How To Express Breast Milk And Store It

Learning to express and store breast milk has many benefits. Having properly stored milk available can be an excellent solution, especially when you have to move away from the baby and in cases where this separation lasts for a couple of days. Doing so can also lighten the breasts when they are particularly full.

There are several ways to pump and preserve milk so that you can use it later. First of all, it must be taken into account that the breast pump draws milk from the mother’s breast in a simple and painless way. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about it. Indeed, it also helps to take care of it.

The easiest way to learn to do this procedure is doing it manually, while nursing. In fact, thanks to the emission reflex, the flow is pushed towards the breasts. Thus, it is possible to express the milk from the non-engaged side of the feed.

First of all, you need to wash your hands. Then you need a container to collect the milk. It is recommended to use a large container or a specially designed funnel. Before using the bowl, it is important to wash it with very hot soapy water. However, it is not necessary to sterilize it.

If you are pumping without the baby nearby, take a few minutes to gently massage the breast down and out towards the nipple. If possible, apply warm, moist wipes for five minutes before extraction.

Expressing breast milk using the manual method

The breast must first be taken between the thumb, index and middle fingers, at a distance of about 5-7 centimeters from the nipple. Push inwards, towards the chest, to get to the milk ducts.

Then, rotate your thumb and other fingers towards the nipple. Don’t squeeze and slide down, but try to roll your fingers, as if trying to leave fingerprints. Don’t squeeze the nipple, just the areola.

Nowadays, there are many types of breast pumps. If you are not fond of the manual method and prefer technology, you can buy battery or electric breast pumps. However, a careful selection must be made, because not all are suitable for all women. Research shows that some types can damage breast tissue.

With electric breast pumps there is also the possibility of having the accessory to extract milk from both breasts at the same time. Others, on the other hand, are smaller and lighter, so you can take them on a trip or to work. There are also packs of batteries and adapters, which allow you to use the breast pump by connecting it to the cigarette lighter of the machine.

How to store breast milk once expressed

If the milk will be needed for the next feeding or within a few hours, just put it in the bottle and put it in the refrigerator. When the container of the breast pump is already a bottle, there is no need to pour it.

If you want to keep the milk for a longer time, you can put it in the freezer for up to 3 months. In this case, the milk must be poured into sterilized and airtight sachets. Then, it is necessary to affix a label showing the extraction date.

The simplest way to store milk can be to use small disposable sachets similar to bottles, or directly plastic or glass bottles. To avoid waste, the containers should not be filled completely. Also, the sachets must be made specifically for this purpose.

Breast milk expands when it freezes. For this reason, you should never fill the container to the brim, but leave some free space. If using sachets, the top must be folded back and secured with a flexible clip or rubber band.

Label the container with the date and time of extraction and always use the oldest milk. If you need to use it outside the home, try to keep it cold until it is used.

Thaw breast milk at room temperature or under warm running water. The important thing is to use as little heat as possible. Never heat or defrost milk in the microwave, as this could heat it too much and destroy valuable vitamins and enzymes.

It is normal for breast milk to separate as it cools, with the creamier part rising to the surface. This is why it is advisable to mix it by shaking it gently. Finally, it is essential that the milk is completely thawed; the infant should never be given milk that is still partially cold.