In what situations is milking the mother necessary?
There are certain situations in which expressing milk is useful, in order to:
- – Reduce breast congestion and engorgement
- – Feed the child with breast milk when there are difficulties in the coordination of sucking (premature child with low weight or sick child)
- – Keep milk reserves if the mother or the child is sick (or separated)
- – Leave milk for the child when the mother goes to work.
- – In case of sore and sore nipples (during a period when mothers need to be helped).
What should be paid attention to?
It is useful for all mothers to learn how to express milk, so that they know what to do if they need to. It can be by manual milking or with a milking machine (manual or electric). In both cases, it is most important to observe the principles of sterility.
Expressed breast milk should be given to the child in an appropriate way so that weaning does not occur (with a syringe, spoon, dropper, medical pacifier), and bottles and pacifiers that cause competitive antagonism should be avoided.
How is expressed milk stored and preserved?
– At room temperature – 4 hours – In the refrigerator: fresh – 48 hours – Thawed – 24 hours – In the freezer (compartment of an ordinary refrigerator) – 3 months – Deep freezing – 6 months
