What can you store breastfeeding. How to freeze breast milk: shelf life, proper defrosting. Rules for heating and defrosting expressed milk

If a nursing mother creates a breast milk bank for her own needs, she chooses those containers that are convenient for her. If we are talking about expressing and freezing donor breast milk, then the issue of packaging is a matter of bilateral agreement. Storage containers should be comfortable for the breastfeeding mother and comfortable for the host family at the same time, as they may have their own ideas about this. In most cases, the container is provided by the host family, so it makes sense to discuss this issue before starting cooperation on the exchange of donor breast milk.

Where can expressed breast milk be stored?

- In freezer bags for fruits and vegetables

These packages are sold in super- and hypermarkets. They are specially designed for freezing. food products, are appropriately certified so they do not release any substances into the products, strong enough and with a secure latch so as not to tear or open during storage (of course, if these are quality freezer bags). Since the daily portion of donor milk rarely exceeds 200 ml, so that it is not “lost” in the package, it is better to use packages of the minimum volume that are on sale.

- In clean baby food jars

If a mother buys industrial baby food for a child, then sometimes a fairly large supply of these jars accumulates in the house. They come with a well-closing lid, and the glass itself is inert and great for long-term storage. Jars must be thoroughly washed before use. Also, do not forget the old trick with a broken frozen full jar, so you need to freeze the jars not completely filled, so that milk, like any liquid, has a place to expand. Glass jars are also convenient because they are reusable. When the milk from the jar is eaten, it can be washed and reused to store the next portion. The disadvantage of jars - they take up a lot of space in the freezer.

- In sterile jars for analysis

In pharmacies, sterile jars for analysis are on sale. They are small, they have a measuring scale in milliliters, which is convenient for determining the amount of milk in a jar. According to the terms of their intended use, it is assumed that such jars can be cooled and frozen, therefore they are made of inert plastic, which does not release anything when cooled and frozen. Such jars take up less space in the freezer than the previous ones, but still more than soft plastic bags.

- In ice packs

Although such packages are not convenient for everyone, some mothers adapt not to defrost the entire package at once, but to carefully cut off a few cubes from it and defrost exactly the small portion that is needed for feeding. When using such packages, you need to pay attention Special attention on their strength, since they are often made of very thin plastic, and they tear easily.

- In any strong bags or containers intended for food storage

In principle, breast milk is the same food for the baby as the rest of our food, so any containers designed for cooling and freezing food are suitable for storing it. You just need to remember about general rules hygiene.

- In sterile bags used by the food and biological industries to store samples

If parents have the opportunity to purchase such packages in bulk, then they may also be suitable for storing breast milk, as they are designed for cooling and freezing, and are made of durable and inert plastic.

- In special bags for breast milk

This option is offered to us by manufacturers of goods for children. They are small, usually marked with a scale that allows you to determine the amount of milk in the bag. But these packages are of different quality even from the same manufacturer, and, despite their high cost, according to mothers, it happens that they are torn and opened during storage.

- In special containers for breast milk

This is the most expensive option for storage containers, and such containers are significantly more expensive than even special packages. These containers are strong enough that they do not crack, but they can leak if the lid is loose or askew, which is easy to do in a hurry. And they borrow in the freezer more space than all previous options. The advantage of this option is that the containers are reusable, they, like jars from baby food, can be washed and used again.

No container for breast milk increases or reduces its shelf life. When choosing any container option, it is necessary to follow the rules of hygiene and carefully monitor the safety of the container during storage and defrosting, since losing even 100 ml due to the fact that the bag has burst is very disappointing.

If you choose any rigid plastic containers, then you need to make sure that they do not contain BPA.

Interesting information about the effect of various types of containers on the content of nutrients in breast milk is

If your family has infant, the whole life of the household revolves around the baby. But sometimes it becomes necessary to express mother's milk for storage in order to feed the baby in the absence of the mother. Several hours of storage are allowed room temperature, but if left for a long time, put the product in the refrigerator.

Is it possible to preserve the usefulness of breast milk?

Preserving precious nutrition so that vitamins and trace elements remain, as in direct feeding, is not an easy task. scientists different countries studies have been conducted on whether it is permissible to leave breast milk in the refrigerator for an hour, for a day, for several days. After all, breastfeeding involves warm, natural, sterile milk, which is easily absorbed by the child, protects him from diseases, and participates in the formation of children's immunity.

It is also important that when breastfeeding, the baby receives the biologically active substances necessary for its growing body, which contribute to the production of digestive enzymes, immune modulators, and regulating hormones. Will this healthy, baby essential product also be useful after pumping and storing for some time? How many hours or days it remains fresh, we have to find out.

But most importantly: when breastfeeding, the baby is emotionally and physically in contact with the mother, and this is a lot for the formation of the psychological health of the child. In a bottle, expressed milk, even if heated to the right temperature, will not give the baby that feeling of warmth, care, love, protection that he receives when in contact with his mother.

In order to preserve the maximum of useful substances in milk, it must be properly expressed, namely, before pumping, wash your hands (if the process is done manually), sterilize the breast pump and the container for the product. The resulting milk cannot be sterilized in the future, otherwise nothing useful will remain in it.

Rules for storing breast milk

Everyone understands that in the refrigerator, protein products of animal origin, including much longer than without a refrigerator, and frozen even longer.

To properly save nutrients and taste qualities, pour the expressed milk in portions for one feeding of 60-120 ml into the intended dishes. Use a bottle, a plastic container, and preferably a special bag for freezing milk. Dishes are used sterile, tightly closed.

It is important to choose the right container for storage: it can be glass or plastic bottles. Ideal - special bags for freezing milk. Bottles must be sterilized and sealed with lids.

But immediately after pumping, putting the bottle in the refrigerator is not recommended. Dishes with precious liquid cool for some time at room temperature, then put into storage in the refrigerator or freezer.

Mandatory Rule long-term storage of products: it is necessary to mark the day, month, year and time of pumping. Do not rely on memory, sign the bottles so as not to inadvertently feed the baby with spoiled milk.

How long does breast milk last

Let's see how long breast milk is stored at different temperatures, whether it can be left indoors or must be kept in the refrigerator:

• at a temperature of +20-+25°С - 5-6 hours;
• at a temperature of +15-+16°С - 24 hours;
• at a temperature of +3-+6°С - 5-7 days;
• at a temperature of -18°С-24°С - up to 12 months.

The temperatures for storage and use of human milk are given for healthy babies. For children with health problems, reduce the indicated expiration dates by a third, or even by half. .

Where is the best place to store milk in the refrigerator?

The latest models of refrigerators include a freshness zone, the temperature of which is automatically maintained at 0-+1°C. Bottles or bags in the freshness zone are cooled but not frozen. Such cooling allows you to store the product for 1-3 days without losing useful properties. The temperature of the freshness zone slows down the reproduction of bacteria, allows you to preserve the taste and usefulness of the products.

If the refrigerator does not have a freshness zone, put the milk on the shelves under the freezer, where it is cooler than on the lower shelves. The temperature inside the refrigerator keeps +3-+6 degrees. This is enough to store fresh milk for up to a week.

Try to put the bottles closer to the back wall and open the refrigerator door less often, as temperature changes adversely affect the products. It is not recommended to store bottles on the refrigerator door, as the temperature drops sharply when opened.

Appearance and taste of frozen milk

Not all mothers know that when cooling and freezing, the appearance of milk changes. Therefore, after cooling the bottle in the refrigerator for the first time, seeing the strange appearance of the contents, the mothers get scared, they pour out the milk, the children remain hungry. The fact is that stratification occurs from the cold, fats float up, and a fat-free residue remains below. This does not spoil the product, one has only to shake the bottle until smooth.

Not only does the type of milk change, but the taste can also change, which the child does not always accept. The taste should not be bitter or sour. This would mean that the product is gone and it is not recommended to give it to the child.

Before you give your baby thawed warm milk, you should taste it. If it is bitter or sour, then the milk is gone.

Freezing milk: important nuances

If too much milk is collected or you are going to be away for a long time, frozen stocks are allowed. Long-term feeding of the baby requires a large amount of reserve supplies. If the mother’s absence is not long, 3-5 servings are enough for a reserve.

If possible, always breastfeed your baby or breastfeed milk that does not last long. With the growth of the newborn, the composition of milk changes. A month old and a one year old baby require different useful material, freeze-dry milk is not suitable for an ever-growing baby.

The freezer allows food to be stored for up to a year. The temperature of the freezer compartment is minus -18°С-24°С. Optimum cooling at -18°C is sufficient. At a constant temperature of -20°C, milk can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months.

• The freezer container should not be filled to the top; since liquids expand when frozen, the integrity of the packaging may be compromised.
• Be sure to note the date the milk was expressed.
• Before storing the product in freezer, first cool the bags or bottles at refrigerator temperature for a couple of hours, then send them to freeze.
• Put the bags in the freezer and try to open the door as little as possible.

Set the thermometer relay to -18 degrees. This is a normal temperature for constant cooling; milk in such a cold is stored for up to a year without losing its beneficial properties. If it is not possible to set such a low temperature, it is enough to freeze and store at -5-8 ° C, the milk will remain fresh and suitable for feeding a child for six months.

After defrosting milk, it should not be re-frozen in any case.

Defrosting milk

Defrosting milk requires the following rules:

• Remove the product for defrosting in advance, approximately 8-12 hours before use.
• Defrost only one serving of milk.
• Take the portion that has been frozen longer than the rest.
• Let the product first thaw in the refrigerator or in a container with cold water until the ice melts. Just warm up the melted milk.
• Store thawed milk for no more than 4 hours in the room or no more than 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• Before warming the milk or giving it to the baby cold, gently stir until smooth.
• To warm the milk, use a bottle warmer that does not overheat above 37°C, or dip the container in warm (37°C) water. It is not recommended to heat milk on the stove, in boiling water or in the microwave.
• Be sure to smell and taste the warmed milk. A spoiled product should never be given to a child.
• Put a few drops on your wrist to make sure it's warm and not hot.
• It is absolutely impossible to freeze the product again.

If the baby has grown up and is happy to drink a cool drink at room temperature, then it is better not to warm the milk, but to give it cool.

But always remember: The healthiest milk comes directly from the mother's breast. Eating such milk, the child receives everything necessary for life, health and well-being.

How to store breast milk after pumping in a bottle? This is important information, the only way to preserve the integrity of the nutrition of the baby, in case the mother needs to leave for a while. No food alternative can match the benefits breastfeeding Therefore, it is so important to properly store milk so that it reaches the baby without losing its beneficial properties.

Proper storage of breast milk after pumping

For the safe storage of dairy products, suitable containers are required. It is advisable to purchase a container from a manufacturer who makes them specifically for babies, carrying out all the necessary quality checks. It can be bottles, cups, containers, bags. The container itself can be:

• Glass. Well suited for storing a dairy product, it is considered safe. The only drawback of glass containers is their careful attitude to them, glass does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature conditions and can crack.
• Plastic. The quality of such bottles is considered lower than that of glass ones, but they tolerate temperature fluctuations well.
• plastic. This variant of containers is also very resistant to sudden changes in temperature.
• Special disposable polypropylene bags. Airtight, sterile, easy to seal, made of sufficiently dense polypropylene. Another plus is that they have a measuring scale and a place for marking the date and time of freezing.

For convenience, it is better to choose containers with the required dose for one feeding. Make it a rule to always indicate the date and time of pumping on the container.

At what temperature is breast milk stored?

How to store breast milk after pumping in a bottle? This is a very important issue, if you violate the storage standards, then milk product may deteriorate.

• Temperature at 22-24 C (room). In this temperature regime, milk can stand for no more than six hours. Already after four hours, it begins to lose its properties, and if the milk has not been used within the next two hours, then it can be safely poured out.
• Temperature 4-7 C (refrigerator). Freshly expressed milk products can be kept at this temperature for 4-5 days. It is advisable to put it on the shelf away, do not store milk on the door shelf. Due to the constant opening of the door, the temperature on it is constantly changing, so these are not the most Better conditions for storage.
• Freezer. This is the best place to keep baby food for a long time. Here it can be stored for about six months, but the maximum time will depend on the temperature in the freezer. If it is up to minus twenty degrees, then the dairy product will not deteriorate even in six months. A separate shelf makes it safe for about three months.
• Milk food for babies can be stored in a cooler bag, if necessary, but not more than a day.
• A frozen bottle taken out of the freezer on the shelf of the refrigerator can be stored for a day.

How to check the quality of food for newborns

Before feeding the baby with a expressed milk product, you should check whether it has deteriorated, especially if the container has been in the refrigerator for a certain time. The very first sign that the contents of the bottle can be poured is its smell. If you clearly feel acidity or rancidity, then dairy food should be discarded.

If the smell does not cause concern, then be sure to try it before giving it to the child. Any taste (bitterness or acidity) is another sign of spoilage. Appearance milk also says a lot, for example, a stratified product into kefir and whey also indicates its unfitness for consumption.

Proper defrosting and freezing

There are a number of rules that must be followed when placing milk for babies in the freezer:

• a dairy product that is stored for more than one day after decanting should not be stored in the freezer for long-term storage;
• if the dairy product has already been thawed, then it cannot be re-placed in the freezer;
• in order to freeze the dairy product correctly, it must be poured into the prepared container and packaged hermetically, cooled for 5 hours, and only then put in the freezer.

It is not recommended to add a freshly expressed dairy product to the one taken out of the freezer. But if such a need arises, then first the fresh product must be cooled, and then poured into a bottle to the frozen one (it is desirable that their volumes are equal).

• all containers for long-term storage of a dairy product must be sterilized (with the exception of disposable polypropylene bags);
• do not use ordinary food bags for freezing;
• do not use a microwave or gas oven to heat milk food, it is better to place the bottle in hot water;
• you should not freeze the dairy product if the mother leaves the baby for no more than an hour, during which time the milk will not turn sour (just leave it in the bottle at room temperature);
• if the mother needs to leave the baby for five hours, then a small amount of the dairy product should be placed in the refrigerator, and the rest should be left at room temperature for subsequent feedings;
• maximum heating of breast milk - thirty-seven degrees;
• if milk nutrition has changed color to yellowish or gray, this is not a sign of spoilage, but only if the taste and smell are normal;
• shake the bottle before feeding the baby, check the milk product for homogeneity.

Now you know how to store breast milk after pumping in a bottle so that it retains all the nutritional values. The most important thing to understand is that if for some reason you don’t like a defrosted dairy product, then it’s better not to give it to your baby. Be healthy!

If breastfeeding is optimally organized, normally, there is no need to express milk.

But sometimes breastfeeding mothers need to express and store breast milk, for example,

When a woman shares her milk with another baby (breast milk donation),

When a breastfeeding mother goes to work

In rare cases of hyperlactation, if other methods of coping with breast fullness do not help (usually in this case we are not talking about full pumping, but about “pumping until relieved”),

When additional breast stimulation is needed to increase milk supply,

If you need to create a home milk bank.

We will talk about the secrets of expressing breast milk and storing it in this section.

Manual expression of breast milk - a practical video guide

Expression of mammary glands by hand

Breast pumping. Basics of the basics.

There is no need to express to all mothers in a row. Previously, such a recommendation was really needed. It is associated with feeding according to the regimen, separate maintenance of mother and child in the hospital and a long night break.

How to choose a breast pump

18 Best Tips for Expressing Breast Milk with a Breast Pump from Dr. Sears

Expressing breast milk is as much an art as breastfeeding. Here are some tips to make pumping easier, help stimulate the milk ejection reflex, soothe sore nipples, help you pump more breast milk, and make pumping more comfortable. (These tips can be applied both to creating your own breast milk bank if you need to go to work as a breastfeeding mom, or to pumping if you want to become a milk mom for someone - approx. per.)

Expressing hands free

How to make a bust for pumping "hands free"

Antenatal (prenatal) expression of colostrum

How to make a homemade breast milk bank

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Protocol #8: Storing breastmilk for feeding term infants at home. Edition 2017

The main goal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is to improve clinical protocols, the content of which will not be influenced in any way, and where no commercial interests will be affected, but only the most common medical problems that can affect the success of breastfeeding will be addressed. These protocols are guidelines for the care of breastfeeding mothers and newborns and are not the only correct treatment options or standards. medical care. Depending on the needs of each individual patient, recommendations can be applied in one form or another.

Storing and expressing breast milk

Please note: These recommendations can be followed by mothers with healthy full-term babies (for advice on storing and expressing breast milk for premature or sick babies, ask your healthcare provider).

What is the shelf life of your breast milk?

If you google how long breast milk lasts on a refrigerator shelf, you'll find the answer is three days to a week. This is a huge gap. Google cannot give an accurate answer to the question: “How long does your breast milk keep in the refrigerator?”

Freezing and storing breast milk

Some general principles breast milk freezes to remember:

Fresh milk can be stored in the free standing deep freezer for 6-12 months. Sometimes it can be stored even longer, provided that it is immediately frozen after pumping at a minimum temperature (-20 degrees C). If it was stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator before freezing, the shelf life may be reduced.

How to store expressed breast milk

Some people think that breast milk can only be stored in special containers or bags. In fact, a wide variety of containers are suitable for storing and freezing breast milk. There are four requirements for them: they must be strong, well-closing, clean and inert when frozen (do not release anything into the contents).

How to defrost breast milk

Expressed breast milk smells bad - what to do?

Really sour breast milk has a very pronounced sour taste and smell - it looks like sour cow's milk. If your breast milk does not have a strong sour or rancid odor, then it is suitable for feeding your baby.

Stir or shake? Shaking damages breast milk. Is it so?

Perhaps one of the most common pieces of advice women who express breast milk hear is how best to stir it after pumping. Human milk undergoes stratification after expression and must be stirred before consumption.

Reusing expressed breast milk

Wise use of frozen breast milk when a mother goes to work

This article was written by a working mom who, despite going to work, continued to breastfeed her baby. Abroad in many countries, breastfeeding mothers have to return to work fairly early after giving birth, so they have to take extra steps to keep breastfeeding. Returning to work does not necessarily mean the end of breastfeeding, the baby can continue to be breastfed in the absence of the mother.

Recommendations for handling breast milk are very demanding, based on solid scientific evidence that milk handling practices make a real difference to infant health and nutrition. Indeed, properly stored milk retains many of its unique qualities, and it continues to be the second and third best alternative to infant feeding, far superior to artificial feeding. The type and shape of the container, the method of sterilization, the length of time the milk is exposed to air, and the storage temperature can adversely affect the stability and composition of the milk.

Evaluation of the biofunctionality of donor milk in various processing methods

Donor milk is considered the best nutrition after breast milk to prevent neonatal infections and necrotizing enterocolitis in infants born ahead of schedule admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. However, there is practically no data on the biofunctions of donor milk after various processing methods.

A couple of ideas for manual pumping if you can't

Collection and storage of breast milk: to warm or not to warm?

NB article from 1980, before HIV was discovered. Nevertheless, it seems interesting to us in terms of normalizing attitudes towards human milk. Even then, there was evidence that milk has protective factors.

Any pediatrician will say with confidence that breast milk is the most useful and proper nutrition for a newborn baby. However, sometimes situations arise when a woman has milk, but breastfeeding is impossible. If a mother is determined to continue breastfeeding (LF), she will have to decide how to properly express and store her breast milk. Our article will just tell you how to do it.

When is it necessary to feed with expressed milk?

Feeding a baby with expressed breast milk is usually necessary in three situations:
1. When there are problems with latch on. This may be due to the physical weakness of the newborn (in the case of a premature or small child, as well as during a severe illness) or an atypical nipple shape (flat or inverted nipple).
2. When the baby does not want to make an effort to get milk. This is often seen in children who have learned what a bottle is. The child very quickly learns that it is much easier to drink from the nipple than from the breast.
3. When the mother cannot be near the child at the time of feeding. This is true for women who needed to go to work early, continue their studies or temporarily leave the city.
As you can see, if a woman understands how to properly express and store breast milk, she has the opportunity to keep breastfeeding not only when her baby cannot (or does not want to) breastfeed, but also when the mother herself needs to for some reason reason to be away from the baby for a while.

In Soviet times, nurses told and showed all newly-made mothers in the maternity hospital how to properly express breast milk. Formulas were then very expensive, and their availability and quality left much to be desired, so women fought desperately to keep breastfeeding.
Today, absolutely any mixture for any age can be found on store shelves, but none of them will ever replace mother's milk for a child, so pumping remains the main tool in establishing breastfeeding.
Pumping helps to avoid mastitis when there is too much milk, and stimulates the mammary glands when there is not enough milk. In addition, it allows you to leave a supply of breast milk at home in case mommy needs to go away.
There are 2 main ways to express:
hand pumping;
pumping with a breast pump (manual or electric).
If you don't plan on feeding your baby often with expressed milk, collect milk by hand or with an inexpensive manual breast pump. If you need to be separated from your baby often and for a long time, get an electric model.

Manual Expression

Many women do not understand how to properly express breast milk with their hands. Yes, not everyone can decant manually the first time: it is quite painful and uncomfortable. To make the process as efficient and painless as possible, it is important to master a certain technique.
Before pumping, it is advisable to wash your hands thoroughly and perform a light massage of the mammary glands. To stimulate milk production, it is also recommended to drink a glass of warm tea. Directly when expressing with your hand, it is necessary to support the chest from below so that the index finger is on the lower edge of the halo. With downward movements of the thumb, the milk is “driven” towards the nipple and, with moderate pressure of the thumb and forefinger, is squeezed out of the breast.
If the feeding time has not yet come, at first the pumping will go very slowly: the milk will literally flow out drop by drop. After a rush, which you can guess by familiar signs (heaviness in the chest, tingling, burning), milk will begin to be expressed in a jet.
If, after repeated attempts, you are unable to figure out how to manually express breast milk, contact a lactation specialist or try using a breast pump: with it, the process, as a rule, is faster and easier.

Expressing breast milk with a breast pump

breast pump- This is a fairly convenient mechanism for expressing breast milk. You simply apply it to your breast in such a way that the nipple is located in the center of a special funnel, and turn on the device (in the case of an electric model) or rhythmically squeeze the “pear” or lever with your hand (if it is a manual version).
How to properly express breast milk with a breast pump is usually written in the instructions for the device. Be sure to sterilize all items and containers that will come into contact with breasts and milk.

How to store breast milk properly?

In order for milk to retain valuable properties for a long time and not deteriorate, you need to know how to properly store expressed breast milk.
It is worth saying that the most important thing when storing expressed milk is right choice and sterility of containers, as well as compliance with the temperature regime and shelf life.
How long expressed milk can be stored depends mainly on temperature. So, for example, when stored under normal room conditions (with a temperature of 22–25 degrees), milk must be used within 4–6 hours, and the remains should be disposed of. If you put the bottle in a cool place (19-22 degrees), the milk will not spoil for 8-10 hours. At 15 degrees, milk can be stored for a day.

Can I store expressed milk in the refrigerator or freezer?

Many women are interested in whether it is possible to store expressed milk in the refrigerator and whether it will lose its value from this. We answer: yes, it is possible and even necessary to store the remains of expressed milk in the refrigerator if it is not planned to use them in the next 4-6 hours. In the refrigerator, the stock can be up to 7-8 days, but you need to keep it not in the door, but in the coldest part of the cabinet (with a temperature regime of 0-4 degrees).
As a container, any clean glassware or food-grade plastic is suitable. Some breast pumps are equipped with special bottles, containers or bags for collecting and storing breast milk.
Important: in order to dispose of "expired" milk in a timely manner, it is required to indicate the date of pumping on each container.
Interesting fact: colostrum in its composition and properties is very different from mature milk, so even at a temperature of 27-32 degrees it can be stored for 12 hours.

Breast milk freezing guidelines

There has been debate for a long time about whether it is possible to freeze expressed breast milk. After all, after 1-2 hours it changes its taste. Experiments have shown that human milk, when frozen, retains a large proportion of its beneficial properties, so it can be stored in the freezer in order to subsequently be defrosted and used to feed the baby.
The shelf life of frozen milk is strictly regulated: if we are talking about a freezer without its own door, milk is stored under such conditions for up to 14 days. If expressed milk is placed in a freezer, which is an independent compartment with its own door, or in a chest freezer, the storage time increases to 4 and 6 months, respectively.
When freezing and thawing breast milk, a number of rules must be observed:
indicate the date of freezing;
use suitable containers (mainly food grade plastic);
do not add fresh milk to a container with previously frozen milk (otherwise it will be difficult for you to control the expiration date);
defrost milk in a specialized device or in a container with warm water;
do not freeze thawed milk again;
do not overheat or boil milk after defrosting;
use thawed milk in the first 2 days (store in the refrigerator).

Conclusion

We have prepared this article so that new mothers understand how to properly express and store breast milk. Fortunately, expressed milk can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for a long time, so you will not have to stop breastfeeding even if you suddenly need to be separated from your baby for a long time.
If you only need to leave your baby for 4-5 hours, you don't even need to put the expressed milk in the refrigerator: it keeps well under normal room conditions.
In the end, we can only wish your baby good health and your home - peace, love and warmth!