Storing breast milk

[kellylou]

I am a bit confused when it comes to storing breastmilk, is it 24 hours in the fridge or 5 days like nhs website?

 

[BMadx]

Most sites I've seen say 5-7 days. I keep 2-3 days in the fridge and if too much builds up I'll freeze the next batch of expressed milk.

 

[Rayoflight]

Midwife, health visitor and woman from the milk bank which I donate to all told me 24hrs in fridge and you can freeze it within that time and store up to 3 months.

They all said to store at the back of the fridge too where it's colder.

 

[ZMD]

my midwife told me 3-5 days. i usually keep it in there 3 days and its fine x

 

[Rayoflight]

Does anyone else get seriously fed up with all the conflicting advice out there?

I'm not going to stress about getting it in the freezer now then.

 

[ZMD]

yes it does my head in hun one mifwife told me itd only last 1 month in the freezer where as all the others said 6 months x

 

[Rayoflight]

If I've just expressed now and he's due a feed in two hours (when I'll be out) can I leave this bottle at room temp then? Or stick it in the insulated bottle holder?

 

[ZMD]

my midwife told me it can be left at room temperature for 6 hours x

 

[flexilexi394]

Lol just to throw another spanner in, I was reading aptamils alphabet last night and b for breast milk was 24 hours in fridge or 1 month in freezer. Id think you probably wouldn't use it if it had been in the freezer that long anyway, hmm.

 

[BMadx]

Not really funny but I was told that freshly expressed milk can't be left at room temperature (also says that with the medela swing instructions). I guess maybe because it's warm bacteria can form quicker?

Basically from what I have read and been told, I do the following:

Freshly expressed milk - straight in the fridge, and then frozen within 24hrs if I wont use within a few days
Refrigerated milk - can be kept at room temp for 6-8hrs
Refrigerated milk can be kept in back of fridge for 5-7 days (though I keep 3 days max)
Frozen milk - in freezer for 6mths

 

[buttons]

I try and stick to 24 hours in the fridge and then freeze it after that. I know the NHS say longer but just to be on the safe side i would say 24 hours too.

 

[xxClaire_24xx]

well when I was expressing for Ellie when I was she was staying in neonatal any milk that was coming to being 24 hours old was frozen in the hospital freezer, but yeah there are so many different sites and they all say different things. xx

 

[kellylou]

i tend to use within 24 hours. how often do u express and how often feed baby on boob?? i express 1-2 times a day and feed him 7-8 times?

 

[xxClaire_24xx]

well ellie was in special care for a month and was feeding every 2 hours but to begin with throught the nasal tube then whe she got to teat feeds she wasnt really taking to the breast so we gave her my milk in a bottle, plus when she went to demand feeding there was no way I could have breastfeed as I couldnt be at the hospital 24 hours a day. Plus when Ellie was getting teat fed I knew how much milk she was taking, I had problems expressing and tried the drug, domperanol and that increased my milk by loads, but then I still couldnt express enough to feed Ellie so started to mix it with formula and now we are on full formula and she is gaining weight so so much better which she needs, as she is still only 5lb 8oz and is over 6 weeks,

how much do you express and how often do you feed xx

 

[Loveleen]

Hi Claire, how much dosage of domperanol did u have and for how many days..did u feel any side effects..I have also got low milk and asked my gp but he did not prescribe..instead told me top up with formula which I am doin but my son is constipated..is this available off the shelf..

 

[xxClaire_24xx]

I took one tablet 3 times aday and went from getting 20ml each side every 2 hours to 50ml each side every hour, if they dont prescribe you can actually by it over the counter it has a different name it is motilium, it is actually to help ease constipation lol but one of the side effects is milk production,even in men xx

 

[Loveleen]

Thanks Claire. I will buy it off counter then as i am also producing almost same amount as you so have to top up in almost every feed... I hope it helps me. Also, how long did you take this medicine for, I mean how many days.

 

[xxClaire_24xx]

i took it for almost a month 3 times a day but it def helped but I stopped expressing after Ellie was 6 weeks xx

 

[xxClaire_24xx]

in the neonatal unit say ellie was taking 50ml of milk they would give 25ml of expressed milk and 25ml of aptimil in a bottle and that meant I could keep up with the feeds as she was only having half ebm and half formula, have you tried mixing the feed xx