezer, store milk temporarily in an insulated cooler with an ice pack.

Fill each individual container with just as much milk as your baby will need in one feeding. You can start with 2 to 4 ounces (60 to 120 milliliters), then adjust to your child's needs as needed. Also consider stocking up on smaller portions — 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 milliliters) — for the unexpected or if there is a delay in the usual feeding.
Breast milk expands when it freezes, so don't fill the containers up to your mouth. The distance between the milk line and the container mouth should be maintained within 2 cm.

How long can breast milk be stored? There is also an issue you need to pay attention to in the preservation of milk. How long you can safely store breast milk depends on the storage method. Consider these general guidelines for healthy infants:
Room temperature. Experts recommend that: Breast milk can be used for up to 1 hour if the room temperature is above 26 degrees Celsius and up to 6 hours if the room temperature is below 26 degrees Celsius. Insulated cooler. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in an insulated cooler with an ice pack for up to one day. Fridge. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-3 days in clean conditions. Freezer compartment. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months, depending on the type of freezer. Refrigerator type 1 door (small cabinet): Up to 2 weeks. 2-door refrigerator (with separate doors for freezer and cooler): up to 4 months. With a specialized type of freezer: can be stored for up to 6 months. Remember that studies show that the longer breast milk is stored - whether in the refrigerator or freezer, the more vitamin C is lost in milk.
It is important to note that breast milk is produced in a variable way to meet the needs of the baby. Breast milk expressed at the time of birth will not completely meet the needs of the baby by the time he is a few months old. In addition, storage instructions may be different for premature, sick, or hospitalized infants.

Thaw the oldest milk first. Place the frozen milk carton in the refrigerator the night before you plan to use it. You can also warm milk gently by placing it under warm running water or in a bowl of warm water.

Do not heat a frozen bottle of milk in the microwave or quickly heat it on the stove. Some parts of the milk may be too hot and others cold. In addition, some studies suggest that rapid heating may affect milk antibodies.
Although more research is needed on whether previously defrosted breast milk can be refrozen and used safely, many experts recommend discarding thawed breast milk that is not used in within 24 hours.

The color of the milk may vary slightly depending on the mother's diet. In addition, thawed breast milk may have a different smell or consistency than freshly expressed milk.
Thawed breast milk is still safe to breastfeed. If your baby refuses thawed milk, consider shortening the storage time of breast milk.
Once you understand how to store and defrost breast milk, you should pay attention and apply it to ensure the best quality of milk for your baby.