These Are the Benefits and How to Use Ice Gel to Cool Breast Milk
Ice gel for breast milk is a familiar item among mothers who pump and store breast milk. This item plays an important role, especially in storing expressed breast milk inside a cooler bag. In fact, using ice gel is considered more effective than ice cubes because it lasts longer. As a result, the quality of expressed breast milk can be well maintained because ice gel is able to keep breast milk cool for an extended period.
Interestingly, ice gel can also be used repeatedly as long as it remains in good condition. This means the gel inside is still able to freeze and the packaging is not damaged. You can find more complete information in the following article.
Benefits of Ice Gel
Basically, ice gel is not only intended for breastfeeding mothers. In today’s practical world, the presence of ice gel is very important and needed by many people. Ice gel is commonly used to keep food or beverages cold. In addition, it can also be used to compress certain parts of the body.
Along with the development of time, ice gel has become more functional and is widely used by breastfeeding mothers to maintain the temperature of expressed breast milk inside a cooler bag. This way, working mothers can continue to provide the best nutrition for their babies even when they cannot breastfeed directly. Moreover, ice gel can maintain the quality of expressed breast milk for up to 24 hours.
How Ice Gel for Breast Milk Works
Ice gel or dry ice is an alternative to ice cubes that functions to keep food, drinks, or breast milk cool. Besides being practical, ice gel does not melt, so it will not make the bag or container used to store food or breast milk wet.
The gel used is safe and non toxic, so mothers do not need to worry about breast milk contamination. It is important to know that there are two types of ice gel available on the market. The first type functions only as a cooling agent, while the second type can work as both a cooler and a warmer.
The use of ice gel is generally continuous and can even last up to two years. Ice gel also has high absorption capacity because it contains water and water absorbent polymers. For this reason, do not dispose of ice gel in the toilet!
How to Use Ice Gel to Cool Breast Milk
To optimize the function of ice gel in cooling expressed breast milk, mothers need to understand the correct usage method first. Pay attention to the following steps when cooling breast milk in a cooler bag.
- Place the dry ice or ice gel in the freezer for 24 hours to achieve maximum cooling. For subsequent uses, it is sufficient to freeze the ice gel for 8 hours.
- Once the freezing time is complete, transfer the ice gel into the cooler bag.
- For optimal results, place the ice gel on top of the expressed breast milk.
- Close the cooler bag tightly to prevent air from escaping.
- If the ice gel starts to feel less cold, immediately put it back into the freezer.
Signs That Ice Gel for Breast Milk Needs to Be Replaced
Although ice gel can be used for up to two years, under certain conditions it should be replaced with a new one. Below are some signs that indicate when ice gel should be replaced.
1. Expressed Breast Milk Is Not Cold
As explained earlier, ice gel functions to keep the temperature of expressed breast milk cold for a long period. However, if the breast milk does not feel cold, this is a sign that the ice gel needs to be replaced because it is no longer functioning properly.
2. Ice Gel Does Not Freeze When Placed in the Freezer
Generally, ice gel will freeze when placed or stored in the freezer for several hours. Its cooling performance also lasts quite long and it only melts slowly after being transferred to a cooler bag for about five to eight hours. If the ice gel no longer freezes even after being stored in the freezer for hours, it should be replaced immediately.
3. Damaged or Leaking Packaging
Ice gel is usually wrapped in thick plastic packaging to prevent leaks. Leaks typically occur only if the ice gel is punctured by a sharp object. To prevent leaks, it is recommended to choose ice gel with hardcase packaging, which is safer and not easily punctured by sharp objects.
The use of ice gel plays a vital role in maintaining the temperature of expressed breast milk while outside the home. Therefore, mothers must always ensure that the ice gel is still functioning properly so the breast milk does not spoil.
In addition to ensuring that ice gel for breast milk is still in good condition and working optimally, mothers should also pay attention to the quality of the breast milk storage container used. When choosing a breast milk storage container, mothers can use HEGEN PCTO™ Breast Milk Storage PPSU, which is available in three sizes: 60 ml, 150 ml, and 240 ml.
The quality of Hegen breast milk storage does not need to be doubted because it uses premium PPSU material combined with PCTO innovation. The amber tinted PPSU material is free from artificial pigments, so expressed breast milk will not be contaminated by harmful substances.
In addition, this material is commonly used as a base material for medical equipment, ensuring it is durable, long lasting, and resistant to high temperatures ranging from minus 20°C to 180°C. This allows mothers to freeze or warm breast milk directly in the storage container.
Hegen’s PCTO™ innovation also allows parents and caregivers to close the storage securely and comfortably using just one hand, without worrying about spills. Shop for high quality products from Hegen today!
References:
- Halodoc. Cara Menyimpan ASI yang Tepat di Cooler Bag. https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/cara-menyimpan-asi-yang-tepat-di-cooler-bag
- KumparanMOM. Kapan Ice Gel untuk Simpan ASI Perah Harus Diganti? https://kumparan.com/kumparanmom/kapan-ice-gel-untuk-simpan-asi-perah-harus-diganti-1s1mSXkXd0k/full
