Learn how to thaw frozen breast milk correctly

Breastfeeding is an issue that many people are concerned about nowadays. However, when breastfeeding, some people need to freeze the breast milk in the refrigerator because they need to go to work. The frozen breast milk needs to be thawed so that the nutrients in the breast milk can evaporate again. However, thawing the frozen breast milk becomes an issue of concern. It is generally not stored for more than 48 hours, and the frozen breast milk needs to be heated to sterilize.

Breast milk is rich in nutrients. From the perspective of macronutrients, breast milk contains high-quality protein and essential amino acids that are suitable for digestion and absorption by the infant's gastrointestinal tract.

The taurine contained in it is beneficial to the proliferation of infant brain cells and the development of the visual system and central nervous system. The fat particles are small and contain lactase, which is more suitable for the infant's immature digestive system. The content of essential fatty acids is high, and essential fatty acids also help promote the development of the infant's brain and central nervous system. It is rich in lactose, which promotes the infant's absorption of calcium, iron and zinc. From the perspective of micronutrients, breast milk has a relatively low mineral content and an appropriate calcium-phosphorus ratio, which is more suitable for the infant's immature kidney system and can reduce the infant's metabolic burden on minerals. In addition, the immune substances rich in breast milk can also enhance the baby's immunity. In general, breast milk is the most ideal food for infants under 6 months old. Both the World Health Organization and the "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents" recommend exclusive breastfeeding for infants over 6 months old.

Many mothers try their best to breastfeed, but after breastfeeding leave, some mothers need to return to work, and continuing breastfeeding becomes a problem. A large number of "back-feeding mothers" came into being, using the "indirect breastfeeding" method to continue breastfeeding their babies.

What is "back breast"?

In fact, when the mother is unable to breastfeed the baby when the baby is hungry due to work, business trip or other reasons, she carries a breast pump with her to extract the breast milk, refrigerate or freeze it when she is away from the baby, and then pours it into the bottle for her family to feed the baby. However, when mothers are "breastfeeding", they have various concerns, such as "Can the frozen breast milk be given to the baby after it is thawed?"

The low-temperature storage and thawing method of breast milk is indeed an issue that deserves mothers' attention. Generally speaking, in order to preserve the effective ingredients and nutrients in breast milk as much as possible, it is recommended to store breast milk at 4 degrees Celsius for no more than 48 hours. A general household refrigerator or office refrigerator can achieve this refrigeration effect. However, if it is a public refrigerator that is frequently opened and closed, it is recommended to keep it for 24 hours and give it to the baby as soon as possible. If the mother is on a business trip for a long time and cannot give the stored breast milk to the baby in time, it can be frozen, that is, stored at minus 20 degrees Celsius, and can even be stored for 6 to 12 months.

Scientifically stored breast milk can be given to babies after thawing, but you must pay attention to the method of thawing and rewarming. Mothers should avoid using high-temperature boiling methods, because high temperature will cause the loss of effective ingredients and nutrients in breast milk. It is recommended to place breast milk in a clean and strictly sterilized milk storage container, heat the milk storage container in warm water, and wait until the breast milk has warmed up before giving it to the baby.