How to express breastmilk and how to preserve it so as not to affect the quality of milk?

Expression of breast milk and proper storage is always the question of many women. Breast milk is the most valuable source of nutrients in the first few months of a baby's life, nothing can replace. In breast milk, there are enough energy and essential nutrients such as protein, sugar, fat, vitamins and minerals in the appropriate ratio, suitable for the absorption and development of the child's body. In particular, for a sick child with a poor immune system, nothing is more precious for a baby but antibody-rich breast milk.

Your baby's immature digestive system and immune system are not strong enough to accept formula or any other food. However, in cases where it is not possible to breastfeed or the excess milk, mothers need to know how to pump and preserve milk in the best way, ensuring safety and hygiene to maintain a source of breast milk for babies. .

1. How to express breast milk

Mothers can express milk by hand or with a breast pump . There are many different types of breast pumps available to suit the needs of each mother, so do your homework before deciding to buy one. In addition, you should always make sure that the container or vacuum is clean and sanitized before use. Before expressing breast milk, choose a comfortable sitting position because when the mother is comfortable, it stimulates the milk to produce more.

Expressing breast milk by hand

Sometimes you may find it easier to express hand milk when using a milking machine, especially in the first few days of life.

The sequence of manual milking steps:

Before starting, wash your hands well with soap and warm water, gently wipe the nipples with warm towels and massage your breasts.

Place your hand on one breast, with your thumb and index finger facing each other in a C around the areola (darker part of the breast).

Gently press together your thumb and index finger while pulling slightly forward, not letting your fingers slide onto the nipple.

Repeat above. At first, the milk will drip, but then much and evenly. Change the position of your hand to fully stimulate the milk rays. As milk flow slows, repeat the same movements on the other breast, rubbing between milks as needed. Can alternately express both breasts or both breasts until the milk is gone.

If the milk does not flow, try moving your fingers slightly toward the nipple or further away, or gently massage the breast.

Express breastmilk with a hand pump

After cleaning your hands and nipples, place the funnel on your breasts and squeeze the lever at the optional speed, it is best to squeeze it slowly first, and you can also adjust the suction power as you like. Please note that you should choose a funnel that fits the nipple's size but still has enough space so that the nipple is not inserted into the wall of the funnel. Ideally, the tip of the nipple is located in the center of the mammary funnel tube. In the manual of the machine, there will be detailed instructions and other information, mothers need to consult carefully before milking. Just like with hand expressing, you need to massage your breasts before and during suction to help the milk flow easily.

Express breastmilk with an electric breast pump

Electric breast pumps usually operate automatically, so after performing the steps of cleaning the milking equipment, storing milk and breasts, the mother just plugs the power into the machine, massage the breast, press the button and hold the funnel to let the milk flow automatically. . Some models also have automatic massage mode and hands-free pumping mode to help mothers feel completely comfortable during the process. The double pump is ideal because it saves time and increases milk production.

2. How to preserve breast milk after expressing

Breastmilk can be stored in glass bottles or special plastic bottles, or plastic bags that can be sealed. Currently on the market there are disposable storage bags with a very handy measuring line and date. If mothers use plastic or glass bottles to store milk, always pay attention to cleaning the bottle before storing milk. Another thing to note is that old milk and freshly expressed milk should never be put into the same bag / bottle.

Mothers can then store their own milk:

Milk can be stored at room temperature (19-26 ° C) for 3 hours.

In the refrigerator's normal compartment for no more than 72 hours (3 days) at 5 ° C or less

For two weeks in the refrigerator freezer.

Do not store milk in the refrigerator door, because the refrigerator door does not guarantee the cold, just opening it a few times a day can also spoil.

Milk is stored in the refrigerator for 2 days and has not been used, so it is transferred to the freezer. Remember to write the date and time to express and use the formula first.

3. Note when giving frozen breastmilk to your baby

- Do not heat milk with boiling water, boil it directly on the stove or use the microwave. Using the microwave to thaw milk is not safe because the short wavelengths change the polarity of water too quickly, potentially causing cancer. If you want to thaw, put the milk bag in the cooler, then soak it in warm water about 45-50ºC.

- Do not shake strongly or abruptly change breast milk temperature because it will lose the natural properties of some protective protein molecules (antibodies).

- If thawed milk is not used up, it must be discarded, or used for other purposes, not to be re-fed.

- Do not mix freshly thawed milk with freshly expressed milk.

- If the milk after thawing has white cloudy color, there is a possibility that the milk is spoiled, it is not advisable to give this milk because it is not of a quality guarantee.

Above are information about breastfeeding that women need to keep in mind. Along with that, mothers should also regularly supplement nutrition, drink plenty of water and keep the spirit of comfort to always ensure an abundant amount of milk for your baby!

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