World Breastfeeding Week 2020: Guidelines On How To Safely Store Breast Milk At Home

What Is Expressing Milk?

Expressing milk refers to the process of squeezing breast milk out of your breast by hand or with a breast pump so that it can be stored and fed to your baby later[3], [4].

Sometimes, it may take a little while for your milk to start flowing while expressing breast milk. So, you may find it easier if you take a shower or cover your breasts with a warm towel first before expressing.

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How To Express Milk By Hand

Most mothers may find it easier to express milk by hand rather than using a breast pump, especially in the first few days or weeks

Guidelines for expressing breast milk:

• Wash your hands properly with soap and warm water.
• Gently massage your breasts to help the milk flow down.
• With one hand, cup your breast and with the other hand form a C shape with your thumb and forefinger.
• Squeeze your breast gently and make sure that you don't squeeze your nipple directly as it may become sore.
• Release the pressure and then repeat, try not to slide your fingers over the skin.
• Drops will start to appear and then the milk usually starts flowing.
• When the milk flow lessens, move your fingers to the other breast and repeat.
• Switch your breasts and repeat.
• Keep doing it until the milk drips slowly or stops altogether.
• Take a sterilised feeding bottle or a clean food-grade container with tight-fitting lid made of glass and hold it below your breast to store the milk in the bottle as it flows.

Note: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), don't use bottles with the recycle number 7, which means that the container is made of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) [5].

How To Express Milk With A Breast Pump

Mothers can also express breast milk with a manual or electric breast pump. Ask your doctor before buying a breast pump as different pumps suit different women.

Guidelines for expressing breast milk:

• Inspect the pump kit and tubing to ensure that it's clean. If you find any mould, don't use it and buy a new one that is clean.
• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Take the breast pump and place the funnel over your nipple. There are different funnel sizes to fit your nipples and ensure that the pump doesn't cause bruising or catch your nipple as it is sucked into the funnel.
• Begin pumping; it may take a few minutes for the milk to start flowing.
• Switch your breasts about every five minutes.
• After you are done pumping, remove the pump and carefully close the bottle with a cap on it.
• If you are using an electric breast pump alter the suction strength of the electric pump because if the strength is high it may be painful or damage your nipple.

Image ref: Healthline

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How To Store Breast Milk At Home After Expressing

• Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored at room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to four hours [6].
• Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.
• Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored in the freezer for about six months or up to 12 months as recommended by the CDC.
• Label each feeding bottle with the date you expressed the breast milk.
• Avoid storing breast milk in the door of the refrigerator or freezer as it will help protect the breast milk from temperature changes due to the opening and closing of the door. Place the feeding bottle in the back of the refrigerator or freezer.
• If you think that you won't use freshly expressed breast milk within four days, freeze it immediately. This will ensure to keep the quality of breast milk intact.
• Freeze breast milk in small amounts or the amount that you are going to feed at once to avoid wasting the milk.
• When you freeze breast milk, don't fill the feeding bottle to the brim because breast milk expands as it freezes.
• If you don't have access to a refrigerator or freezer, store the breast milk in an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours.

How To Thaw Frozen Breast Milk

• Thaw the oldest breast milk first [7].
• Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before giving it to your baby.
• Gently warm the breast milk by placing the feeding bottle in a bowl of warm water or place it under warm running water.
• Do not thaw or heat breast milk in a microwave as it will destroy the nutrients in the breast milk and can burn your baby's mouth while feeding.
• Swirl the milk bottle to mix the fat, which may have separated.
• Use breast milk within 24 hours of thawing it in the fridge. This means 24 hours from when the breast milk is no more frozen, not from the time when you take it out of the freezer.
• Use breast milk within two hours once it has been thawed.
• Do not refreeze breast milk that has been defrosted.

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To Conclude…

By following these guidelines for storing breast milk, you can maintain the safety and quality of expressed breast milk for the overall health of your baby.

However, these are general guidelines for storing breast milk at different temperatures, there are other factors that need to be considered that can affect how long breast milk can be stored safely. These factors include the volume of the milk, room temperature when milk is expressed, fluctuations in temperature in the fridge and freezer and cleanliness.


Common FAQs

Q. Can I pump into the same bottle all day?

A. You shouldn't combine breast milk at different temperatures. The breast milk if stored at room temperature stays safe for up to four hours, so you can pump in the same bottle within four hours.

Q. How will I know if breast milk is spoilt?

A. Breast milk has a mild, sweet taste when it is fresh. If the breast milk hasn't been stored properly it will taste sour.

Q. How long should I pump for?

A. If your breasts aren't stimulated, you need to pump longer, however, the average time for pumping is 15 to 20 minutes.