CLE Milk Expression & Storage 3

Question 1

Which container is preferred for long-term frozen storage of expressed breast milk?

Accepted Answer

BPA-free hard plastic containers or breast milk storage bags specifically designed for freezing

Answer

Standard household zip-lock sandwich bags

Answer

Glass bottles with loose-fitting lids to allow expansion

Answer

Single-use soft plastic feeding bottle liners

Question 2

When filling breast milk storage bags for freezing, best practice is to:

Accepted Answer

Store in small 2–4 oz (60–120 mL) portions to minimize waste

Answer

Fill each bag to maximum capacity to reduce the number of bags used

Answer

Combine an entire day's expressed milk into one bag before freezing

Answer

Add 1 oz extra per bag to account for spillage during thawing

Question 3

A mother notices her refrigerated breast milk has separated into two visible layers. She should:

Accepted Answer

Gently swirl or tilt the container to re-incorporate the layers

Answer

Discard the milk because separation indicates spoilage

Answer

Skim off the top fatty layer before feeding to reduce fat intake

Answer

Boil the milk before feeding to re-homogenize it

Question 4

Previously frozen and thawed breast milk should NOT be:

Accepted Answer

Refrozen for later use

Answer

Stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours after thawing

Answer

Warmed in a bowl of warm water before feeding

Answer

Used at the next feeding if still cold from the refrigerator

Question 5

A mother with a large surplus of frozen breast milk wishes to donate it. The lactation educator should refer her to:

Accepted Answer

An HMBANA-accredited human milk bank that screens donors and pasteurizes donations

Answer

Her local hospital neonatal unit directly without screening

Answer

Online peer-to-peer milk-sharing communities for direct family-to-family transfer

Answer

Her pediatrician's office to distribute informally to families in need

Question 6

When a mother returns to work and must transport expressed breast milk, the recommended approach is to:

Accepted Answer

Transport the milk in an insulated cooler with ice packs, then refrigerate or freeze upon arrival

Answer

Store the milk at room temperature in an insulated bag for the entire workday

Answer

Place the milk in the office refrigerator immediately without any insulation during transport

Answer

Pre-freeze all milk at home the night before transporting to avoid temperature fluctuations

Question 7

A mother reports that her baby refuses thawed breast milk because it smells and tastes soapy. The lactation educator's best recommendation is to:

Accepted Answer

Scald freshly expressed milk to approximately 180°F (82°C) before freezing future batches to inactivate lipase

Answer

Mix thawed breast milk with formula to mask the flavor

Answer

Discard all frozen milk and advise the mother to pump and feed only fresh milk going forward

Answer

Advise the mother to eliminate dairy from her diet to reduce lipase production