Mothers, for various reasons, are unable to stay with their babies all the time. However, they still want to continue breastfeeding their babies. Therefore, it is necessary to have breast storage milk bags. So, how do you use breast storage milk bags? This is a question that many mothers have.
Breast milk contains all the nutrients and natural vitamins that your baby needs. Breast milk is important for the development and growth of your baby. As long as you handle it properly and use breast storage milk bags to store breast milk, it will no longer be difficult for your baby to drink breast milk at any time. Breast storage milk bags, also known as breast milk preservation bags or breast milk bags, are plastic products used for food packaging, mainly used for storing breast milk.
Choosing breast storage milk bags
You should choose breast storage milk bags according to your own needs for milk storage capacity. Breast storage milk bags are disposable products and cannot be reused, so the cost is higher. You need to choose high-quality and leak-proof breast storage milk bags.
The material of breast storage milk bags, a breastfeeding product, is mainly polyethylene (PE), which is the most widely used plastic. Some breast storage milk bags are labeled as LDPE (low-density polyethylene) or LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene), which are different densities and structures of polyethylene, but there is no significant difference in safety. Some breast storage milk bags may also contain PET, which improves their barrier properties. These materials themselves are not a problem; the key is whether the additives are safe.
PE material
PE material is characterized by odorless, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly properties. It has excellent low-temperature resistance and good flexibility, making it suitable as the inner layer material of breast storage milk bags.
PET material
PET material has good transparency, non-toxicity, impermeability, light weight, and high film-forming and molding properties. It is suitable as the outer layer material of breast storage milk bags, allowing the bags to stand upright after milk is filled in, making it convenient for vertical storage.
PP material
PP material is non-toxic and tasteless but is harder and less flexible than PE material. If PP material is used as the inner layer of breast storage milk bags, the sealing performance may not be ideal.
How to use breast storage milk bags
Breast storage milk bags have a shelf life, so there is no need to prepare too many in advance. You can purchase them as needed.
Open the curved line on the upper end of the zipper sealing part by pulling it. Open the zipper sealing part and widen the entrance, carefully pour in the breast milk. Squeeze out the air inside the bag and seal the two layers of zipper sealing part. Since breast milk expands after freezing, it is recommended that the maximum safe capacity of the storage bag is 180 milliliters. After packaging, use a pen to mark the storage date on the breast storage milk bag, but be careful not to scratch the plastic bag.
For efficient storage and space saving, you can lay the breast milk-filled storage bags flat in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. Breast milk stored in a flat position is easier to thaw. When stored in the freezer, breast milk can be preserved for up to 6 months. The storage time of breast milk at room temperature is shorter.
When the baby needs to drink, place the storage bag in the refrigerator to thaw, then use warm water at 38-39°C or a bottle warmer to warm the breast milk. Flip the storage bag containing breast milk upside down and use a sterilized pair of scissors to cut along the dotted line of the seal. Pour the breast milk into a bottle. This entire process will not be contaminated by bacteria that may exist in the refrigerator.
Storage time of breast storage milk bags
Colostrum (milk expressed within 6 days after childbirth) can be stored for 12 hours at room temperature of 27-32°C.
If it is mature breast milk (milk expressed after 6 days after childbirth), it can be stored for 24 hours at room temperature of 15°C, 10 hours at 19-22°C, and 6 hours at 25°C.
If breast storage milk bags are placed in the refrigerator compartment, the storage time is generally as follows: 8 days in refrigeration at 0-4°C, 2 weeks in a refrigerator compartment with a small freezing compartment, 3-4 months in a separate freezer compartment connected to the refrigerator compartment that is frequently opened to take out items, and over 6 months in a deep freezer compartment where the temperature is kept below 0°C and the door is not frequently opened. Stored breast milk may decompose, appearing slightly blue, yellow, or brownish. These are all normal phenomena.
