Should I refrigerate or freeze the breast milk extracted from a breast pump? What container should I use to store the milk extracted from a breast pump?

We all know that many mothers will breastfeed their babies after giving birth. Some mothers are office workers and cannot feed their babies in time, so they usually use a breast pump to suck out the breast milk first, then seal it and store it, and feed it to the baby when he is hungry. So how to store the breast milk sucked out by a breast pump? Let's take a closer look!

How to store breast milk extracted from a breast pump

Generally speaking, breast milk can be stored in two ways: refrigerated and frozen.

We need to use a refrigerator to store breast milk. Usually, the upper layer of our household refrigerator is designed as a refrigerator and the lower layer is designed as a freezer. Usually, the refrigeration temperature of a household refrigerator is between 2℃ and 8℃, which can extend the storage time of breast milk. The freezing temperature range is usually between -16℃ and -24℃. Freezing can inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms in breast milk. In a household refrigerator, most bacteria will be inhibited or killed at a temperature of about minus 18℃, so the food stored in it has a longer shelf life.

Usually for short-term consumption, within 3 days, refrigeration is better than freezing. If the time is longer, it is recommended to choose freezing. Frozen milk may have a fishy smell, and it can be heated at high temperature before freezing. When refrigerating or freezing, it is recommended to put it at the innermost, not by the door, and separate it from other foods. Because the door is often opened and closed, it will affect the temperature change, sometimes the temperature is low, sometimes it is room temperature, which is easy to breed bacteria. Mothers may have concerns, especially about frozen milk, thinking that freezing and then thawing warm milk will affect the quality of breast milk. In fact, although there are different degrees of impact, it does not affect the overall value of breast milk, no matter when breast milk is still due to formula milk or other dairy products.

Studies have shown that the nutrients in breast milk are stable after being frozen for six months. Vitamins A, E, B and most of the proteins, fats, enzymes, lactose, zinc, immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, etc. in breast milk frozen for three months are mostly preserved. The activity of antibacterial factors can still be retained within three weeks of freezing. However, the white blood cells in breast milk will be lost due to freezing. Although the white blood cells are lost due to freezing, the nutritional content of breast milk thawed after six months of freezing is still better than formula milk. In addition, although the white blood cells in the milk are affected, they still have good immune function and reduce the chance of infection. Therefore, when breastfeeding is not possible, breast milk is still the best food source for infants, better than other foods, including formula milk.

What container should be used to store breast milk extracted from a breast pump?

You can choose between milk storage bags or milk storage bottles.

Since thawed milk cannot be heated again, the amount of milk in the milk storage bag can be selected to be a lower capacity of 60-120 ml to avoid waste.

When storing breast milk, there should be a certain amount of space in the milk storage bag. Because when frozen, the milk will expand, and if it is filled too full, it will burst, causing pollution and waste.

The production date and quantity should be written on the milk storage bag or bottle with a marker to make it easier to understand the shelf life.

Mothers who breastfeed should be equipped with transportation equipment, insulated breastfeeding bags and blue ice to store breast milk at low temperatures to help preserve its nutrients.

It is necessary to clean your hands before milking and ensure the hygiene of the environment and utensils.

Precautions for storing breast milk

1. Try to use special breast milk preservation bags equipped with blue ice. When storing breast milk in the refrigerator, try to place it in the deepest part of the refrigerator, not near the refrigerator door, to prevent frequent opening and closing of the refrigerator door, and the cold and warm air will shorten the storage time and cause it to deteriorate.

2. If you need to store a large amount of milk, you can prepare a few more fresh-keeping bags and seal them in batches according to the order in which the breast milk is expressed. Mark the date with a ballpoint pen. It is best not to use an oil-based pen to prevent the pen oil from infecting the milk bag.

3. Breast milk can be refrigerated or frozen. Remember not to use a microwave oven in either case to prevent uneven heating. For refrigerated milk, place it in warm or hot water and wait for it to be evenly heated. Remember not to heat it directly, let alone heat it to boiling. For frozen milk, thaw it with cold water in advance, and then heat it using the heating method for refrigerated milk.

4. Some thawed milk will have a smell of soap bubbles. It is not because it has gone bad, but because the fat in the breast milk has been decomposed. Gently shake the milk for your baby before drinking to fully blend the milk layer and the cream layer. Be careful not to shake it too hard!