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| Quick reference medical handouts used
by Pediatric offices |
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Breast Milk Collection and Storage
Breastmilk Collection and Storage Guidelines For Normal Newborns
Collecting Breastmilk
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First, wash hands well.
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Wash breastpump equipment that contacts the breast, milk, or collection
containers in a dishwasher or by hand, in hot, soapy water. Rinse with cold
water and air dry on a clean towel. Check with your hospital or doctor for
any other instructions.
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When to pump depends on you and your baby s schedule. Your milk supply
usually is most plentiful in the morning, so that is a good time. Try to
pump midway between feedings. Be flexible. If your baby skips a feeding,
nurses a shorter time than usual, or only nurses on one side, pump out the
rest of the milk and save it. If you are planning to return to work and continue
breasrfeeding, begin pumping one to two weeks before you return. Try
to simulate what your pumping schedule will be at work.
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Before pumping, get comfortably seated and relaxed. Pump your breasts
according to the breastpump manufacturer s instructions.
Storage
There are several containers available for storing breastmilk. These
include specially designed plastic bags, plastic bottles or glass containers.
There are advantages to each.
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If you are going to freeze your breastmilk, leave some space at the
top of the container. Breasrmilk, like most liquids, expands as it
freezes.
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When using plastic bags, use those designed for breastmilk collection.
Before storing, fold the top several times and seal with freezer or masking
tape. Place smaller bags in a larger bag to help protect against punctures.
Medela's sterile CSFTM (Collection Storage Freezer) bags come with twist
ties for easy sealing and don t need to be double bagged.
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Mark the date and amount on each container.
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Freeze your milk in two ounce to four ounce portions. Smaller amounts
thaw quicker, and you will waste less milk if your baby consumes less than
you anticipated.
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You may continue to add small amounts of cooled breasrmilk to the
same container throughout the day. Chill in the refrigerator until evening.
Then, freeze in appropriate amounts.
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You may also add to previously frozen milk. First refrigerate all
freshly expressed milk until cold, and then add to the frozen milk. The newly
added milk must be of a lesser amount than the previously frozen milk.
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If you carefully washed your hands before pumping or expressing, your
breasrmilk will be safe for around 4-10 hours at room temperature, 66-72F.
Immediate refrigeration, however, is recommended.
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Fresh milk may be stored in the refrigerator from 5 to 7 days at 39
F
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Frozen milk may be stored in the back of the freezer portion of a
refrigerator-freezer for up to six months.
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Defrosted milk may be kept for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
|
Room Temperature |
Refrigerator |
Home freezer |
-20C freezer |
| Freshly Expressed breastmilk |
4-10 hrs |
5 to 7 days |
6 months |
12 months |
| Thawed breastmilk (Previously Frozen) |
do not store |
24 hrs |
never refreeze thawed milk |
never refreeze thawed milk |
To defrost frozen milk:
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Place milk in refrigerator the night before you re going to use it.
Refrigerator defrosting takes about 8 to 12 hours.
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Place the frozen milk under warm running water or in a pan of warm
water. Don t use hot water, as this can destroy some of the milk s immunological
components.
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Caution: Never microwave breastmilk! Microwaving breastmilk can change
the milk s composition, and has the potential to burn your baby.6
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Fat in breastmilk will separate and rise to the top. By gently swirling
the container, you can mix any fat that may have separated.
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Remember, the color, consistency and odor of your breasrmilk may vary
depending upon your diet, or exposure to other foods in your refrigerator
or freezer.
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Never refreeze thawed breastmilk
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Discard any breastmilk you don t use during a feeding.
Intake Guidelines
How much breastmilk should you anticipate for your baby for each feeding?
That depends on the individual infant, but here are some guidelines.:
Average intake by age:
|
|
Total Daily
Average |
| 0-2 months |
2-5 oz. per feeding |
26 oz. |
| 2-4 months |
4-6 oz. per feeding |
30 oz. |
| 4-6 months |
5-7 oz. per feeding |
31 oz |
Average intake by weight:
8 lbs. (3,600 gr.) |
21.3 oz. (639 ml) in 24 hours |
| 9 lbs. (4,000 gr.) |
24.0 oz. (720 ml) in 24 hours |
| 10 lbs. (4,500 gr.) |
26.7 oz. (801 ml) in 24 hours |
| 11 lbs. (4,900 gr.) |
29.3 oz. (879 ml) in 24 hours |
| 12 lbs. (5,400 gr.) |
32.0 oz. (960 ml) in 24 hours |
| 14 lbs. (6,400 gr.) |
37.3 oz. (1,119 ml) in 24 hours |
| 16 lbs. (7,300 gr.) |
42.7 oz. (1,280 ml) in 24 hours |
Courtesy of Medela, "natural soluions
for beautiful beginnings. "For the location of a Medela Rental Station or
a breastfeeding specialist in your area, call 1-800-TELL YOU, 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week.Medela, Inc., P.O. Box 660, McHenry, IL 60051-0660
USA
As a reminder, this information should not be relied on as
medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice of your child’s pediatrician.
Please read our full disclaimer.
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