Know 6 Proper Ways How to Store Breast Milk

How to Store Breast Milk – Breast milk or mother’s milk is the best source of nutrition for babies. Breast milk provides adequate nutrition, antibodies, and growth factors needed by babies ^[1].

Studies show that breast milk contains bioactive agents that are able to adjust the function of the digestive tract, immune system, and brain development so that it is recognized as important for optimal growth and development in a baby. ^[2].

Based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), breast milk should be used as an exclusive source of nutrition in the first 6 months of life ^[3].

The world’s largest organization for nutrition and dietetics practitioners, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, insists that breast milk should be used as a complementary food from 6 months of age until at least the first 12 months of life. ^{[4, 5]}.

Storing Breast Milk

Sometimes for certain reasons, mothers cannot breastfeed their babies directly. Maybe because the mother has to go back to work/school, or maybe because the baby is being treated at the health center and cannot be found.

If this is the case, the most effective way for the baby to continue to receive breast milk is to pump the mother’s milk and then store it safely for consumption in the future. ^[2]

Breast milk cannot be stored carelessly. One-one, breast milk will even be contaminated with bacteria and result in endangering the health of your child. Parents need to follow the recommendations for the correct way of storing expressed breast milk so that the quality and safety of breast milk can be maintained for the health and development of the baby.

There are several factors that affect how long breast milk can be stored. The factors include the amount of breast milk, the room temperature at which the milk is expressed, the temperature in the refrigerator or freezer, and the cleanliness of the environment ^[7].

The Right Way How to Store Breast Milk

A breast milk bag is a pouch-shaped container specially produced for storing expressed breast milk. The shape is practical so it is easy to store and carry everywhere. This bag uses a ziplock cover so that the milk does not spill easily and maintains hygiene.

Breast milk bags are made without the use of BPA. Some breast milk bags can be reused after use, of course, after sterilization. ^[8]

In addition to breast milk bags, breast milk can also be stored in closed food/beverage containers. Make sure the containers are clean, made of glass or plastic, and have tight lids. ^[7]

Avoid plastic bottles with the recycling symbol number 7 as this indicates that they contain BPA ^[7]. BPA is an industrial chemical that can be harmful to the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children ^[9].

Write the date when the breast milk was expressed

We recommend that you put a date label on each bag or container for storing breast milk. Use permanent ink and write down exactly when the milk was sucked. This is done so that we know clearly how long the milk will last.

If the child is handed over to daycare, it is better to also write your child’s name on the surface of the bag so that it is not confused with other babies’ milk.

Freshly expressed breast milk will last up to 4 days when stored in the refrigerator (4 degrees Celsius). Meanwhile, breast milk that was previously frozen and is now thawed will last up to 1 day if stored in the refrigerator ^[7].

It’s a good idea to place the breast milk storage bag or container in the deepest part of the refrigerator where the temperature is lowest. Avoid storing breast milk near the refrigerator door because the temperature there is easy to change due to the activity of opening and closing the refrigerator door ^[7].

Fresh breast milk frozen in the freezer is still suitable for consumption, even for the next 12 months. But please note that the best conditions are only up to 6 months of storage ^[7]. Place the breast milk bag/container in the deepest part of the freezer—not near the freezer door—because it has the lowest temperature and doesn’t fluctuate.

For filling bags/containers before freezing breast milk, it is better to fill with the amount that is approximately needed for one drink. Start with 60-120 mm. And so on, adjust to the needs of the baby. This is done so that no milk is wasted because the baby does not drink the milk until it runs out.

Because breast milk will expand when it freezes, it’s best to leave about 1 inch of free space in the bag/container ^[11]. Milk that was frozen before and is now liquid can’t be refrozen ^[7].

When There’s No Freezer or Refrigerator

If your area doesn’t have a freezer or refrigerator available, try to consider a product called breast milk cooler bag. This bag is able to cool breast milk because it has an ice pack inside.

This bag is also suitable for mothers who want to travel far while carrying their baby. Breast milk stored in this bag will last up to 24 hours. When it arrives, immediately drink it to the baby, or store it in the refrigerator or freezer. ^{[7, 12]}

Do you know? Breast milk can also last quite a while when just left on the table, as long as the room temperature is 25 degrees Celsius or lower. Freshly aspirated/expressed breast milk will last up to 4 hours in this room. Whereas breast milk that was previously frozen, but is now thawed will last for 1-2 hours. ^[7]

Experts recommend thawing the breast milk that has been in the freezer for the longest time because if it is stored for too long, its quality will decrease. The trick is to store a bag of breast milk in the refrigerator, place it in a container of warm water, or place it under warm running water. ^[7]