How long is stored breast milk good

Squeeze gently, keeping your finger and thumb a few centimetres away from your nipple, just outside the darker area around it areola. Do not squeeze the nipple itself as you could make it sore. This should not hurt. Release the pressure, then repeat, building up a rhythm. Try not to slide your fingers over the skin. Drops should start to appear, and then your milk usually starts to flow. If no drops appear, try moving your finger and thumb slightly, but still avoid squeezing the darker area near your nipple.

When the flow slows down, move your fingers round to a different section of your breast, and repeat. When the flow from one breast has slowed, swap to the other breast. Keep changing breasts until your milk drips very slowly or stops altogether. Watch a video about expressing milk by hand on the UNICEF website Expressing milk with a breast pump There are 2 different types of breast pump: manual hand-operated and electric. Manual pumps are cheaper but may not be as quick as an electric pump.

Always make sure that the pump and container are clean and sterilised before you use them. Find out how to sterilise baby bottles Storing breast milk You can store breast milk in a sterilised container or in special breast milk storage bags: in the fridge for up to 8 days at 4C or lower you can buy fridge thermometers online — if you're not sure of the temperature of your fridge, or it is higher than 4C, use it within 3 days for 2 weeks in the ice compartment of a fridge for up to 6 months in a freezer, if it's C or lower Breast milk that's been cooled in the fridge can be carried in a cool bag with ice packs for up to 24 hours.

Defrosting frozen breast milk It's best to defrost frozen breast milk slowly in the fridge before giving it to your baby.

Warming breast milk You can feed expressed milk straight from the fridge if your baby is happy to drink it cold. Storing breast milk if your baby is in hospital If you're expressing breast milk because your baby is premature or sick, ask the hospital staff caring for your baby for advice on how to store it. If you're having difficulty expressing breast milk If you're finding it difficult or uncomfortable to express your breast milk: Ask your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter for help.

They can also tell you about other breastfeeding support available near you. Search online for breastfeeding support in your area. Call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 9. The Bliss website also has advice about expressing milk for a premature or sick baby Community content from HealthUnlocked.

It takes a Herculean effort to follow safe storage rules when half asleep after a 3 a. But, little details matter. Shortchanging and cutting corners could make your baby very sick. The guidelines for storing and preparing breast milk for healthy, full-term babies depend on a few factors: the type of breast milk, the storage location and the temperature. To prevent your breast milk from going to waste, store it in small batches; 2 to 4 ounces Any remaining breast milk left in a bottle after your baby is finished with a feeding should be used within two hours, or, if quickly refrigerated, used for the next feeding.

You can always thaw an extra container if needed — and you have some options in terms of container type:. Note: Breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation qualify as tax-deductible breastfeeding gear. Also keep track of what you spend and check your insurance policy to see if your plan covers breastfeeding supplies, such as storage bags , in addition to breast pumps.

After this time, you must discard it. Too many germs! Storing breast milk in smaller quantities so that your baby uses the full portion at each feeding can help reduce waste. When warming breast milk from the fridge, place the bottle in a bowl of warm water or run it under warm water. Microwaving breast milk is not safe. Breast milk naturally separates into a milk layer and a cream top when it is stored. The earlier you use up your breast milk, the better, because longer storage can diminish the amount of vitamin C in it.

Some women produce large volumes of breast milk to freeze, while other women never seem to produce enough. When it comes to freezer storage, however, smaller portions are actually better. Portions that are 2- to 4-ounce Make sure to label the bottles, cups or bags with the date and leave an inch or so from the milk to the top of the container.

Breast milk expands as it freezes, so wait to tighten bottle caps or lids until the milk is completely frozen. See CDC guidance on how to safely clean and store pump equipment and infant feeding items. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Top of Page. To receive email updates about this topic, enter your email address.

Email Address.