Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Strain your breast milk
• Part 2 of 3: Storing Breast Milk
• Part 3 of 3: Prepare Stored Breast Milk
• Tips

Many breastfeeding mothers prefer to pre-pump and store breast milk so that babies can access it when they are away, for example, when they are at work or while sleeping. If you want to stock up on breast milk in the same way, then it should be prepared and stored properly before giving it to your baby.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Strain your breast milk

1. 1 Wash your hands before you start expressing milk. This must be done to prevent bacteria from the surface of the hands from entering the milk. The immune system of newborn babies is not as well developed as in adults, so bacteria that are harmless to older children can infect the baby.
   • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Remember to scrub under your nails and between your toes.
   • Rinse your hands under warm running water. Allow the water to pour from the top and wash away any dirt and bacteria that are on the surface of the skin.
   • Dry your hands with a clean towel.
2. 2 Stimulate milk production. Expressing or pumping milk during the time your baby normally feeds will help stimulate milk production according to your baby's feeding schedule. There is no need to wash your breasts or nipples before expressing. You can forcibly start the lactation process if you sit in a secluded place and think about your baby. If you have difficulty, you can try one of the following:
   • Look at the photo of your child
   • Take a blanket or piece of clothing that smells like your baby
   • Massage your breasts and nipples gently
   • Apply a warm and moist compress to your chest
3. 3 Strain the milk by hand. This technique differs in that it is quite convenient and does not require material expenditures. You do not have to carry a specialized device with you. However, this method takes a little practice. Once you're good at it, the pumping rate will equalize the pumping rate with this method.
   • Place your thumb and forefinger opposite each other on opposite sides of the areola.
   • Move them back and forth along the surface of the chest.
   • Gently squeeze your fingers, gradually moving towards the nipple. At the same time, fingers should not slide on the skin.
   • Loosen the pressure. Continue the process by moving your fingers in different areas around the areola.
   • Collecting milk by hand is difficult. To do this, take a large, clean bowl or sterilized container with a wide neck, place the container on a table at hip level, or hold it in your other hand. Alternatively, you can use a milk storage bag by holding it in one hand and expressing it with the other.
4. 4 Pump out the milk according to the manufacturer's instructions. There are two main types of breast pumps: manual and electric.
   • You will have to operate the manual breast pump yourself. It takes a little practice and some skill. This option, as a rule, is the most optimal if you resort to it only occasionally. It also increases the risk of thrush symptoms. The price of a manual breast pump reaches 3,000 thousand rubles.
   • Electric breast pumps are battery operated or mains powered. What's more, they can pump milk from both breasts at the same time. Their cost ranges from 9000-15000 rubles.
   • The breast pump must be thoroughly washed with soap and water after each use.
5. 5 Do not use a used breast pump. There is a huge difference between a new breast pump and a rental breast pump. Rental pumps have a closed system, which means that there are certain parts of the breast pump that never come into contact with milk. A commercially available pump provides an open system, the motor of which comes into contact with the milk. Unfortunately, the assembly method for open-system breast pumps does not allow for proper sterilization, as is the case, for example, with a rolling device. So if you use a used breast pump, your baby will receive milk particles from another woman.
   • A virus such as HIV (AIDS) is transmitted through breast milk.
   • Rentable breast pumps can be found in hospitals and nursing associations.
   • Breast pumps must be covered by health insurance in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.

Part 2 of 3: Storing Breast Milk

1. 1 Prepare a clean container for expressed milk. It must be sterile and strong enough not to break, and it must be BPA-free.
   • Milk can be stored in a sterile bottle under a water and airtight lid to prevent spills and contamination. Bottles with a screw cap are best suited for this purpose.Their advantage is that they are stronger and less prone to tearing and leakage than conventional bags. Do not fill the container to the brim, as the milk expands when frozen.
   • The bottle can be sterilized in a household sterilizing solution diluted in cold water, using steam, or by boiling. Follow the bottle manufacturer's instructions to properly disinfect the container. The manual may indicate that the bottle should be boiled for a few minutes. Steam sterilizers are available at the pharmacy.
   • In addition, milk storage bags are available for purchase at your nearest pharmacy or any baby store. Place the milk bag in a plastic container for extra protection during storage.
   • Do not use ordinary plastic bags or bags designed for baby bottles, as they are not strong enough and also tend to break and leak at the most inopportune moment.
   • Write the date on the container so that you can control the storage of milk. If you are supplying milk to someone else, such as a daycare agency, then you should write the baby's name on the container.
   • You can also enter the amount of milk pumped out so you know the number of bags to defrost at one time.
2. 2 Do not add fresh milk to frozen milk. Fresh milk is warmer, so it will partially melt already frozen milk, which can lead to the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
   • Milk should not be left to re-use unless your baby drinks it all at one time while feeding. Some people prefer to store 60-120 ml of milk separately as a single serving. This contributes to the fact that in the future it is necessary to defrost the volume necessary for only one feeding.
3. 3 Follow the guidelines for milk storage. The temperature at which milk is stored determines the amount of time you can freeze it. The following guidelines are for healthy babies who are full term. For premature or sick babies, follow the directions prescribed by the hospital staff or pediatrician.
   • Milk can be stored at room temperature (25 ° C) for up to six hours. It should be covered and kept in a cool place. At higher temperatures, it cannot be stored for more than four hours.
   • Milk can be stored in an isothermal cooler bag (-15 to 4 ° C) for 24 hours. Ice packs should be kept together with milk in an isothermal bag.
   • In addition, milk can be stored in the refrigerator (at 4 ° C) for up to five days. The most constant temperature inside the refrigerator will be near its back wall.
4. 4 Observe the recommended times for freezing milk. If you put milk against the back of the refrigerator, its temperature will remain constant. This will minimize the temperature fluctuations that occur when opening and closing the freezer. If milk is stored for longer than the specified time, it starts to deteriorate and loses its nutritional value.
   • Milk delivered to the frozen food section (-15 ° C) can be stored for up to two weeks.
   • Milk placed in a separate freezer section (-18 ° C) can be stored for three to six months. It should be in the freezer so that the temperature does not rise every time someone opens the refrigerator.
   • Deep-frozen milk (-20 ° C) can be stored for six to twelve months.

Part 3 of 3: Prepare Stored Breast Milk

1. 1 Use previously frozen milk first. This will prevent excessive storage and waste of the product.The nutrients that are contained in the milk of a nursing woman lose their properties over time, and it is they that provide the child with what he needs at this stage of development. Therefore, it is important to prevent milk aging in order for the baby to receive the maximum benefit with each feeding.
   • After three months, the fats in the frozen milk begin to break down, reducing the nutritional value of the milk.
   • After a while, milk loses its vitamin C, so the faster you use it, the better.
2. 2 Defrost milk properly. You can feed your baby with milk that has reached body temperature. If your child drinks cold milk, give it immediately after taking it out of the refrigerator. Sometimes defrosted breast milk looks different and has a different consistency than fresh milk. This is normal and it is still safe to feed your baby with such milk. Defrosting can be carried out both in the refrigerator and in warm water.
   • If you are going to use milk the next day, then you should put it in the refrigerator to allow it to thaw overnight.
   • You can also warm it up in a closed, waterproof container by placing the bottle under the tap or simply in warm water.
   • Thawed milk must be used within 24 hours or discarded.
3. 3 Do not defrost milk in the microwave. This will lead to uneven heating. This will leave one part of the milk too cold and the other so hot that it can burn the baby's throat.
   • Bottles that heat up too quickly can explode in the microwave.
   • If milk is heated too much, its nutrients will begin to break down quickly, which will lead to a deterioration in the beneficial properties.
   • Heating too quickly will destroy the antibodies in the milk, which are responsible for strengthening the baby's immune system.
4. 4 Check the temperature of the milk. Breast milk can be served hot or cold, but too hot liquid can burn your baby.
   • Stir the milk gently to mix it. This will help to mix and distribute the cream as it rises up through the milk. But do not shake it at the same time, because such an action can lead to the destruction of all nutrients.
   • After shaking, apply a few drops to the inside of your wrist. The milk should be warm, not hot. The temperature should also be comfortable.

Tips

• Moms who store too much milk usually do not know what to do with it in the future. Going to breastfeeding centers that partner with hospitals is a great way to help other babies. Therefore, act judiciously and donate excess milk.