Patient's question:
I felt my breasts were very full, so I expressed the excess milk. Then, does breast milk stored at room temperature need to be heated?Doctor's answer:
Expressed breast milk is best stored in the refrigerator's 2-8°C compartment. Within 24 hours of storage, it does not require sterilization—simply warm it to 38-39°C with warm water. If stored for more than 24 hours, it must be pasteurized at 62.5°C for 30 minutes, with the time strictly limited to 30 minutes. Frozen breast milk can be stored for up to six months and does not require sterilization. Breast milk stored at room temperature will also cool down over time. Before feeding the baby, it still needs to be heated to around 30°C.