The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least the first six months of your baby's life, and ideally the entire first year. As the organization notes, extensive research indicates that breastfeeding offers general health benefits as well as immunologic, developmental, psychological, social, economic and environmental benefits. Although breastfeeding is optimal, it's not always convenient. By using a breast pump and storing or freezing the milk, you can provide breast milk to your baby even if you can't be with her at feeding time.
General Considerations
Step 1
Choose your breast pump carefully. Pumps can be manual, battery powered or electric. According to ConsumerReports.org, a good way to make this decision is to determine how often you plan to pump. For occasional or short-term use, a manual or battery powered pump will work. If you plan to pump often, Consumer Reports recommends an electric pump. Alternatively, check with your hospital or pediatrician about the possibility of renting a hospital-grade breast pump.
Step 2
Read the instruction manual that comes with your pump. Even a manual pump requires some degree of assembly. If you don't have an instruction manual, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends contacting the manufacturer to get instructions on assembly and the correct way to use and clean the pump.
Step 3
Wash your hands. Use soap and warm water, and scrub for 10 to 15 seconds, then dry your hands with a clean paper towel. According to the FDA, washing your breasts before pumping is not necessary unless you applied a cream or ointment that requires removal.
Step 4
Dissemble and clean the pump after every use. Use hot, soapy water to clean any part that touches your breast or the milk containers. You also can use a dishwasher.
Step 5
Use clean, sterilized bottles. The BabyCenter website recommends bottles with screw caps, a plastic cup with a tight cap or specialized nursing bags designed for breast milk.
Pumping Breast Milk
Step 1
Breathe deeply, relax and get comfortable. The more comfortable and relaxed you are, the easier the process will be. Tension and nervousness may prevent “let-down,” making it difficult or impossible to pump breast milk. The FDA suggests placing a picture of your baby in front of you, both to help you relax and to stimulate milk flow.
Step 2
Position the breast shield correctly to prevent discomfort and ensure that you get a good seal. Make sure the shield covers both your nipple and areola. An average baby suckles 40 to 60 times per minute. Use this average to set the speed for a battery-powered or electric pump, or to determine a good rate for a manual pump.
Step 3
Begin pumping. The length of time it takes to pump depends on the type of pump. According to the BabyCenter website, it takes about 45 minutes to pump both breasts using a manual pump and 10 to 15 minutes to do so using an electric pump.
Storing and Freezing Breast Milk
Step 1
Transfer breast milk to bottles, mark the bottles with the date and place them in the refrigerator or freezer.
Step 2
Thaw frozen breast milk by moving bottles to the refrigerator overnight, placing bottles in a bowl of warm water or running warm water over them.
Step 3
Use thawed bottles of milk within 24 hours or discard the milk, as you cannot refreeze breast milk.
Tips and Warnings
- Breast milk can remain in the refrigerator for up to 72 hours, or about three days. Freezing breast milk destroys some of its natural antibodies, according to the BabyCenter website. Store breast milk no longer than three months in a refrigerator-type freezer or six months in a standalone freezer set no higher than zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Things You'll Need
- Breast pump
- Batteries (optional)
- Soap
- Paper towels
- Storage containers
- Marking pen, waterproof
