by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D.
reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P.
In many instances, feeding directly from the breast is the most convenient way
to give your baby breast milk; however, some circumstances may require that you
express and store your milk. Breast milk is quite perishable, though, so certain
safeguards are necessary. Here are some guidelines:
* Cleanliness is key. Before beginning, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and
warm water, and make sure the containers and the area in which you do this are
clean.
* Use appropriate, labeled containers. Glass or plastic bottles, tiny hard
plastic containers, resealable plastic bags, plastic bottle liners, and ice cube
trays are all suitable. If you decide to use plastic bags or liners, double them
up for extra protection. Label each container with the date and, if she attends
day care, your child's name.
* Store in handy portion sizes. After expressing, put the breast milk in
single-serving portions--that is, 2 to 4 ounces. Anything more will be a waste
of valuable milk if your baby doesn't drink it all in one feeding. If you plan
to freeze the milk, leave a half-inch space at the top of the container to allow
for expansion.
* Refrigerate or freeze. After filling the labeled containers, chill them as
soon as possible. You can do this by using a cooler with frozen gel packs, a
refrigerator, or freezer. To protect against mishaps, store containers inside
another hard plastic container before placing in the refrigerator or freezer. If
you use an ice cube tray, carefully place it in a plastic bag before freezing to
avoid the milk picking up odors and flavors from other foods.
* Use within the recommended time frame. Breast milk stored in a cooler with
frozen gel packs should be used within 24 hours; if stored in a refrigerator,
use within 48 hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using breast
milk stored in a standard freezer at zero degrees within six months. Do not
refreeze any milk that has been thawed.
* Thaw or warm with warm water. To thaw or warm breast milk, simply hold the
container under warm--not hot--running water. To break up the small lumps of fat
that may have separated from the rest of the milk during chilling, shake the
container gently. Don't use the microwave to thaw or heat your milk because they
often heat unevenly, causing "hot spots." The high temperatures also might
damage important substances in the milk.
* Discard leftover milk. Don't think twice about it--throw out any milk that
your baby doesn't drink. Drinking from the bottle introduces bacteria from your
baby's mouth and can contaminate the milk.
Source :
http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5372,00.html