How long can you keep expressed breast milk in a bottle?

Some mothers have a lot of breast milk, and their babies often eat it all, but it is wasted, so the mothers squeeze out the excess milk and store it, hoping that the baby can eat it when he is older. However, since it is food, they worry about the storage time. In particular, they hope that there are many ways to store breast milk for longer. The most common refrigeration method is to refrigerate it in the refrigerator, but the refrigerator can only store it for up to 8 days. This gives many mothers a headache. Is there any way to store breast milk for longer?

1. Storage in the refrigerator

It can be stored for eight days at 0~4℃. If the refrigerator compartment cannot ensure this temperature condition, it is best to control it within 24 hours, especially in hot summer.

2. Cryopreservation

The length of time breast milk can be frozen is closely related to the condition of the freezer. For a freezer separated from the refrigerator and with the temperature kept below 0°C, if the door needs to be opened and closed frequently to take items out, the storage period should not exceed 3 to 4 months. If it is a deep freezer, where the freezing temperature can reach minus 15°C to 18°C ​​and the door is not opened frequently, the storage period can be up to 6 months or even longer.

Container

The containers used to freeze breast milk are also particular. It is best to use plastic products that are suitable for freezing and well-sealed, followed by glass products. It is best not to use metal products, which will reduce the nutrients in breast milk.

4. Thawing

It's normal for stored breast milk to break down and look a little bluish, yellowish, or brown. When thawing frozen breast milk, you should first rinse the sealed bag with cold water, then gradually add hot water until the breast milk is completely thawed and reaches a temperature suitable for feeding. Do not heat breast milk directly on the stove or in the microwave, as this may destroy the active nutrients in the breast milk.

5. Storage at room temperature:

1. Colostrum (milk expressed within 6 days after delivery) - can be stored at room temperature of 27 to 32 degrees Celsius for 12 hours. 2. Mature breast milk (milk expressed more than 6 days after delivery) - can be stored at room temperature of 15 degrees Celsius for 24 hours. It can be stored at room temperature of 19 to 22 degrees Celsius for 10 hours, and at room temperature of 25 degrees Celsius for 6 hours. It can be stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours and can be refrigerated for 3 months. However, be sure to heat it up for the baby when drinking it.

This article details how long expressed breast milk can be stored, and also explains how to store breast milk so that it can be stored longer. As a new mother, you'd better read the contents of this article carefully to determine how your breast milk should be stored and how long it can be stored. This will be more conducive to breastfeeding for mothers.