Collection of Breast Milk, BringingUpBaby.Com® for New Parents

Prenatal Care

18. Reasons for pumping and type of pump to use.

a. Collection and storage of breast milk

1) Milk may be collected and stored by mothers who wish their babies to have breast milk in a bottle. It can be collected by hand expression, milk cups, or breast pump. A collection may produce only 1 ounce, so the mother should start ahead of time.

2) Milk should be collected in a sterile (boiled for 5 minutes) container.

3) Milk should be chilled and then frozen. Milk may be layered in a frozen bottle. Pour only chilled milk on top of frozen milk to keep the frozen milk from defrosting. 4) Collect 31/2 ounces in a 4-ounce bottle and label as to date started. Plastic bottles or double bagged nurser bags may be used.

5) Milk can be kept in refrigerator for only 24 hours.

6) Milk may be kept in the back of a freezer for 6 months.

7) To defrost milk, run under cold water, then warm water, and shake gently. When warm, give to baby. 8) Discard any defrosted breast milk the baby does not drink.

9) For transport, fresh breast milk should be carried in an insulated bag. Frozen breast milk should be packed in ice.

Prenatal Care

b. Collection by milk cups

1) Some woman leak from one breast while nursing from the other. By using a plastic milk cup on the leaking breast, the woman can easily collect milk that would otherwise be lost.
2) A milk cup is a plastic device that fits over the breast with an opening in the center for the nipple. The milk cup should be sterilized before use, then placed over the breast with the small hole on the upper side. The collected milk can then be poured into a sterile container for storage.
3) Other uses include drawing out inverted nipples or relieving postpartum fullness. The milk cup should be worn 1/2 hour before feeding for these purposes.

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lsb 05/30/2002