Reusing Expressed Breast Milk: What You Need to Know

When you become a new mother, breastfeeding is the biggest hope for many. Even doctors recommend breast milk over formula milk because it contains the right amount of nutrition a baby needs, is easy on the baby's digestive system, and is absorbed best by the body. But there are times when you can't always feed your baby directly. Maybe you're going to work or going on another trip. This is when expressed breast milk comes in very handy. But the question that many mothers have is, "How long can you keep expressed breast milk like this? Is it good to use it again?" Let's talk about this clearly today.

What is expressed breast milk?

Simply put, expressed breast milk is milk that is removed from your breast and stored for later use, rather than being directly consumed by your baby. This can be done in several ways.

• Hand Expression: You can use your hands to gently squeeze your breast to remove milk. It can be a little difficult at first, but once you get used to it, it's very easy. Some people find expressing milk with a pump painful, so this method may be easier.
• Using a pump: You can use manual or electric breast pumps to remove milk from your breasts . While many people use these, it's still a good idea to know how to express milk by hand in case you can't use a pump (for example, if the power goes out).

When should you express milk?

• If you want to save some milk for later use.
• When the baby is sleeping.
• When you wake up in the morning, remove any milk that has accumulated in your breasts.
• If you are going to work, express and remove milk at the scheduled time.
• If the breast is too tight around the nipple and the baby is having difficulty latching on, express some milk to soften the breast.

If you are away from your baby, try to express and remove the milk at the same time as your baby normally feeds. This will signal your body to continue producing breast milk.

How to store expressed breast milk?

This is the most important part. How long you can keep expressed breast milk depends on where you store it. There are clear guidelines for this.

Containers used to store milk

Use specially designed storage bags or bottles for storing breast milk . Do not store milk in ordinary household plastic bags.

These special bags and bottles are considered safe because they are free of Bisphenol A (BPA) . However, recent research has found that these bags can leach microplastics into the milk. Further research is needed to understand how this affects the health of the baby.

If you use plastic bottles, avoid bottles with the recycle symbol 7. They may also contain BPA. Clean, glass bottles with tight-fitting lids are also fine.

Be sure to label the bottle or bag with the date and time you expressed the milk. If you are sending your baby to daycare , don't forget to write the baby's name as well.

How do you heat stored milk before giving it back to your baby?

Actually, there is nothing wrong with giving your baby cold milk from the refrigerator or milk that is at room temperature. Some babies like to drink it that way. But most babies prefer to drink milk that is slightly warm, similar to the temperature of breast milk.

If your baby also likes warm milk, use a bottle warmer to warm the milk. This is much safer than heating milk on the stove or in the microwave. Heating the milk in the microwave can cause hot spots that can burn your baby's mouth.

Before giving your baby a bottle, test the temperature by putting a few drops of milk on your wrist. If it feels too hot on your hand, it will be too hot for your baby's mouth. So let it cool down a bit.

What if there is leftover milk from a heated milk?

This is a very important matter.

If milk is left out for too long, bacteria can grow. Since babies' immune systems are still weak, they are more likely to get sick from such germs.

How do you thaw milk in the freezer?

Although frozen milk can be kept for up to 12 months, it is best to use it within 6 months. When thawing, use the oldest milk first.

Safe ways to thaw milk:

• Place in the bottom of the refrigerator overnight.
• Submerge the milk bottle/bag in a container filled with warm water (not boiling water).
• Run a little warm water into the faucet.

After thawing, swirl the milk a little, as the fat may have separated and risen to the top. This is normal and does not mean the milk has gone bad.

Thawed milk can be used within 24 hours of being refrigerated. Remember, this 24 hours is counted from the time the milk is completely thawed, not from the time it is taken out of the freezer.

How do you know if breast milk has gone bad?

Breast milk can be yellow, orange, blue, or green in color. This is normal. The best thing to do is smell it before giving it to your baby. Sometimes you can even taste it. If it smells good and has a slightly sweet taste, it's good. However, if it has a sour smell or taste , you should definitely throw it away.

Some mothers' milk tastes or smells like soap or iron. This doesn't always mean the milk is spoiled. But if your milk tastes or smells strange, or your baby doesn't like it, it's best to talk to your doctor or a lactation specialist.

Does bottle feeding reduce the bond with your baby?

This is a misconception that many people have. Even when bottle feeding, you can still maintain that beautiful bond with your baby.

Hold your baby close to you while breastfeeding, look him in the eye, and talk to him in a soft voice. These things will strengthen the bond between you.

Also, bottle feeding gives the baby the opportunity to be breastfed by dad, grandma, aunt, and other family members. This helps the baby bond with everyone in the family. It also helps the baby feel less like you're missing them when you go to work.

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