The breast milk obtained should be stored well, portioned as appropriately as possible and fed warm. I have summarised what you need to bear in mind here.
For various reasons, many mums want or need to express some or, in some cases, all of their breast milk. Surely you have read on my blog here have already read how to do this.
Katja wants to return to work as soon as possible after the birth. Melanie wants the father of her baby to be involved in caring for the child. Anni wants more free time for herself in everyday life. All three mums have something in common: they still want to feed their baby with their unique breast milk and continue to do so. breastfeedbecause this is by far the best thing for the child. Even if breastfeeding is not possible in between or over a longer period of time. That's why Katja, Melanie and Anni regularly have a supply of their breast milk, which they have pumped or expressed.
When handling the collected breast milk, however, it is essential to handle it hygienically so that no germs and bacteria can run riot. Careful cooling is just as important. This is the only way to preserve the valuable components of the collected breast milk, which the baby should be able to fully benefit from. To know how large the portions into which you need to divide your breast milk should be, it helps to take your child's nutritional requirements as a guide.
How much milk does a baby need?
So that you can portion the breast milk you obtain sensibly, I will give you an overview of the approximate drinking quantities for babies:
- Newborns usually only manage 5 to 10 ml per meal on their first day of life, as their stomach is still tiny. On the second day of life, it can already be 10 to 30 ml of milk per meal, then 20 - 50 ml on the third. By the 6th day of life, an infant increases the amount of milk they drink per meal to up to 80 ml per meal.
- From the second to the eighth week of life you will experience a gradual increase in the amount you drink per meal up to 100 ml.
- In the third month of life bottles containing up to 130 ml of breast milk are already being drunk, in the fourth month it can be up to 170 ml per bottle.
- From the fifth month a baby can already "manage" up to 200 ml.
In view of these respective quantities, it makes sense to fill the breast milk obtained into roughly suitable portions according to the child's weight and hunger. This way, none of the precious food has to be thrown away.
What to fill the breast milk into?
For prompt use: If your child receives the expressed breast milk immediately or promptly, you can put it directly into a Cleaned and dry Baby milk bottle fill. Then close the portion tightly with a clean lid, preferably only touching it from the outside. This will prevent any contamination. Write the date and time of filling on the bottle with a wipe-proof pen. And then put it in the fridge if the baby doesn't get his meal straight away.
For stockpiling: If you want to store the collected breast milk for later use, you should freeze it in portions. Special Breast milk bag, which are available in different sizes. Many of these particularly hygienic and space-saving helpers have a printed scale on which you can read the respective quantity. All you have to do is note the day of filling on the bag. By the way: Some bag models can also be connected directly to the breast pump. This is particularly hygienic for freezing.
However, some mums want to avoid unnecessary waste and prefer to freeze their milk in clean, dry, solid containers. You can, for example, use sealable containers made especially for this purpose. Reusable cups for breast milk use. They are made of safe plastic (polypropylene labelled PP or polyethylene labelled Pe), are suitable for the fridge or freezer and usually even have a device onto which the teat can be screwed directly.
Also against the freezing of breast milk in the Glass jar with airtight lid There's nothing wrong with freezing - as long as you bear two things in mind: firstly, the jar should be "cold-proof", i.e. thick-walled and robust, so that it doesn't burst at sub-zero temperatures. And secondly, you should never fill the jar completely, but always leave about a quarter of "air" in the breast milk, as it expands when it freezes.
Always label the reusable containers with the respective filling date, e.g. on small adhesive labels! However, the solid containers have one disadvantage: they take up considerably more space in the freezer or freezer compartment than breast milk bags.
For cleaningreusable containers and lids, clean them after each use either in the dishwasher (programme 65 degrees) or by hand with warm water and a little washing-up liquid. It is best to use a brush that is only for this purpose and no other in your household - and that can also be cleaned in the dishwasher. After cleaning, rinse the containers and lids thoroughly with hot, clean water and leave them to air dry, covered with a clean kitchen towel.
ATTENTION: Use for freezing breast milk none normal freezer bags because they may contain plasticisers that are harmful to health. The same could be the case with normal plastic containers, which is why they are also not suitable for storing breast milk. And also portion your collected milk never in ice cube moulds. Because it is not protected from germs in them!
How long does expressed breast milk last?
Fresh breast milk, that you have just cleaned or pumped out can of course be fed immediately.
At room temperature depends very much on how high or low the room temperature is. In the summer heat, germs naturally multiply much faster than at a pleasant 21 degrees in the room. The German Midwives' Association states that freshly expressed breast milk can be stored at a room temperature of up to 25 degrees Celsius without refrigeration. about 6 to 8 hours holds. However, there are still too few studies on this question. I would therefore recommend that you aim for shorter storage at normal room temperature. The shelf life of breast milk is always shorter, especially on hot days or at room temperatures above 25 degrees.
It is best to simply follow the principle of always cooling your extracted milk as quickly as possible if it cannot be used immediately. Then you are always on the safe side.
In the (clean!) fridgekeeps fresh breast milk in the sealed container a maximum of three days. However, the storage temperature should not exceed +5 degrees Celsius and should remain as constant as possible. Therefore, make sure that the breast milk is not stored in the fridge door or near the opening, as the temperatures there fluctuate too much. Store it as far back in the fridge as possible, where it is the coldest. For hygienic storage in this place, place the sealed containers - usually bottles - upright, preferably in a clean plastic box.
Tip: If breast milk is left to stand for longer, a layer of cream forms on top. So shake the filled container before you heat the milk, then everything will mix well again.
ATTENTION: In some cases, the sealed and cooled bottles of breast milk need to be transported from the place where they were pumped to another location. For example, from work to home or from home to the childminder or daycare centre. It is then very important that the cold chain is not interrupted during transport. For example, use a clean Cooler bagequipped with cooling elements from the freezer compartment. The rule of thumb is: one cooling element per portion of milk.
In deep-frozen condition At a constant -18 to -22 degrees, the storage times depend on where you store the portions:
- In a 3-star freezer compartment (with their own door) they keep three to four months.
- In the 4-star freezer you can even six months and longer store.
However, I recommend that you use up the breast milk you produce as quickly as possible - especially as the composition of the milk changes depending on the age of the child and long storage periods do not exactly improve the quality of the milk.
Use for Defrosting i.e. the oldest fillings. It is best to defrost the required portions gently in the fridge (overnight, for example). However, you can also defrost them in a bottle warmer with warm air or under warm running water. However, for reasons of hygiene (germ formation!), avoid defrosting them in a standing water bath or at room temperature for this purpose. And above all, please do not use a microwave, as the milk can overheat and injure your baby!
Breast milk once thawed should be fed immediately if possible. If you want to store the breast milk, these guide values are considered safe storage times:
- With Room temperature (max. 25 degrees) it can be kept up to 4 hours.
- In the Refrigerator (in the coolest area at a maximum of +5 degrees) from the start of the thawing process. within 24 hours (do not forget the labelling!).
Also the Warming defrosted breast milk is best fed gently and hygienically under warm running water (approx. 37°C) or in a bottle warmer with warm air. Also avoid using the microwave!
ATTENTION:
- Once thawed, breast milk residues may be not be frozen again!
- Once warmed, thawed breast milk residues should be not stored, but should be disposed of. However, you can use them for the baby bath.
Frequently asked questions
Does the quality of the breast milk remain the same even though I have cooled it in the fridge for three days or even frozen it for months and then defrosted it?
As a general rule, regardless of whether your child receives fresh, properly chilled or thawed breast milk - when used in a timely manner, its quality always surpasses that of artificial infant formula.
If breast milk is given to the child immediately after expressing or pumping, this is naturally best. This is because it then has the highest content of antioxidants, vitamins, protein, fat and probiotic bacteria compared to chilled or frozen milk, and its immunological activity is also optimal.
However, breast milk that has been chilled in the fridge has also been proven to remain largely stable in its composition. As with defrosted breast milk, its flavour and smell can sometimes change slightly, but this does not bother the baby.
Defrosted breast milk also retains its unique qualities. The only difference is that after 90 days in the freezer, its fat, protein and calorie content is reduced compared to fresh breast milk. The taste and odour may also change slightly because the fat is broken down into free fatty acids by an enzyme. The vitamin C content can also decrease slightly after months of storage in the freezer. You can improve the flavour by heating the milk to 70 degrees for a short time if you do not have fresh breast milk available.
My tip: The shorter you store your expressed breast milk properly, the better it is for your baby. But even if you make full use of the respective storage periods, breast milk - whether previously cooled or thawed - remains the very best nutrition for your baby!
Does it matter if stored breast milk comes into contact with other foods in the fridge or freezer?
Whether in the fridge or in the freezer - it is always important that the storage location for breast milk is clean so that it is not contaminated! If you want to be on the absolutely safe side, you can store the collected breast milk portions in a separate box.
Can I mix freshly expressed breast milk with milk that has already been expressed and stored in the fridge?
In principle, this is possible. However, you should first allow the new, still warm breast milk to cool separately in the fridge. Only then should you add it to the older milk.
Very important here: In this case, the bottle must remain labelled with the filling time of the older milk! Because as you know, breast milk will keep for a maximum of three days in the fridge.
Can I add fresh milk to already frozen breast milk to obtain a complete frozen portion for my child?
Yes, you can do that - but not when still at body temperature. Body-warm and already frozen breast milk should not come into contact with each other. Therefore, cool the "new" milk in the fridge first before adding it to the already frozen portion.
Very important here: In this case, the container must remain labelled with the filling time of the older frozen milk! This is because this date remains decisive for the use-by date.
Can I mix portions of breast milk that were frozen on two different days, defrost them and serve them to my child as one meal?
Yes, this is possible. Thaw both portions properly. You can then pour them together into a baby milk bottle, warm the meal and give it to your baby.
Why should I not use the microwave to defrost or warm stored breast milk?
There are several reasons for this: Firstly, it is difficult to control the temperature in a microwave. This means that the breast milk is thawed or heated unevenly. This means that some layers of milk may still be cold while others are too hot. Secondly, using the microwave reduces the immune factors in breast milk - and therefore its positive health properties for the baby.
Can my child continue to drink from a drunk baby milk bottle later?
As soon as an infant has started to suck on the bottle, a certain amount of contamination of the milk begins. The level of contamination depends on various factors - e.g. how long the milk has been thawed and how high the ambient temperature is. But feeding the remaining milk in the bottle within an hour is certainly not a problem.
Two tips:
- By storing breast milk in different portion sizes - e.g. 15 ml, 30 ml, 60 ml - a suitable meal can always be put together.
- Any leftover breast milk that can no longer be fed can be added to the baby bath. It keeps the delicate skin supple and nourishes and protects it.
Can I obtain breast milk for storage even if I have an infection?
In principle, yes, but the rule of thumb here is that if there is no reason not to breastfeed despite the mother's infection, there is also no reason not to store breast milk that was expressed during the infection phase. Talk to your midwife about this if you still have doubts, or contact me at my Online midwife counselling.
Can I give frozen breast milk in breast milk bags for my child to the daycare centre or childminder?
You should not do this. Firstly, this would not guarantee a good defrosting process. And secondly, it would have to be transferred to a bottle after defrosting, but the bags cannot be opened and closed several times hygienically.
My tip: Thaw the frozen milk yourself at home (e.g. overnight in the fridge), fill it into a baby milk bottle and transport it to the childminder or daycare centre the next day. Be sure to observe the cold chain during transport! Appropriate refrigeration must also be ensured at the daycare centre or childminder's until the meal is served.
How can I collect and store breast milk at my workplace away from home?
Read now here The report also explains what rights and options working mothers have at their workplace if they are still breastfeeding their baby and/or expressing their milk.
How do I deal with expressed breast milk when I am travelling with the baby?
If you don't want to breastfeed on the go or someone else is travelling with your breastfed child, a bottle of breast milk may be used if you are hungry. The best way to transport it - especially in summer - is refrigerated, e.g. in a cool bag and with cooling elements from the freezer. Then you need to bring the breast milk to body temperature before giving it out, for example under warm running water. Depending on the outside temperature and the length of the outing, freshly expressed breast milk can also be used unrefrigerated (at moderate room temperature) - up to two hours is considered safe in this case.
What needs to be considered when handling breast milk for premature babies?
Because of the valuable nutrients and antibodies it contains, breast milk is a particularly important start-up aid for premature babies. However, some tiny babies cannot drink effectively from the breast straight away, for example if their sucking and swallowing reflexes are still immature. However, they should still receive breast milk if possible. This is why mothers of premature babies express their milk or pump it. This also stimulates milk production or maintains milk production for later breastfeeding, especially in the first days and weeks after birth.
However, premature babies - or sick babies - are also particularly sensitive. Hygienic handling of breast milk is therefore even more important. This can include not only carefully cleaning the breast pump, baby bottles, teats and storage containers, but also disinfecting, boiling or steaming them to keep them germ-free.
Stricter hygiene rules may also apply to the storage of breast milk for premature and sick babies.
As the mother of a premature baby, you will be instructed in all the important procedures for expressing and storing breast milk in the maternity clinic. Your midwife will also be at your side at home. Your doctor is also a good point of contact. I am also available to you in my Online consultation of course always available to answer any questions.
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