With the advent of winter and the gradual drop in temperature, many new mothers will have a question when breastfeeding: does winter breast milk need to be warmed before giving it to their babies?
First of all, let's make it clear that fresh breast milk can be given directly to your baby at room temperature and does not need to be heated. The temperature of breast milk is similar to that of the mother, about 37°C, which is the most suitable temperature for the baby. In winter, if the room temperature is low, the mother can gently warm the breast before breastfeeding, so that the temperature of the breast milk will be similar to the baby's body temperature and will not cause discomfort to the baby.
However, there are cases where breast milk may need to be heated. For example, mothers express their breast milk in advance, store it in the refrigerator or freezer, and heat it up when it's time to give it to their baby. In this case, heating is possible, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
Moderate heating: When heating breast milk, use warm water and avoid boiling water or microwave ovens. Generally speaking, put breast milk in warm water at about 40°C, and wait until the breast milk temperature is suitable before giving it to your baby. Excessively high temperatures can destroy the nutrients and active substances in breast milk, affecting the quality of breast milk.
Avoid repeated heating: It is best not to reheat the heated breast milk, because repeated heating will destroy the nutrients in the breast milk and make the breast milk lose its original nutritional value. If your baby has not finished drinking the warmed breast milk, you can throw away the remaining breast milk and do not reheat it for your baby.
Pay attention to the storage time of breast milk: breast milk is generally stored for 2-3 days in the refrigerator and can be stored for up to 3-6 months in the freezer. However, please note that breast milk, whether refrigerated or frozen, needs to be heat-treated before giving it to your baby.
In conclusion, whether or not breast milk needs to be heated in winter depends on the specific situation. If the breast milk is fresh and at the right temperature, then it is okay to give it directly to your baby. If breast milk needs to be stored or heated in advance, it is important to pay attention to the heating temperature, avoid repeated heating, and pay attention to how long the milk is kept. I hope these parenting experiences can be helpful to new mothers, let's work together for the healthy growth of the baby!#母乳喂养答疑##育儿经##健康真探社#