It is not always possible to breastfeed the baby directly. A good alternative is to pump breast milk earlier, so at feeding time the child can drink milk anywhere - at the restaurant, by tram or at the park. However, proper preservation is important for the milk to remain edible.
Mother's milk is precious because it is the best nourishment for an infant. In order for the milk to retain all the important nutrients and to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination of milk, this advice can also help:
• The pulled milk must be stored in clean (sterile) containers made of hard plastic, glass or in «Pump & Save» bags. Steel containers, normal bags for freezing or yogurt jars are not suitable for storing breast milk.
• It would be better to pump or squeeze the milk directly into the container where it is to be stored. In this way, decanting’s that could put the milk in contact with bacteria and germs are avoided.
• If the milk is frozen, the containers must be filled only for three quarters so that there is enough space for the expansion that is done by freezing.
• Freeze the milk in small quantities, from 60 to 120 ml. These small portions are defrosted more quickly and moreover, if the child does not drink everything, little milk remains to be eliminated, because once defrosted, the remaining milk can no longer be refrozen and must be eliminated.
• Each container must be labeled with the date of the day when the milk was pumped.
• Thaw milk with the oldest date each time because the breast milk is not kept unalterable for a long time.
• Breast milk taken from the breast should never be added directly to frozen milk as it may undergo partial defrosting. The fresh milk must be cooled before adding it to the milk already harvested.
• Breast milk is easily deteriorated and should be stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator, in the central part where the temperature is more constant.
• Medea advises to respect the following information on storage times:
- freezer: 6-12 months at -20 / -18 ° C
- refrigerator: 3-8 days at a temperature of 4 ° C or lower
- room temperature: 4-6 hours at a temperature from 19 to 26 ° C
- Freshly thawed breast milk: it is kept in the refrigerator for a maximum of 10 hours. Once defrosted, breast milk must no longer be refrozen.