What You Need to Know
Having the flexibility to pump and safely store breast milk will be extremely helpful if you are a mother planning to return back to work or be away from your infant for extended periods of time. Storing breast milk may seem like a simple task at first; however, it can be an extremely complex process. You need to ensure the milk is placed in the appropriate containers and stored properly in order for it to remain safe for your baby to consume. The Best Containers to Store Milk First and foremost you want to be sure you wash your hands with soap and water to ensure the milk will not be contaminated. Additionally before you begin you will also want to make sure you invest in the appropriate storage containers. These containers are going to be special plastic bags designed for breast milk collection, food-grade glass containers with a cap, or hard plastic containers also with a secure tight cap. Best Ways for Breast Milk Storage If storing the milk at room temperature, the freshly expressed breast milk will stay safe to use for up to six hours. However, it is recommended to use the milk within four hours. If you are keeping your milk in an insulated cooler with ice packs, you will want to use the milk within 24 hours. For refrigeration the milk can be stored safely for up to four days in optimal conditions. Again, it is recommended to use the milk by day three or freeze for the safest milk product. Lastly, breast milk may be placed in the deep freezer for up to 12 months but again it is recommended to use the milk within six months for the best product. Additionally, freshly expressed breast milk may be added to already frozen milk but you will want to allow the fresh milk to become cooler by refrigeration so that it does not thaw the frozen milk once combined. Dates and Expirations You will also want to make sure you invest in a label system for your breast milk storage needs. You may use just a simple sharpie if writing on the disposable breast milk plastic bags or you may want to pick up some waterproof labels and ink if you opt for the storage containers. Read a similar article about prenatal vitamins here at this page.
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AuthorEmily Clarke writes about social networking apps, connecting women across fertility and motherhood. Archives
September 2021
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