Mothers should take extra care when storing colostrum in the refrigerator to ensure it remains fresh and nutritious for their babies. To properly preserve colostrum, it is recommended to use a refrigerator with a separate freezer compartment and divide it into small compartments or storage bags. This will help limit the number of times the refrigerator is opened, preventing temperature fluctuations. It is important to avoid using mini refrigerators or low-quality refrigerators, especially in warmer weather.
When storing colostrum in the freezer, it is best to use a large capacity refrigerator to maintain a stable temperature. The milk storage compartment should only be opened when taking milk for use to minimize temperature fluctuations. When defrosting milk, it is recommended to move it from the freezer to a cooler before use and not to let it sit out immediately. To speed up the defrosting process, the milk bag can be soaked in warm water, but the water temperature should not exceed 37 degrees Celsius.
It is important to note that when soaking the milk bag in warm water, it should be submerged and rotated frequently for even thawing. Avoid letting the milk bag sit still as this may cause the core temperature to remain cold. It is not recommended to defrost milk in the microwave or boiling water as high temperatures can lead to loss of important nutrients in colostrum that are beneficial for the baby’s health.
In conclusion, mothers should take proper care when storing colostrum in order to ensure its quality and nutritional value remains intact for their babies’ consumption. By using a separate freezer compartment, dividing into small compartments or storage bags, and avoiding using mini or low-quality refrigerators, mothers can help maintain a stable temperature while preserving colostrum’s nutrients effectively.
