How to Store and Freeze Breast Milk

A lot of people attribute superlative achievements and strengths to superheroes yet being a super mom garners the same qualities. Although this job is tough, you have to tend to your kids and think about contributing financially to your household. If the mother needs to go back to work and is worried about the baby's sustenance, then there is no need to worry if she knows the concept of freezing breast milk.

There are a lot of advantages when it comes to freezing breast milk, from convenience to healthy solutions. Here are some guidelines on how to freeze and defrost breast milk.

Different containers can be utilized by nursing mothers to keep their breast milk. One can buy specially designed breast milk plastic bags for freezing. This is because if you place the milk on a regular container, it might not be suitable, as the milk will expand as it freezes.

When using plastic bags or zip lock for freezing, make sure that there are no holes or airways by zipping it with a masking tape. A larger bag should be used to prevent punctures. There are manufacturers of breast milk bags who produce a bag with easy sealing and thick bags. Before placing the milk inside the bags, it is important to label the plastic bag with the date of extraction and amount in each container.

If you are wondering you can combine freshly extracted milk with another frozen milk. However you should allow the expressed milk to solidify before adding it with other frozen milk. Another condition is that the new milk should be less than the previous extracted milk. Freezing breast milk guarantees a longer shelf life for breast milk. With a 20 degrees Celsius below zero freezer, the milk has a shelf life of a year, but in a regular freezer, it can last half a year. Defrosting milk may look messy but actually it is easier that freezing milk. All it takes is thawing it in warm water then once the milk reverts back to its liquid state and has a lukewarm temperature, it can be placed in a feeding bottle. Defrosted milk may be kept for as long as 24 hours in the refrigerator. Though it is advisable to give it to babies after thawing.