If you are a mom who regularly pumps breast milk, you know the importance of safely storing your milk. Breast milk storage is something that every mom who pumps should be well versed in to make sure that the milk their baby drinks is safe. Here are tips on how to safely store breast milk.
Breast milk storage tips
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Storage
For moms who want to pump and store breast milk, they will need to buy milk storage bags. Storage bags are used to securely store milk, especially in the fridge. They prevent leakages and ensure that the milk is safe. Moms can choose the best one for them depending on the quantity of milk they would want to store. Plastic containers are also a good option for breast milk storage.
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Freshly pumped milk
You should store freshly pumped milk at room temperature for up to 8 hours. If you plan on keeping it for longer, put it in a milk storage bag and refrigerate. If you take milk out of the fridge, use it in the first hour.
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Refrigeration
Once you put your milk in storage bags, you can store it in a fridge for up to five days. It’s possible to add freshly expressed milk to the one that’s already in the fridge if it was expressed the same day. If you want to store breast milk for longer, you should freeze it. Breast milk storage in the freezer can last up to six months.
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Warming breast milk
Warm refrigerated breast milk by placing it in a bowl of lukewarm water or running it under lukewarm water. You should not refreeze milk that has been warmed or warm any milk in a microwave or an open flame.
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Transport
If you pump at work or away from home, you can keep the milk at room temperature for up to 8 hours and then go home and refrigerate it. You can also have a cooler bag that’s used to transport breast milk.
Breast milk storage is a skill that every pumping mom needs. Use these tips to ensure that you store breast milk properly.
By Beth Mugo
