All About Expressed Breast Milk
Breastfeeding is a lifelong gift you can give your kid. Breastfeeding, often known as nursing, is the practise of providing milk from a woman’s breast to newborn babies children. It not only boosts your baby’s health, but it also benefits you, your family, and society. The milk generated by mammary glands in your breasts is known as breast milk or mother’s milk. Breastfeeding ensures that your kid gets all of the nutrients he or she needs in the right amounts and protects them from allergies and infections. While breastfeeding should begin within the first hour of your baby’s life, there are instances or situations when you may not be able to breastfeed. During these times, expressed breast milk can save the day. When you’re not around, express breast milk is the greatest meal for your kid. Squeezing milk from your breast so you can preserve it and feed it to your baby later is known as express milk. You can use a breast pump or express milk by hand. If you’re travelling for an emergency, if your breasts are swollen and full, or if your baby can’t suck effectively but you still want to offer breast milk, you might want to express your milk.
If you’re not sure about some elements, expressing and storing your breast milk might be a stressful process. Continue reading to learn the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions concerning extracted breast milk.
1. Should you store extracted breast milk in a glass or plastic container?
Hands should be washed with soap and water before expressing or handling breast milk. The expressed milk should then be stored in a clean, capped glass or BPA-free hard plastic container. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that is used in the production of some polymers. You can also use milk collecting and storage bags made specifically for this purpose. Breast milk storage bags, on the other hand, are more likely to rip, leak, and become contaminated (made impure by adding a dangerous chemical) than hard-sided containers. Place the bags in a hard plastic food storage container with a securely sealed cover for added protection. Breast milk should not be stored in disposable bottle liners or plastic bags intended for everyday usage.
2. How should expressed breast milk be stored?
Label each jar with the date you expressed the breast milk using waterproof labels and ink. Add your baby’s name on the label if you’re keeping expressed milk at a child care facility. Place the containers in the cooler part of the refrigerator or freezer. If you don’t have access to a refrigerator or freezer, keep the milk in an insulated cooler for the time being (a portable container with a layer of insulation to ensure that it keeps foods cold). Fill each containers with enough milk for one feeding for your baby.
You might start with 2 to 4 ounces (59 to 118 millilitres), and then adjust as needed. Also consider storing smaller portions, around 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 59 millilitres), for unexpected situations or delays in regular feedings. Breast milk expands as it freezes, so don’t fill containers to the brim.
3. Can you add freshly expressed breast milk to already stored milk?
You can add freshly expressed breast milk to refrigerated or frozen milk you expressed earlier in the same day. However, thoroughly cool the freshly expressed breast milk in the refrigerator or a cooler with ice packs before adding it to previously chilled or frozen milk. Don’t add warm breast milk to frozen breast milk because it will cause the frozen milk to partially thaw (become liquid or soft as a result of warming up).
4. How long can expressed breast milk be kept or stored?
How long you can safely keep expressed breast milk depends on the storage method. Consider these general guidelines for healthy infants:
1.Room temperature. Freshly expressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to six hours. However, use or proper storage within four hours is optimal. If the room is really warm, the limit is four hours.
2. Insulated cooler. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in an insulated cooler with ice packs for up to one day.
3.Refrigerator. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of the refrigerator for up to five days in clean conditions. However, use or freezer storage within three days is optimal.
4.Deep freezer. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of a deep freezer for up to 12 months. However, using the frozen milk within six months is optimal.
Keep in mind research suggests that the longer you store breast milk — whether in the refrigerator or in the freezer — the greater the loss of vitamin C in the milk. Breast milk contains plenty of vitamin C. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is critical for your baby’s immune system, iron absorption, and for the healthy production of various tissues. It’s also important to note that breast milk expressed when a baby is a newborn won’t as completely meet the same baby’s needs when he or she is a few months older. Also, storage guidelines might differ for preterm (infant born before 37th week of pregnancy), sick, or hospitalized infants.
5. How do you thaw frozen breast milk?
Thaw the oldest milk first. Place the frozen container in the refrigerator the night before you intend to use it. You can also gently warm the milk by placing it under warm running water or in a bowl of warm water. Also, don’t heat a frozen bottle in the microwave or very quickly on the stove. Some parts of the milk might be too hot, and others cold.
Some research also suggests that rapid heating can affect the milk’s antibodies (proteins needed by your baby’s immune system to fight foreign substances). While further research is needed on whether previously frozen milk that’s been thawed can be frozen again and safely used, many experts recommend discarding thawed milk that isn’t used within 24 hours.
6. Does thawed breast milk smell or look different from fresh breast milk?
The colour of your breast milk might vary, depending on your diet. Also, thawed breast milk might seem to have a different odour or consistency than freshly expressed milk. It’s still safe to feed your baby. If your baby refuses the thawed milk, you can try shortening the storage time. Talk to your paediatrician/obstetrician to understand more about expressing and storing your breast milk. Also, check with your doctor about how to express breast milk with your hand or the breast pump if you are uncomfortable or not sure of the correct technique.
Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please “DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE” and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. We will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.
