A Guide To Creating A Breast Milk Freezer Stash

While breastfeeding your newborn for at least six months is the healthiest way of nurturing your kid, not all mothers get the privilege of doing so. Working mothers might find themselves having to return to work before their newborn turns six. There can be other unforeseen circumstances as well that might keep you away from your child for a while. Creating a breast milk freezer stash is a good idea to deal with such situations without getting anxious about your kid’s health. The idea of creating a breast milk freezer stash might appear daunting but with the right steps, you will be able to do it seamlessly. Read on to know how you should make a breast milk freezer stash and how to store it.

Creating Your Breast Milk Freezer Stash

If you are thinking about building a breast milk freezer stash, it is best to include certain steps into your everyday schedule. The first thing to do is to figure out when you might be needing the stash. You can start preparing weeks ahead of that date. For instance, in case you are aware when you will go back to work, you should start preparing your stash a couple of weeks before the date of joining.

Store Your Expressed Milk

You will find many ‘let down milk collectors’ in the market. Though they come by many names, like, ‘savers’, ‘catchers’, ‘collectors’, etc, they function more or less in a similar way. The collectors catch the let-down milk from the opposite breast while you are feeding your child. While the expressed milk might not be sufficient for feeding your child fully, you will be amused at the amount you will be able to store. It is also a good way to start building your stash.

Pump After You Are Done Breastfeeding

When you have started your journey of creating a breast milk freezer stash, you are bound to get familiar with the pump. You can start by doing single or double sessions daily for 10-20 minutes right after you have breastfed. Since the supply tends to be at its peak in the morning, you can try to pump during the morning hours. The prolactin levels remain the highest during late night and early morning (1). Since prolactin is important to initiate and maintain milk production, it is essential that you follow the schedule of pumping properly (2). Maintaining a consistent pumping routine will ensure that your body knows the amount of milk you will need for your child on a daily basis. However, do not overdo the pumping as that might leave your breasts engorged.

Maintain A Pumping Schedule At Work

If you have an office job where you have to return a little too soon, make sure you keep regular pumping sessions at work as well. It is important to pump as many times as you breastfeed because that would ensure you are storing enough milk for your child.

Storing Breast Milk In The Freezer

Since breast milk is full of antibacterial, prebiotic, probiotic, immune support properties, and antioxidants, it is important to store it properly so that all these qualities are retained (3). Here are a few steps to help you understand how you should store your breast milk for the best results for your child.

• Make sure to clean your hands properly before starting to express the milk.
• You should then use a container that’s clean to store the expressed milk. Make sure the pumping parts you are using are also clean.
• In case you are storing the milk somewhere other than your own house, you should label it with the time, date, and the name of your baby so that they are fed on time.
• To ensure zero wastage, it is better to divide the breast milk into portions that are taken by the baby in one feeding session.
• The optimal temperature for storing your breastmilk is between 24.8 degrees Fahrenheit to -4 degrees Fahrenheit (4). Make sure to keep it in a place where it is least likely to get damaged or exposed to warmer temperatures when the freezer is opened.
• You should ensure that the stored milk is consumed within 3 months of storage as that is the optimal range of storing breast milk (5).

While breastfeeding is ideal for a newborn, having a breast milk freezer stash is a good option for mothers who might have to stay away from their children. With the steps rightly followed, the stashing procedure will easily become a part of your daily routine. Though it might seem a bit overwhelming at first, doing it daily would make it easier. Maintaining proper hygiene is one of the most important points to keep in mind while creating a breast milk freezer stash. So, what are your thoughts on having a stash ready for your newborn? Let us know in the comment section!

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