Method 3. Electric breast pump
Compared to the first two, the electric breast pump gets the job done more quickly and has the best suction that stimulates more letdown. Some electric breast pumps run on battery, that you can just recharge when not used, while others are plugged directly into the outlet.
Electric breast pumps are best for moms who are always on the go since it only takes about 2 minutes for it to stimulate milk flow. One of the most useful breast milk pumping and storage tips is to express milk both breasts at the same time (double pumping) using an electric breast pump.
Double pumping will reduce your pumping time and will also generate twice the amount of milk you can produce when single pumping, using a manual breast pump, or when hand expressing.
How to do it?
- To start the process, wash your hands with soap and water.
- Wash and sterilize the parts of the electric pump.
- Place the breast shield on your breast/s. Hold the breast shield, and adjust them if necessary.
- Turn the pump on and wait until letdown begins.
- It is better if you have a self-adjusting pump, but if not, adjust the speed of the pump manually to mimic how a baby sucks on the nipples.
- Sit back, relax, and wait until milk flow slows down.
- Turn off the machine and remove the breast shield. After which, carefully unscrew the bottles where the breast milk is stored and keep it until your baby’s next feeding.
- After every use, wash and sterilize all the parts of the pump and recharge it if needed.
How to store breast milk?
After pumping or expressing breast milk, store it properly when it is not yet needed. Store your breast milk in BPA-free and freezer friendly milk bottles or milk storage bags. Make sure that your bottles have tight-fitting lids and only use milk bags with double zipper seals.
Here are some breast milk pumping and storage tips you need to know to keep your liquid gold last as long as it can.
Right after pumping, you can keep your breast milk
- At room temperature (77℉ or colder) for about 4 hours.
- In the refrigerator (40℉) for up to 4 days.
- Inside the freezer (0℉ or colder) for 6 months or up to 12 months. Keeping your milk stash in the freezer is the most important way to preserve the quality of your milk.
- By using an insulated cooler for 24 hours. If the milk is left unused in the cooler after 24 hours, immediately keep it in the refrigerator or freezer.
Thawed breast milk can be kept
- At room temperature for 4 hours.
- In the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- Never refreeze thawed breast milk as it can damage the nutritional properties of the milk. It can also cause your milk to go bad and can cause food poisoning when ingested by a baby.
Leftover breast milk
- Empty the bottle within 2 hours after the baby is done feeding.
Other breast milk pumping and storage tips
- Label the bottle or the milk bag with the date when the milk is expressed. You can also put your child’s name as well as instruction when someone else is taking care of your baby.
- Place the breast milk at the back or the deeper part of the freezer. Doing this will prevent the milk from thawing when someone is using the freezer.
- Freeze the amount of breast milk that your baby can finish in one feeding. Do not put so much breast milk in a container since it expands when frozen.
- Thaw the oldest breast milk you have in your stash. The quality of breast milk decreases as it stays longer in the freezer.
- To properly thaw frozen breast milk, put the breastmilk in the refrigerator, in a bowl with lukewarm water, or use a breast milk bottle heater.
- Never boil or thaw your breast milk in a microwave as it can burn your baby’s mouth. A room temperature breast milk is good for feeding a baby.
- Before feeding, drop some milk on your wrist to test if the milk is too hot or just right.
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