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How To Store Breast Milk?

07/06/2021 1960 Blog breast milk storage cups breastfeeding breast cups milk storage cups



Expressing breast milk is the best way to get rid of the discomfort and to ensure you provide full nutrition to your baby. There are important factors that are necessary to understand when it comes to storing breast milk. Since the breast milk is unprocessed and natural you have to make sure that it is stored properly.

Tips for storing breast milk:
  • Breast milk storage depends upon individual requirements such as depends on how much milk you want to store and how much you ae able to express through breast pump.
  • Breast milk can be stored at room temperature for up to 6 hours.
  • It can be stored in a cold box for up to 24 hours.
  • You can refrigerate it for up to 5 days but make sure to keep it away from raw meat, eggs or food. 
  • It can be frozen for up to 2 weeks.
  • It can be stored in a deep freezer for up to 6 months.
  • Use sterilized plastic containers or Philips AVENT storage cups or breast milk bags.
  • Label the stored milk with date and use the oldest expressed milk first.
  • Make sure all bottles and pump parts are kept clean and sterilized at all times.
  • Carefully wash your hands before using the breast pump to express milk.
Do not defrost more than half a day prior to feeding:
After melting the breast milk, you can store it in the fridge for 12 hours. Make sure to mention the dates on the storage containers so that you know which one to use before.

How to warm breast milk?
Defrost the frozen breast milk and then put the storage bag or container in the warm water to warm the milk gradually. Another option is to use Philips AVENT bottle warmer which is hassle free and leaves no hot spot and warms the milk evenly. Do not use the microwave as it way warms unevenly and cold spots can cause discomfort to the baby.

How breast milk looks?
Breast milk separates over time as the fat rises and the water remains at the bottom. Give the milk a gentle swirl in the bag or container and it will recombine. If the milk stays separated after mixing means it has gone bad and should be disposed of. Do not be alarmed if the breast milk color is yellow, off white or slightly orange. The color depends upon the diet taken by the mother during the nursing phase. 

How breast milk smells?
There is no correct way to check the smell the of breast milk as it varies due to mother’s diet and health. However, a hint of sourness or a reeking odor is a sign that the milk needs to be disposed of and shouldn’t be fed to the baby. 

How breast milk tastes?
Similar to the color and smell of the breast milk, it is important to check the taste of the breast milk too. Melt the frozen milk and taste a little portion and if it has sourness or if it reeks then you must dispose it of right away.

Get rid of the leftover:
After feeding the baby, make sure to throw away the left-over milk in the baby’s bottle as it should not be reused. 

 
 

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