How to store breast milk?
Breast milk is a living substance so precious some call it “white blood”. It is essential to store expressed milk properly to maximize its nutritional and anti-infective qualities.
At room temp between 4-6 hours in an air-tight container.In a refrigerator between 4-8 days in an air-tight container.In a separate freezer (0-19 C) 6-12 months in a freezer-safe container.Hard sided plastic containers with well-fitting tops.Recommended to freeze in small quantities (1-2 oz.) only.
Because breast milk will separate when refrigerated fat will separate and rise to the top. Make sure that before freezing breast milk, you mix thoroughly. Once breast milk has been thawed it must be used within 24 hours and never re- freeze breast milk.
"Glass or hard plastic containers are preferred. Plastic nurser bags tend to leak and can destroy nutrients found in breast milk. Fat also adheres to the sides of bags, decreasing the available calories and fat soluble nutrients."
Information is from "Human Milk Banking Association of North America".
"Plastic containers are better than glass for collecting and storing breast milk, not only because glass is breakable, but also because disease-fighting white blood cells in mother's milk have been shown to cling more to glass than to plastic, making them less available to baby."
Information is from "What to Expect the First Year".
http://familydoctor.org/
http://www.pregnancy-info.net/
Exclusively pumping breastmilk |
