By Sr Teresa Hayward (RN. RM. Lactation consultant, Infant & Paediatric Nutritionist, Baby Sleep Consultant)
At some time, nearly every breastfeeding mom needs to pump, store and prepare breastmilk for their baby, whether they are going back to work and want to continue to breastfeed, or if Dad wants to help with a feed, or you need to pop out to run an errand.
As a Lactation consultant, a lot of my clients need advice and assistance on how to pump, store and preparing their breastmilk.
Collecting Breastmilk
The first thing that you should do is wash your hands with soap and water.
Then, make sure that you have washed the bottles and breast pump parts in hot, soapy water. Some people boil water and place the pump parts and bottles to sterilize. A steam sterilizer or microwave sterilizer is the better option. You can also use your dishwasher since the temperature it reaches also helps to sterilize as well. Just make sure that the rest of the dishes are pre-rinsed. You don’t want leftovers on them.
NOTE: Do NOT wash the tubing in a dishwasher or sterilize in any machine. This can cause water to get into the tubing. This is bad because water can get into the machine and break it.
You want the parts to air dry so you can lay them out on a clean towel or paper towel. You can also use as drying rack.
If you are unsure how to use your pump, read the instructions, and follow the suggestions.
You do not have to sterilize your pump parts every time after you use them. Between using them, you can hand wash with soapy hot water. It’s recommended that you sterilize the pieces once a day.
When you are ready to start pumping, be sure that you have the right size breast flange so that your nipple fits comfortably. The standard pump that most moms buy only comes with one size shield. However, there are different shields available that you can buy separately.
As a Lactation consultant, I recommend that you don’t start introducing a until breastfeeding has been established and is going well. I usually recommend that moms don’t start pumping until 6wks and after 6wks start introducing the occasional bottle. I would definitely ensure that you have started to introduce a bottle before 3months, else you will find that baby will only want the breast and will fight a bottle
If you are returning to work, you will want to begin pumping to store milk at least 1month before return. I often recommend starting to store milk from 6wks. A lot of working moms use the fresh milk they pump at work for feedings the next day. They bring home the fresh milk and refrigerate it for the next day’s feedings. Your frozen milk can then be used for emergencies or when you haven’t been able to pump enough.
Storing Breastmilk
It is normal for pumped milk to vary in colour, consistency, and scent depending on your diet. When you pump your milk, and it’s sitting for a little while, your milk will separate into layers. The cream will rise to the top and be a lighter colour.
A lot of people wonder if they can combine breastmilk together. Anything that been expressed within the same 24hrs can be added together.
For storing, pour your milk in breastmilk collection bottle or disposable BPA free bags designed specifically for breastmilk. The bottle must be a clean, capped glass or hard plastic, BPA-free container. Warning: Breastmilk storage bags might tear, leak, and become contaminated more easily than hard-sided containers. For extra protection, place the bags in a hard plastic food storage container with a tightly sealed lid. Even though disposable bags are made for breastmilk, these things still happen. I have definitely seen several mothers cry over their spilled milk, so make sure that you store it carefully.
Again, seal containers tightly to prevent any leaking. Write the date and time on a piece of tape on the bag or bottle. This way, you will know which is the oldest since you want to use the oldest milk first.
Place the containers in the back of the refrigerator or freezer, where the temperature is the coolest. If you don’t have access to a fridge or freezer, store the milk temporarily in an insulated cooler.
I recommend that you freeze your breastmilk in 50mls or 100mls portions. Small amounts thaw faster so you will waste less milk this way, save more time, and will avoid over-feeding your baby. A lot of parents want their babies to finish the whole bottle since they don’t want to waste a drop, but you do not want to overfeed your baby. Also, be sure to leave some extra room at the top of the container or bag. This is because the liquid will expand when frozen. You don’t want the bottle or bag to burst.
Preparing Breastmilk
When you are ready to prepare the breast milk, you want to gently swirl the warmed bottle to mix the milk layers. Do NOT shake the milk. That damages the milk.
If your breastmilk has been stored in your fridge, to warm the bag or bottle, you can either use a bottle warmer or place it under running hot water in a cup or bowl full of hot water. Do NOT microwave your breastmilk or heat quickly on the stove. This also damages the composition of the milk and can create hot spots that can scald your baby’s mouth.
If you’re trying to thaw your frozen breastmilk, first move your milk to your fridge the night before. If you need it sooner than that, you can hold the bag or bottle under warm running water. It will obviously take longer to thaw and warm than a cool/cold bag of breastmilk that was stored in the fridge. When you have a hungry baby, that might not be ideal.
You can not refreeze your breastmilk. Once it’s frozen and then thawed, you must use it with in 24hrs (which that is how long it is safe in the refrigerator.)
So there it is! My advice on how to properly collect, store, and prepare your breastmilk. I hope it helps!
For more information or to set up a Lactation consult, please feel free to contact Sr Teresa a
Comments