There’s a purpose they name breast milk liquid gold—it’s filled with vitamins for infants, and a dad or mum’s precise blood, sweat, and tears usually go into nursing, pumping, and expressing it. Given how treasured it’s, it’s comprehensible why so many mother and father are curious whether or not or not they will combine breast milk from totally different days into one bottle. In spite of everything, the very last thing anybody needs is to observe their laborious work go to waste.
Regardless of all the well being advantages of breast milk, it could possibly rapidly spoil attributable to micro organism, so it’s cheap to be cautious or query the security of blending breast milk from totally different pumping classes. We spoke to Elizabeth Cilenti, MD, MPH, a pediatrician working towards in Arlington, Virginia; Tanya Altman, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician working towards in Los Angeles and medical advisor for Ember Child Bottle System; and Janelle Ferry, MD, a neonatologist and director of feeding, vitamin, and toddler improvement at Pediatrix Neonatology of Florida, to assist shed some gentle on this matter.
How Lengthy Can You Retailer Breast Milk?
In accordance with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), correct breast milk storage is crucial to avoiding bacterial development and making certain child’s security. Nevertheless, secure breast milk storage pointers differ primarily based on the place you’re tucking the milk away when it’s not in use.
“Many components have an effect on the size of time milk could be safely saved, together with cleanliness throughout expression and fluctuations in temperature of the storage location,” explains Dr. Ferry.
Freshly pumped milk or expressed breast milk is secure for as much as 4 hours at room temperature, and any leftover milk from a bottle must be fed to your child inside two hours; in any other case, it needs to be dumped out (no matter whether or not it’s recent breast milk or if it had been saved beforehand).
Dr. Altman says a container of breast milk could be safely saved within the fridge for 4 days. You can too freeze a few of your milk provide for future use. Dr. Ferry explains that secure freezer storage pointers are primarily based on the kind of freezer you might have. “In a freezer compartment inside a fridge (not a separate freezer), breast milk could be saved for 2 weeks; in a freezer that’s separate however connected to a fridge and 0 levels Fahrenheit, six months; and in a deep freezer at -4 levels, 12 months.” Lastly, frozen breast milk that has been totally thawed within the fridge is secure for twenty-four hours, and thawed breast milk at room temperature is sweet for 2 hours.
When freezing, Dr. Ferry recommends storing milk in small quantities—between 2 to 4 ounces—to keep away from waste after thawing. Moreover, she says it’s finest to maintain the milk behind the fridge or freezer, not inside a compartment on the door.
Can You Combine Breast Milk From Completely different Days?
Our specialists agree you can combine breast milk from totally different days. Actually, Dr. Altman says, “This is quite common when child must eat greater than what’s produced in a single pumped serving.”
That being mentioned, some security measures needs to be taken when mixing breast milk.
“Cool the freshly expressed milk earlier than combining it with already refrigerated or frozen milk in order that it doesn’t heat up the older milk,” says Dr. Cilenti. She provides, “You need to observe the storage suggestions of the [oldest milk in the mix],” so, for instance, when you’re including freshly expressed milk to a storage container that’s already been positioned within the fridge, “the 4 days rule applies to the earliest expressed milk.”
Dr. Ferry echoes this and stresses the significance of labeling the milk storage bag (or bottle) with the date and time of the earliest expressed milk. To keep away from confusion, she recommends storing milk from every day individually.
What Are Some Benefits of Mixing Breast Milk From Completely different Days?
Whereas Dr. Cilenti says there aren’t any dietary benefits to mixing breast milk from totally different days, there are nonetheless another advantages the specialists say come from this follow.
“In circumstances the place [the nursing parent] has been sick or [they] probably ate a meals that appeared to annoy the newborn’s digestion, mixing milk from totally different days might present some profit to child,” says Dr. Altman.
Primarily, the advantages of mixing milk like this are usually extra sensible. Dr. Ferry explains that for folks who’re solely breastfeeding and dealing to construct their provide up for his or her return to work, mixing milk from totally different classes (or days) might assist guarantee there’s sufficient for a full day’s price of bottle feeding when the dad or mum and child are separated. Moreover, Dr. Cilenti notes, “In case you solely have a small quantity of expressed milk, [mixing it] can save house and scale back waste” (particularly if it means you’re utilizing fewer breast milk storage luggage).
Whether or not or not you mix breast milk from totally different days, all three specialists stress the significance of holding all the pieces clear and sanitized. “At all times wash palms [and] use a clear space to pump and retailer breast milk,” says Dr. Altman. As an additional tip, Dr. Ferry explains, “Refrigerated breast milk or frozen breast milk might look or scent totally different than recent breast milk, and that’s OK. Thawed breast milk, specifically, might look or scent soapy due to the breakdown of fat; mother and father can generally fear this implies the milk has gone dangerous, however it’s, in reality, secure to drink.”
Lastly, don’t be afraid to achieve out to your pediatrician or a lactation advisor when you’re scuffling with breastfeeding—whether or not it’s build up your provide, studying tips on how to correctly clear your breast pump and elements, or you probably have particular questions on storage. There may be a lot for brand spanking new mother and father to recollect, so reap the benefits of the sources accessible.
Consultants: Tanya Altman, MD, FAAP; Elizabeth Cilenti, MD, MPH; Janelle Ferry, MD
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