Mother's milk is the most delicious and nutritious food for a baby. This is a unique product. There is nothing in the world that can replace him. Nature itself has tried on the composition of breast milk. And humanity has not yet been able to recreate it, because some components of breast milk are simply impossible to reproduce artificially. You can talk about the benefits of milk forever. Young mothers are ready to fight for every drop for their baby. What if there is too much breast milk? Well, don't spill it! There is a way - it's freezing. How and in what to freeze breast milk?
Why is it being frozen?
There are many reasons why young mothers want to keep such valuable food for their baby. During breastfeeding, a woman may face a number of situations and problems. For example, you need to go to work, and leave the baby with a nanny or with a grandmother, and so that during the absence of the mother the baby gets proper nutrition, it is better to express and save breast milk, namely to freeze it.
No one is safefrom ailments, and if you suddenly fell ill, and the doctor was forced to prescribe antibiotics for you, then a supply of milk will be needed. After all, breastfeeding while taking such drugs is impossible. By the way, it also happens that the baby simply refuses to breastfeed, then you can feed the baby with breast milk using a bottle. And in general, there are no situations, and, of course, you can always feed a child with a mixture. And why, if it is possible to freeze mother's milk? So, dear mom, if you are a lucky woman and you have a lot of this valuable product, in no case should you throw it away, it is better to save it. And we will tell you how and in what you can freeze breast milk at home.
Can breastmilk be frozen?
The answer is clear: you can. It is important to know how to freeze breast milk correctly and in what way, how long it can be stored, and how to defrost it correctly. Of course, if the storage technology is violated, you can run into trouble. Such valuable food will spoil and it will not be possible to give it to the baby.
How long can breast milk last?
At 20-24 degrees and above, this product cannot be stored at all. After 3 hours at room temperature, it begins to deteriorate. If you put freshly expressed milk in the refrigerator at 0-7 degrees, then its storage period should not exceed 5-6 days. After this time, it will begin to lose all its antibacterial properties. And then put it on the doorrefrigerator is not recommended. The shelf life of milk in such a place should not exceed a day.
And only freezing will keep breast milk for a longer period and with a larger volume. In the freezer, it can be 3-4 months, and with deep freezing (at -20 degrees) - up to six months. Thawed milk is stored in the same way as freshly expressed milk, that is, no more than a day.
Which is better to store?
Most mothers who decide to approach this method of storing natural nutrition for the baby are worried about the question: what to freeze breast milk in? Reviews and responses to this vary. Someone gets special containers, and someone uses everyday bottles. By the way, some mothers answer the question of what breast milk can be frozen in in this way: in jars for analysis. Of course, this method takes place if the jars are bought at a pharmacy and are completely sterile. But still, you should find out about all the existing types of containers.
Storage containers are plastic and glass. The first thing everyone who purchases dishes and is interested in what to freeze breast milk in should be guided by is sterility and the ability to close the lid tightly. In addition, the container should be easy to use and have a measuring scale.
Today, manufacturers of products for mothers and babies can offer a lot of options in which you can freeze breast milk. When purchasing a breast pump, and you will need it to express milk, ask if there are special containers for freezing in the kit. There may be like glassbottles and freezer bags. Packages can be both reusable and disposable. The latter is, of course, preferable. They are airtight, sterile, easy to seal and have a measuring scale.
The choice of means in which to freeze breast milk is up to you. Some may recommend glass jars, some prefer plastic, but if you decide to opt for plastic, then it should be safe for the baby, without polycarbonate and bisphenol A.
Methods for sterilizing containers
Not everyone can afford to buy disposable utensils for storing mother's milk, so the bottle sterilization point should be given special attention. After emptying the jar, washing it is not enough. It must be sterilized for reuse.
There are different ways to sterilize baby dishes. If you use glass containers, then it can be processed in a double boiler. Unfortunately, plastic cannot be sterilized using this method. You can also use a multicooker for these purposes by setting the “steam” mode. The standard sterilization method used by our mothers and grandmothers is boiling. If you do not have a double boiler or slow cooker, and also do not have the opportunity to boil the dishes, use special antiseptic tablets that are sold in every pharmacy.
How to freeze breast milk correctly?
Now you know whatfreeze breast milk, a photo of containers for these purposes will help you make a choice in the store. And how to freeze this product correctly, because just decanting and putting it in the freezer is not enough? First of all, you need to express only with clean hands, in a clean and dry dish. Then the container must be placed in the refrigerator to cool the milk. And only after placing the container in the freezer.
Remember to mark the pumping date on the container. If the container could not be filled, this can be done later, but the main thing is not to add freshly expressed milk to frozen milk. Chill the expressed milk in the refrigerator before adding it to the frozen one.
How to defrost milk?
In order for breast milk to retain as many useful properties as possible, it must be properly thawed. In no case should you do it in the microwave, you should not boil it - so all the useful properties will disappear. The most optimal would be to use a bottle warmer, a stream of warm water or a water bath (but not more than 40 degrees). But before using these methods, the milk must be moved from the freezer to the refrigerator so that there is not too sudden a change in temperature. It is best to move the container before bed and take it out in the morning.
Now you know how to properly freeze breast milk. Of course, fresh is much better than frozen. But compared to the adapted mixturefrozen milk has more benefits though.
