Your question: breastmilk storage

Your question:
I would like to countinue feeding my baby with breastmilk even when I return to work. I have just learnt how to express milk by hand (thanks to a couple of nurses at IGMH). Can you tell me how long I can store the milk?

My Answer:
Breastmilk can be stored for upto 8 hours at room temperature, 24 hours in a refrigerator and upto a month in a freezer.

Milk that is stored in the refrigerator or the freezer should not be heated as this would destroy the very useful bio-active substances in the milk (protective substances). It should be slowly thawed or brought to room by leaving it at room temperature or by immersing the container in a bowl of luke warm (not hot) water.

I think hand expression of breastmilk, when properly done, is one of the best and more importantly a pain-free way of expressing milk. I would very strongly recommend that every mother learn the proper technique for hand expression of breastmilk.

I will discuss technique in a bit more detail later.