How can breastmilk be stored

Some mothers who are expressing regularly can quickly get large volumes of breastmilk from each breast every few hours.

While other mothers simply cannot express big volumes at one time, and find it easier to express small amounts more frequently eg up to 30mL every one to two hours. A few mothers find it difficult to express, although they have a good supply and their baby is thriving. So, to work out how much, use this amount and divide by the number of feeds your baby commonly has in 24 hours - generally between This should give you an idea of how much milk your baby will need at each feed.

Also, it can help to remember that your baby may not want to drink all the breastmilk you leave, so leaving a smaller quantity eg 50mL can be useful so you are not discarding half the feed. It is important not to judge overall milk production by the amount of milk you can express. The baby's technique of extracting the milk is the optimum, and he will always be able to get more milk than you; expressing is second best. Hand expressing might not be easy when you first try it - you might feel quite discouraged if, after all your efforts, you only manage a few mL or even a few drops!

Take heart, gradually you will become more familiar with the feel of your breasts and how to make the milk flow most easily. When you are able to put your baby to the breast, you will find your supply quickly increases to meet his needs. No more than 72 hours.

Store in back, where it is coldest. Freshly expressed breastmilk should be cooled in the fridge before being added to other chilled or frozen expressed breastmilk. There is no evidence that mother needs to throw out any stored expressed breastmilk in the situation she has a breast or nipple infection.

A mother's own expressing equipment does not need to be disinfected or sterilised for a healthy, term baby. If you are expressing several times a day for a healthy baby, your expressing equipment should be rinsed well in cold water after each use to remove the milk. Store it in a clean, closed container. If you have a fridge, you may simply store the unrinsed expressing equipment in there, in a clean, closed container or plastic bag. If you cannot store your expressing equipment in the fridge between sessions, have extra parts, so you are not always rinsing and washing.

For example breastmilk may be stored for up to hours at room temperature and up to 72 hours in the fridge. The expressing equipment should be cleaned really well at least once every 24 hours while it is in frequent use. Thorough cleaning is important to make sure you have removed all milk from the breast pump parts and storage containers. Wash your hands well with soap and water. Dry them on something clean — a new paper towel or a clean, unused cloth towel.

Take apart all containers and the breast pump so that every part can be cleaned well. You might also like You might also like. Parents' routines: a breastfeeding mum of a five week old and a toddler. Parents' routines: a breastfeeding single mum of a nine-month-old. What's it like breastfeeding in public? Expressing breastmilk at work.

Does my baby need more milk during a growth spurt? How can I express breastmilk by hand? Parents' routines: a breastfeeding mum of a four month old. How can I express more milk? Reading to your baby: when to start and how to do it.

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Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Your guide to breastfeeding. Office on Women's Health. Accessed Feb. Pumping and storing breastmilk. Gleason CA, et al. In: Avery's Diseases of the Newborn. Elsevier; Eglash A, et al. ABM clinical protocol 8: Human milk storage information for home use for full-term infants, revised Breastfeeding Medicine. Gao C, et al. Changes to breast milk fatty acid composition during storage, handling and processing: A systematic review.

Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. Steel C. Best practices for handling and administration of expressed human milk and donor human milk for hospitalized preterm infants. Frontiers in Nutrition. Department of Health and Human Services and U. Department of Agriculture. Accessed Jan. Products and Services Book: Obstetricks. See also Bathing your newborn Baby poop: What's normal? Baby sling Baby sunscreen Baby's head shape: What's normal? Breast-feeding and medications Signs of successful breast-feeding Breast-feeding nutrition: Tips for moms Breast-feeding support Breast-feeding twins Breast-feeding vs.

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