Breast milk is the best food for your baby, but in some cases, mothers may need to refrigerate it before they can provide breast milk to their baby. So, how long can breast milk last after being refrigerated?
First of all, we need to understand the principle of breast milk refrigeration. Breast milk is rich in nutrients and immunoactive substances, which are important for the growth and development of the baby and the establishment of the immune system. However, these substances can also cause bacteria to multiply, causing breast milk to spoil. Therefore, refrigerating breast milk can inhibit the growth of bacteria and prolong the preservation time of breast milk.
So, how long can breast milk last after being refrigerated?In fact, the shelf life of breast milk after refrigeration depends on several factors, including the storage temperature of the breast milk, the storage container of the breast milk, the express time of the breast milk, and so on. According to some expert studies, breast milk can be kept for 3-4 days if it is refrigerated immediately after it is expressed. If breast milk is expressed and placed in an airtight container, it can be stored for about 7 days. However, if breast milk is expressed and placed in a non-airtight container, it can only be stored for about 24 hours.
In addition, it should be noted that if you want to refrigerate breast milk for your baby, you need to give it to your baby immediately after thawing it, and you can't refrigerate it again. Because thawed breast milk is prone to bacterial growth, refrigeration can easily lead to spoilage.
To sum up, the shelf life of breast milk after refrigeration depends on several factors. In general, breast milk can be stored for 3-4 days if it is refrigerated immediately after it is expressed. If breast milk is expressed and placed in an airtight container, it can be stored for about 7 days. However, it is important to note that thawed breast milk cannot be refrigerated. In order to ensure the health of the baby, it is recommended that mothers choose the appropriate storage method and time according to their actual situation.