Does breast milk spoil in the body?

Can breast milk go bad in the body? First of all, let me give a positive answer here. Under normal circumstances, it will not deteriorate. However, it does not rule out that breast milk may undergo certain changes after the mother's body is infected. If some bacteria invade the breast milk, the breast milk may become unsuitable for the baby to drink. After this happens, the baby needs to be fed formula, and the mother must go to the hospital in time to resolve these symptoms.

How long does breast milk last in the body?

Breast milk will not spoil in the body, only bacterial infection will. As long as it is not discharged and there is no breast lesion, it will not deteriorate. If breast milk has been in the body for too long, it is recommended to express milk before feeding.

How to express breast milk

Wash your hands before expressing milk and prepare an open container. If breast engorgement is obvious, you can first apply hot compresses to the breasts, then gently massage and pat the breasts before expressing milk. Generally speaking, you can milk directly.

When expressing milk, the nurse leans forward slightly, holds up the breast with one hand, and spreads the thumb and index finger of the other hand and places them above and below the areola respectively, about 2 cm away from the base of the nipple, so that milk can be squeezed onto the milk sinus below the areola. Then, keep your fingers fixed and do not slide them on the skin. Instead, press rhythmically towards the chest wall without causing pain. Be careful not to press too deep, otherwise it will cause blockage of the milk duct. Repeat the pressure and release so that the milk will come out. After the milk flow slows down, the fingers can be rotated in different directions and then pressed and released repeatedly to complete the milking. The thumb and index finger should not slide or rub when doing the squeezing action.

The best duration for milking is 20 minutes. Do not milk for too long to avoid increasing the discomfort and time burden on the mother's breasts.

When the mother and baby are separated, or when the nurse can only express milk to feed the baby who cannot suck by himself, she must express milk 6-8 times or more in 24 hours to maintain lactation. If you find that your milk supply is insufficient a few weeks after delivery, you can express it every half an hour to an hour, and once every three hours at night. After a few days, your milk supply will increase. The expressed milk can be kept in the refrigerator for 24 hours. When feeding, just reheat it with hot water without boiling it.