Expressed breast milk can be frozen for later use. The Nemours Foundation says it's important to use sterile bottles or hard plastic cups with tight caps, or "nursing bags" that are specially designed to store breast milk.
The containers should be labeled with the date they were frozen. And fresh milk should never be added to milk previously stored.
The foundation adds these suggestions:
- When filling the container, leave about an inch of room to allow the milk to expand as it freezes.
- If you store the milk in a freezer compartment within a refrigerator, it can be stored for as long as two weeks.
- When storing in a self-contained freezer, you can store breast milk for as long as four months at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Store the milk at the back of the freezer, rather than in the door where it may occasionally begin to thaw.
- Don't refreeze breast milk that has been thawed. Use it within 24 hours of thawing and refrigerating.
Health Tip: Breast-Feeding When You Have Diabetes
Breast-feeding comes with its own set of challenges, but the task is a bit more daunting if you have diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association suggests how to help prevent low blood sugar for breast-feeding moms:
- Always have a snack before you nurse or while nursing.
- Drink a glass of water or a decaffeinated beverage while you nurse.
- Before you nurse, make sure there's a snack or medication nearby, in case your blood sugar drops too low.
- Work with your dietitian and doctor to make sure your meals contain enough calories for you to breast-feed.
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