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4.
Tips about Pumping
Preparing to Pump
The most important part of successful pumping is the let-down reflex. This is when your milk begins to flow freely. Warm wet compresses applied to the breasts and light,
circular massaging of the breasts prior to and/or during a pumping session will help this natural reflex occur. Thinking of or looking at your baby, or a photo of your
baby, is also helpful.
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How Long to Pump
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Dual pumping, compared to single pumping, will reduce the time you spend pumping. Overall, a pumping session will usually last about 20 minutes.
Remember, successful pumping is a learned art. Early practice sessions may be shorter or longer than stated here and may result in only a small
amount of milk collected. Milk is produced on a supply and demand basis. When pumping full-time for a baby unable to nurse at the breast,
emptying the breasts regularly stimulates and mantains the milk supply. If breastfeeding problems occur, call your physician, a certified lactation
consultant, or a La Leche League Leader.
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Pumping Options
- You may pump one breast while nursing the baby on the other. This allows you to maximize pumping effectiveness using the let-down reflex stimulated by the
baby's sucking.
- You may pump into any standard sized screw-top baby bottle or plastic nurser bag.
(See Attaching the Ameda Freezer Bag)
- Make sure that the nipple tunnel of the collection kit is tilted slightly downward to allow the milk to flow naturally toward the bottle.
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5.
Guidelines for Milk Storage and Thawing
Milk Storage
Fresh breast milk should be stored in a clean, sealed container. If kept at room termperature (66° to 72°F) it should be used within ten (10) hours. Use refrigerated
(32° to 39°F) breast milk within eight (8) days; then freeze or discard. A refrigerator style freezer (termperatures vary), such as a side-by-side or top/bottom, can
keep milk safely stored for three to four (3 to 4) months. In commercial deep freezers (0°F or -20°C), milk can be safely stored for six (6) months or longer.
DO NOT store milk in freezer door. The door tends to be the warmest part of the freezer. Date all milk and use the oldest milk first.
Thawing
Thaw frozen milk in the refrigerator or place the container under cool running water, gradually adding warmer water until milk is thawed. Thawed milk can be kept in a refrigerator
for 24 hours. DO NOT refreeze milk once it is thawed.
Gently shake container of thawed milk befor feeding to baby to mix the layers that have separated. Breast milk is not homogenized and the "cream" will rise to the top of the
bottle. Breast milk can vary in color and consistency depending upon the time of the day that the milk was expressed, what you have eaten, and the age of the baby at the time of
pumping.
DO NOT MICROWAVE HUMAN MILK! Microwaving alters the composition of the milk. Microwaving also may create "hot spots" in the milk that could burn the infant.
DO NOT thaw breast milk in hot or boiling water.
Breast Milk Storage Guide
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