BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Breast Feeding => Topic started by: Penut's Mom on February 20, 2007, 17:00:34 pm
-
wondering if anyone knows if it is 'safe' to pump 1/2 bottle and leave out for a few hours and then pump to fill the bottle. Is it ok to A. not clean the pump between the uses and B. is it ok to mix room temp milk with body temp milk?
I know you're probably thinking I'm daft but sometimes my lo wakes and I have to leave her for a bit or I get distracted with laundry etc... i just would love to pick up where I left off versus the whole wash and go.
thanks. ;D
-
I would put it in the fridge, I know you can add to milk that is already done from the fridge Not sure about leaving it out though
-
''They'' say not to leave EBM at room temperature.
I am with Anna on this one, put the pump connected to the bottle you are expressing into in the fridge. Less chance of contamination.
-
Here you go ladies, from Medela's website.
Storing Breastmilk
It is normal for pumped milk to vary in color, consistency and scent depending on your diet. Stored milk separates into layers. Cream will rise to the top. Gently swirl the warmed bottle to mix the milk layers.
You can continue to add small amounts of cooled breastmilk to the same refrigerated container throughout the day. Avoid adding warm milk to already cooled milk.
Store your milk in glass or hard plastic containers, or in milk storage bags made especially for breast milk. The Medela® Pump & Save™ Breastmilk Storage Bags special plastic retains breastmilk’s beneficial properties. Leak-proof, easy-to-close zipper top. Place smaller bags inside a larger food storage bag to prevent accidental punctures.
Freeze milk in 2 to 5 oz portions. Small amounts will thaw more quickly. You will waste less milk this way and will avoid over-feeding. Liquids expand when frozen. Be sure to leave some extra room at the top of the container so the bottle or bag won’t burst.
Seal containers tightly. Write the date on a piece of masking tape on the bag or bottle. Use the oldest milk first.
If you do not plan to use the milk within a few days, freeze it right away in the coldest section of your freezer. Do not place the bottle or bag up against the wall of the freezer.
-
My lactation consultant suggested to me to freeze my milk into cube and then transfer to freezer bags. Apparently when milk is frozen into the bags the fat adheres to the plastic and also the bags are more likely to be punctured. The cubes have worked out quite nicely as you can customize the bottle to your babys needs without having to thaw extra and then throw it away. Each cube ends up being about 1/2oz. This was a very practical solution especially during growth spurts.
Hope this is helpful :)
-
It depends a bit on the room temperature but many people would feel comfortable advising you to leave room temp breastmilk for up to 4 hours or so.
http://www.abm.me.uk/ABMexpressing.pdf
The LLL says up to 10 hours (below 22c). Their advice extended after new research on EBM's antibacterial properties.
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html
(Not if the bottle has been drunk from and contains saliva though obviously).
Many working mums who pump more than once a day don't wash between pumping sessions - they 'wet bag' their pumps and reuse them later.
The LLL is a respected international organisation who don't fancy lawsuits I imagine so they must have some grounds for saying 10 hours:
According to THE LLL BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK, page 228, research indicates that human milk has previously unrecognized properties that protect it from bacterial contamination. One study, Barger and Bull 1987, found that there was no statistically significant difference between the bacterial levels of milk stored for 10 hours at room temperature and milk that had been refrigerated for 10 hours. Another study, Pardou 1994, found that after 8 days of refrigeration some of the milk actually had lower bacterial levels than it did on the day it was expressed.
-
My experience when pumping at work was that the milk I pumped was fine unrefrigerated during my work day. I also bought some little Medela wipes that were safe for cleaning off the pump itself, so I could just wipe the parts down in the privacy of my office and didn't have to trapse through the halls carrying my dripping breast pump to wash in the breakroom ... LOL...
-
thanks for all of the replies ladies... many thanks.
I know a lot of the info is out there ... I just wanted to get tips from people versus books. All of the info was helpful and greatly appreciated.
I really liked the ice cube idea!
T.
-
I leave mine out frequently and have added to it too! :)
-
Erin,
What a fabulous photograph!!!
-
Thanks - makes me smile when I look at it! :)