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Currently, many mothers utilize breast pumps to store and preserve breast milk for their babies, even when they're not physically present.
However, in Vietnam, power outages are quite common, making the preservation of breast milk particularly challenging, especially on sweltering days. Properly storing frozen breast milk and avoiding thawing is crucial for ensuring the quality of milk for the baby.
Here, I'll share some of my insights gained from 15 months of storing breast milk for my beloved daughter.
After a power outage, mothers must ensure that the breast milk remains partially frozen. If the milk still contains ice crystals, it is considered partially frozen, and mothers can confidently continue feeding it to their babies or store it for later use.
Some tips for mothers:
- Utilize external power sources (if available): generators, etc.
- Minimize opening the refrigerator/freezer door during power outages. Studies have shown that a fully stocked freezer compartment retains its frozen state longer. Therefore, if a power outage is anticipated, mothers should fill the empty spaces in the freezer with water bowls or trays.
- A fully stocked freezer compartment can maintain its temperature for about 48 hours without opening. If it's only half full, this time is reduced by half.
- Keep the stored milk in the center of the freezer compartment.
- If mothers store breast milk using dry ice packs, they should fill the packs completely to slow down the thawing process. Newspaper can be used to fill the gaps and reduce air pockets within the dry ice pack.
What to do with completely thawed breast milk?
- Mothers should use this amount of milk within 24 hours, never freeze completely thawed milk.
Check out some breast milk storage bags commonly used by mothers for their babies here
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