Because the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers breastfeed exclusively for at least the first six months of their babies' lives and continue to breastfeed through the first year and beyond if desired, pumping and storing milk may be necessary. Breastfeeding mothers store milk for a variety of reasons. It allows babies to have breast milk while their moms are at work or simply getting together with friends, and it gives dads the opportunity to share in the feedings.
Step 1
Determine how much milk your baby drinks at an average feeding. Using a commercial pump or hand expression, fill an entire bottle of milk. At a regular feeding time, give the baby the bottle and write down how much milk he consumes. You may want to do this a few different times, because some babies drink more at different times of the day, and you'll want to get an average.
Step 2
Determine how much milk your baby will need during the next week and plan to pump enough to store that amount. You may choose to pump daily or a few times a day to build up your stored supply.
Step 3
Pump or express your milk either between feedings or just after a regular feeding. Pump directly into a storage bottle or transfer the milk to the desired storage container immediately after pumping.
Step 4
Label the container with the amount and the date pumped so that you can use the oldest milk first, ensuring that none spoils or goes to waste.
Step 5
Store the precise amount of milk that your baby uses in an average feeding in a glass or plastic bottle in the refrigerator for use within five days. Place the bottle at the back of the refrigerator so that it stays cold.
Step 6
Store any excess milk in bottles or in plastic storage bags designed to hold human breast milk, and place these in the freezer. It's a good idea to freeze some of your excess milk in the same quantities as a single feeding and some in smaller quantities, such as 1 or 2 ounces, to use on days when your baby is hungrier than normal and needs a little extra but not a full feeding.
Step 7
Keep the frozen milk stored for a maximum of two weeks if using a freezer compartment inside a refrigerator. It can be stored for up to six months if it's inside a separate freezer with its own door or up to a year in a deep freezer.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't store milk in the refrigerator door, because opening and closing of the door can cause temperature fluctuations and spoilage. The upper limits for frozen milk storage are safe, but the milk may degrade slightly when frozen for a long time. Using milk as soon as possible is best. You can safely store milk at room temperature for six to eight hours, but placing it in the refrigerator will keep it fresh much longer.
- Don't mix fresh milk into already frozen milk for storage. Instead, start a new container for the new milk.
Things You'll Need
- Breast pump
- Sterile baby bottles
- Breast milk freezer storage bags
