Milk Expression & Storage Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Milk Expression & Storage flashcards as text
Which container is preferred for long-term frozen storage of expressed breast milk?
Answer: BPA-free hard plastic containers or breast milk storage bags specifically designed for freezing
Containers specifically designed for breast milk—BPA-free hard plastic or purpose-made freezer bags—minimize leakage, cracking, and fat adherence to walls during frozen storage.
When filling breast milk storage bags for freezing, best practice is to:
Answer: Store in small 2–4 oz (60–120 mL) portions to minimize waste
Storing in 2–4 oz portions reduces waste because thawed milk must be used within 24 hours and any unused amount must be discarded.
A mother notices her refrigerated breast milk has separated into two visible layers. She should:
Answer: Gently swirl or tilt the container to re-incorporate the layers
Separation of breast milk into a cream layer and a watery layer is completely normal; gently swirling (rather than vigorous shaking) recombines them without damaging fragile immune factors.
Previously frozen and thawed breast milk should NOT be:
Answer: Refrozen for later use
Refreezing thawed breast milk increases bacterial contamination risk and further degrades its nutritional and immunological components with each freeze-thaw cycle.
A mother with a large surplus of frozen breast milk wishes to donate it. The lactation educator should refer her to:
Answer: An HMBANA-accredited human milk bank that screens donors and pasteurizes donations
HMBANA-accredited milk banks screen donors for health conditions and medications, pasteurize milk for safety, and prioritize distribution to medically vulnerable infants.
When a mother returns to work and must transport expressed breast milk, the recommended approach is to:
Answer: Transport the milk in an insulated cooler with ice packs, then refrigerate or freeze upon arrival
An insulated cooler with ice packs keeps expressed milk safely cold during transport; upon arrival it should promptly be placed in a refrigerator or freezer.
A mother reports that her baby refuses thawed breast milk because it smells and tastes soapy. The lactation educator's best recommendation is to:
Answer: Scald freshly expressed milk to approximately 180°F (82°C) before freezing future batches to inactivate lipase
Scalding milk to approximately 180°F (82°C) before storage inactivates lipase, preventing enzyme activity from breaking down fats and causing a soapy or metallic taste during storage.