Questions About Breastmilk

Handy chart that covers about everything. You can print it out and put it on the fridge.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html

Milk can go back in the fridge if it was only refrigerated....if it was frozen and thawed, it cannot.

HI C.,
This is from the LLL website:

Human milk can be stored

at room temperature (66-72°F, 19-22°C) for up to 10 hours
in a refrigerator (32-39°F, 0-4°C) for up to 8 days
in a freezer compartment inside a refrigerator (variable temperature due to the door opening frequently) for up to 2 weeks
in a freezer compartment with a separate door (variable temperature due to the door opening frequently) for up to 3 to 4 months.
in a separate deep freeze (0°F, -19°C) for up to 6 months or longer.

Also, once thawed, it can be refridgerated for 24 hours but not re-frozen.

I think bags work best becuz it's a reminder (during those foggy days) that breast milk is not to be microwaved (it kills the good stuff). The bags are easy to warm up under a faucet of warm water.
I personally love Lansinoh products for breastfeeding/pumping.

Best of luck!
Trish

This came from the La Leche League website:

Storage Guidelines
Term Colostrum
(expressed within 6 days of delivery)
kept at room temperature 27-32 C (80.6-89.6 F) - 12 hours

Mature milk
kept at 15 C (59-60 F) - 24 hours
kept at 19-22 C (66-72 F) - 10 hours
kept at 25 C (79 F) - 4-6 hours
refrigerated 0-4 C (32-39 F) - 8 days

Frozen milk
freezer compartment located inside a refrigerator - 2 weeks
separate door refrigerator/freezer - 3 or 4 months (temperature varies because the door opens frequently)
separate deep freeze at constant -19 C (0 F) - 6 months or longer

How to Warm the Milk
Thaw and/or heat under warm, running water; do not bring temperature of milk to boiling point; shake before testing the temperature; do not use a microwave oven to heat human milk.

Thawed Milk

If milk has been frozen and thawed, it can be refrigerated up to 24 hours for later use. It should not be refrozen.

Hope this info helps you. Good luck going back to work!

I think that you can find different websites with storage guidelines. Google Medela or Leleche League. They have really good info for storage guidelines and are a great source of info for breastfeeding.

http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJulAug07p168.html (LeLeche's storage guidelines page)

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/1... (Medela's guidelines page)

Hope this helps.

The breast milk can be frozen for upto 3 mths. Once you put it in fridge make sure you use it in 24 hrs. Once taken out of the fridge it needs to thrown away after 2 hrs. I always used the rule of 3 days in the fridge from a fresh pump. be prepared your body will slow down on production during the day and get used to being away from the baby. You miight also experience the baby getting up more during the night for feedings. This is how they adjust. They eat less being away from you and more when you are around. According to my doctor this is normal. Its how they still get to bond with you. Make sure you have plenty of pads with you at work you will leak at first. Good luck

Most of the advice listed is good. I follow the Medela guidelines. however, don't be surprised if using formal day care when they give you totally different state guidelines. They are more strict.

Be sure to check out www.medela.com -- they are GREAT and the experts on breastfeeding.

Collection and storing breast milk - click on this link, or copy and paste into your internet browser:
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/1...

Here's what they said on going back to work:
"Flexible scheduling, telecommuting, and job sharing can help. Plan three 15-minute pumping breaks during each 8-hour workday. If your shift is longer than 8 hours, try to add another short pumping session. Double pumping cuts down pumping time, but it is important to pump for 12-15 minutes during each break. Mothers can pump into the same bottles at different pumping sessions on the same day as long as the milk is kept chilled.

Breastfeed often in the evenings and learn how to breastfeed lying down while you rest. Nighttime breastfeeding boosts supply! If your supply is low, breastfeeding or pumping more often is the simplest way to increase supply."

I would read Working Mother, Nursing mother. Not sure if that is exactly the title (may have misplaced order of words). The Le Leche webiste may have info. I breastfed both my boys( 4 and 6) until 21 months. I worked part time and pumped when I was at work. I don't remember the times for safe milk storage.