Hi guys! My brother called me today and sked me a few breastfeeding questions that I did not know the answers to since I only lasted a few days with my kids. I am hoping that someone on here can help me:
1. How do you store breastmilk that you pump and for lhow long can you store it?
2. Can you mix breastmilk that you pumped earlier with some that you just pumped now?
3. Can you microwave it or how can you heat it up?
Thanks from the new aunt of thu cutest nephew in the world ( I don't think I am partial or anything!) he was born 2/22/2008!
I got so many great responses, thanks for the help, it helped my sister in law alot since I had no clue! :)
You can store breast milk in a freezer bag, in the refrigerator or freezer. Take it out ahead of time to thaw. Put it in warm water to thaw. You shouldn't microwave baby food or breast milk, as it can heat unevenly and even though you think it's right, there could be hot spots. GL - A. M
S. if your brother has internet access I would have him look up the la leche leaugue. There website is www.llli.org They could definately answer all his questions and maybe give him some info he didn't know that he needed.
1. you can freeze or refrigerate pumped milk but I am going to direct you to la leche for how long because I read lots of conflicting info on times when I had my daughter.
2. I personnally never mixed milk but not sure if you can or not.
3. Definately do not microwave breastmilk. The best way to heat it is to boil some water and heat it in there.
Good luck.
I just buy the brestmilk storage bags. and put it in the freezer. It is good in the freezer for 3 months and 2 days for fresh milk in the frig.
It is not sugguested to mix milk.
DONT MICROWAVE always warm with hot/warm water. The microwave kills the good stuff in the milk.
ok, you can store for about 2 days safety (in refrigerator then freeze for up to 6 mo), and yes you can mix pevious pumped milk (am with pm) if you want, to get a full bag. Heat with warm water, or I used the Avent bottle warmer - it worked great with my playtex and avent bottles. DO NOT MICROWAVE! Big no-no.
Hope that helps, I would suggest the le leacheue (sp?) as well, they are a wonderful resource.
1. Breastmilk can be stored in the frig or freezer without any problems. You will have to refer to a book or website for the official time frames. Unlike formula, you can also leave it sitting out for a couple of hours and it will not go bad. So, if you know that you will be feeding the little one soon, don't put it in the frig.
2. It is ok to mix old milk with new milk as long as it is still good. However, if you give a baby a bottle, discard anything that is left in the bottle. Do not save it for the next feeding and then add more milk to it. The enzimes in the babies spit will start to break down the milk and it will not be good anymore by the next feeding.
3. Do NOT microwave a babies milk. I would not even put the bottle into boiling water. Hot water from the tap usually will heat up a bottle in no time at all. You can also get a bottle warmer designed for the job but we always just put the bottle in a cup of hot water.
I hope this helps!
C.
Someone already mentioned the Le Leche League website which is a great resource. You should also check out www.kellymom.com. Tons of breastfeeding info!
S. -
I have a magnet from Medela so I hope that some of this info will help him. If it is freshly expressed, it is good at room temp for 4 hours, 24 hours if kept in a cooler with an ice pack, 5-7 days in the refrigerator, 3-4 months in a fridge freezer, and 6-12 months in a deep freeze. If it has been frozen once do not save it if it has set out for the 4 hours or was in a cooler. You can keep it 24 hours in the fridge, but never refreeze milk that was thawed. It looses alot of the good stuff in there for the baby. They also say to never put the milk in the microwave. It looses all the rich proteins in it. They suggest that you get a cup with warm water in it and let it heat up that way. If it was in the freezer just move it to the fridge to thaw first until ready to be warmed for use. You can also mix it as long as it hasn't been out for more than 4 hours. I hope this helps. I didn't nurse for to long either but will be trying it with my 2nd in a few months when it gets here so I have been reading up on it.
I currently am breastfeeding my son, and I go by the rule of 5's. Five hours left at room temperature. Five days in the refriderator. Five months in the freezer. So far this works for us. Never refreeze thawed milk, and never never microwave. I also have read you shouldn't mix refridgerated breastmilk with freshly expressed milk. You should store it separately. Hope this helps.
