ASI (Breast Milk) is the only nutritional intake solution for newborns. That is why, currently the process of expressing breast milk is one of the common activities carried out by mothers who have just given birth. Mothers must know how to store breast milk properly and correctly so that the nutritional content is maintained.
Besides knowing how to store breast milk, mothers also have to choose the right storage place. Some of the recommended storage places are glass bottles, plastic bottles that are free of hazardous materials, and special plastic packaging for breast milk.
How to Store Breast Milk Correctly?
Actually it is not difficult to store good and correct breast milk. In the following, we have summarized all the methods below.
1. Choosing and Maintaining Packaging
As we explained at the beginning, the storage place that you use must also be right. Make sure the place used is clean, and also suitable for storing expressed breast milk.
If you are confused about choosing the right container, just look for a special type of place for expressing breast milk that is guaranteed quality.
2. Sterilize the ASI container
Before placing the milk that has been expressed in the container that has been prepared, you should first sterilize the container used. The method is very easy. First of all, clean the container or bottle that will be used for packaging breast milk.
After that, you boil the bottle and the part of the breast pump that is in contact with the skin in boiling hot water for 5 minutes. The sterilization process can also use an electric device.
3. Maintain Hand Hygiene
So that breast milk is not contaminated with bacteria or even the slightest dirt, make sure you wash your hands first before pumping breast milk. This method can also help prevent the development of bacteria and maintain the quality of expressed breast milk.
4. Store in the Refrigerator
Make sure that the mother does not fill the container or bottle with expressed breast milk and then close it tightly. The reason is, expressed breast milk tends to expand if it is frozen. Also make sure you put it in a non-frozen refrigerator.
If the mother keeps it in a plastic bag for expressing breast milk, place it again in a container or other container. After that, you can just store it in the refrigerator. The goal is not to leak.
5. Adjust Breast Milk with Use
Make sure the mother expresses breast milk according to use. Not too much, not too little either. The dosage must be right before it is stored in the refrigerator. You can store your own expressed breast milk from a few hours to several months.
Expressing breast milk alone can last up to several months. It all depends on where you store it.
6. Tips for Expressing Breast Milk to Last Long When
Storage The process of storing expressed breast milk is important because it determines the durability of breast milk when stored. In the following, we will try to explain the tips to you.
- If placed at 25 degrees Celsius, breast milk will last 4 hours.
- If breast milk is placed in a cooler with an ice pack added, it will last for 24 hours.
- Expressed breast milk can last up to 4 days if placed in the refrigerator with a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius.
- If you want it to last up to 6 months, you can put it in the freezer at -18 degrees Celsius or at a lower temperature than that.
Those are some guidelines on how to store breast milk properly and correctly. Apart from breast milk, mothers must also pay attention to their little one's diapers. Because, improper diapers can cause rashes. As a solution, mothers can use MAKUKU SAP Diapers Comfort diapers. This diaper uses the new core structure technology SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer) which can prevent rashes from forming. (M2)
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