Breast Milk 101

This is the pump I use...the Medela Swing

So I alternate between pumping and nursing...favouring nursing most of the time. I find that sometimes after I nurse Evie still wants more but doesn't want to be on me.  That's when 2-3oz. of breast milk come in handy.  I decided to look up how to handle breast milk...and here's what I found on the wonderful website Kelly Mom. 

Hope this blog entry becomes helpful to someone out there...it took me a while to get the terminology correct ('breast milk HANDLING') to find information.

Storage guidelines

HUMAN MILK STORAGE – QUICK REFERENCE CARD
	Temperature	Storage Time
Freshly expressed milk
Warm room	73-77°F / 23-25°C	4 hours
Room temperature	66-72°F / 19-22°C	6-10 hours
Insulated cooler / icepacks	59°F / 15°C	24 hours
Refrigerated Milk (Store at back, away from door)
Refrigerator (fresh milk)	32-39°F / 0-4°C	8 days (ideal: 72 hrs)
Refrigerator (thawed milk)	32-39°F / 0-4°C	24 hours
Frozen Milk (Do not refreeze! Store at back, away from door/sides)
Freezer compartment inside refrigerator (older-style)	Varies	2 weeks
Self-contained freezer unit of a refrigerator/freezer	Varies: 0°F / -18°C	3-4 months
Separate deep freeze	0°F / -18°C	12 months (ideal: 6 months)
These guidelines are for milk expressed for a full-term healthy baby.  If baby is seriously ill and/or hospitalized, discuss storage guidelines with baby’s doctor.
To avoid waste and for easier thawing & warming, store milk in 1-4 ounce portions. Date milk before storing. Milk from different pumping sessions/days may be combined in one container – use the date of the first milk expressed. Breastmilk is not spoiled unless it smells really bad or tastes sour. To thaw milk Thaw slowly in the refrigerator (this takes about 12 hours – try putting it in the fridge the night before you need it). Avoid letting milk sit out at room temperature to thaw. For quicker thawing, hold container under running water – start cool and gradually increase temperature. Previously frozen milk may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours after it has finished thawing. Do not refreeze. To warm milk Heat water in a cup or other small container, then place frozen milk in the water to warm; or Use a bottle warmer. NEVER microwave human milk or heat it directly on the stove. The cream will rise to the top of the milk during storage. Gently swirl milk (do not shake) to mix before checking temperature and offering to baby. If baby does not finish milk at one feeding, it may be refrigerated and offered at the next feeding before it is discarded.