As long as you're actively and breast feeding your baby at regular intervals while maintaining a healthy diet and drinking plenty of fluids, your breast milk will continue to be produced. You can even do pumping and preserve your breast milk in the freezer then thaw it. Remember, you may freeze breast milk at 4°C for up to 5 days.
Here are instructions on how to properly store and thaw breast milk:
Store in small portions to minimize waste. Most breastfed babies take between 60–120 mL of milk when beginning with an alternative feeding method. Storing in 60 mL amounts and offering additional amounts if the baby is still hungry will prevent having to throw away unfinished milk.
Chill the newly expressed milk for at least 1 hour in the main body of the refrigerator or in a cooler with ice or ice packs, and then add it to previously chilled milk expressed on the same day.
Do not add warm breast milk to frozen milk because it will partially thaw the frozen milk.
Keep milk from one day separate from other days.
Do not fill the container; leave some room at the top because breast milk expands as it freezes.
Label containers clearly with waterproof labels and ink, if possible.
Indicate the date that the milk was expressed.
Expect that the milk will separate during storage because it is not homogenized. The cream will rise to the top of the milk and look thicker and whiter.
Before feeding, gently swirling the container of milk will mix the cream back through again. Avoid vigorously shaking.
The oldest milk should be used first.
The baby may drink the milk cool, at room temperature, or warmed.
Thaw milk by placing it in the refrigerator the night before use or gently rewarm it by placing the container under warm running water or in a bowl of warm water.
Do not let the level of water in the bowl or from the tap touch the mouth of the container.
Milk may be kept in the refrigerator for 24 hours after it is thawed.
Never use a microwave oven or stovetop to heat the milk, as these may cause scald spots and will also destroy antibodies.
Swirl the container of milk to mix the cream back in, and distribute the heat evenly. Do not stir the milk.
Milk left in the feeding container after a feeding should be discarded and not used again.
As with all foods, do not re-freeze breast milk once it is thawed or partially thawed.
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It’s recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology that every adult between the ages of 18 and 80 does an eye examination at least once every two years.
It's recommended by the American Cancer Association that every adult between the age of 20 and 80 does an annual skin screening by a licensed dermatologist.
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