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How to Collect and Store Breast Milk

At some point during breastfeeding you may experience a time in which you need to express your breast milk.

You may need to express breast milk if:

● your breasts are too hard or full for your baby to latch on.

● you will be away from your baby, for example when returning to work.

● you need to make more breast milk.

Whether by hand, by pump or both, the methods of expressing milk are a matter of personal choice. Try and experiment with the following methods, adapting them in ways that work for you. Your breast milk can also be stored for use at a later date.

How to Express Breast Milk by Hand

Expressing Breast Milk with a pump

Tips for Feeding Expressed Breast Milk

Storing and Freezing Breast Milk

Thawing and Warming of Frozen Breast Milk

How to Express Breast Milk By Hand

To prepare for expression:

1. Massage the breast by starting at the top of the breast.

Press down firmly into the chest and move fingers in a circular motion on one spot

on the skin.

After a few seconds, move the fingers to the next area on the breast.

Circle around the breast toward the darkened area around the nipple using this

massage.

2. Stroke the breast from the top of the breast to the nipple with a light tickle-like stroke

Continue this motion from the chest wall to the nipple around the whole breast.

This will help with relaxation, which helps the milk to let down.

3. Shake the breast gently while leaning forward so that gravity will help the milk let

down.

To Hand Express Breast Milk:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.

2. To help your breast milk flow, massage your breasts for 5-10 minutes with a warm, wet towel.

3. If your baby is healthy, use a clean glass or plastic container to express your breast milk into. “Clean” means the container is washed in hot soapy water, rinsed well with hot water, and left to air dry.

4. Place your thumb and first two fingers about 1 – 1 ½ inches away from the nipple. Place your thumb just above the nipple (where you can see it), and your first two fingers beneath the base of the nipple (on the underside of your breast where you cannot see them). Your thumb and two fingers should make a straight line so that your hand makes the shape of a letter “C”; your hand should not be cupping the breast.

5. Push your thumb and two fingers straight back toward your chest. Do not spread your fingers apart. For large breasts, first lift and then push into the chest wall.

6. Roll your thumb and two fingers together. To make the correct rolling motion, pretend you are making thumb and fingerprints at the same time. This rolling motion empties the areas in which milk is stored without hurting the tissue.

7. Repeat this motion rhythmically to drain the milk from the breast. Think to yourself: “Position, push in, roll… position, push in, roll”.

8. Rotate the thumb and finger starting position clockwise around the nipple. For example, complete the rolling motion first at 12 o’clock, then at 1 o’clock, etc.

9. Repeat the rolling motion until the flow of milk slows down, then switch to the other breast. Switch breasts a few more times whenever the flow of milk slows down. Be sure to move your thumb and two fingers along all areas around the nipple (like a clock).

Many mothers find it easier to express in the morning, when their breasts feel the most full, or after breastfeeding the baby. You may only get a few drops when first learning to express. Expressing breast milk will get easier with practice.

Important: Do NOT squeeze the breast (this can cause bruising), pull out on the nipple and breast, or slide your hands on the breast (this can cause skin burns).

Expressing Breast Milk with a Breast Pump:

Choosing and Using a Breast Pump

Breast pumps are convenient and often useful for expressing milk to relieve fullness (engorgement), to save a mother’s milk supply when baby cannot nurse, and/or to collect milk when mother and baby are separated. Many working mothers find breast pumping a helpful way to continue breastfeeding (see “Weaning and Returning to Work”).

Many mothers breastfeed without ever needing a breast pump if mother and baby are together most of the time and baby is able to nurse often. Before investing in a breast pump you may want to think about whether it is something you will really need.

Types of Breast Pumps

Electric Pump:

● Best pump to use if you cannot be with your baby right after birth or if you plan to

pump for a long time.

● Can pump both breasts at the same time, saving you time.

● Electric pumps are often rented because they can be very costly. Call Public Health

(see section “Where to get help”) for more information.

● Some work insurance plans may pay for the cost of renting the pump.

Battery Operated Pump:

● Good pump to use if you plan to pump for a short time or only once in awhile.

● Can be used with one hand.

● Is easy to carry.

● Need to replace batteries often (it is best to buy a pump that can also be plugged into

an electrical outlet).

Manual Hand Pumps:

● Good pump to use if you plan to pump for a short time or only once in awhile.

● Some can be used with one hand, others require both hands (depends on the type of

hand pump).

● Is easy to carry.

● Can tire the hands and wrists so it should not be used by mothers with hand, wrist, or

arm problems.

● Costs the least money.

General Tips for breast pumping:

● Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any pump you use.

● Preparing your breasts by manual massage (see above) makes pumping easier.

● When using any kind of pump it’s a good idea to moisten your breast before applying

the breast flange as this improves suction.

● To increase milk production or if pumping full time (due to separation from baby)

pump as often as your baby would nurse, usually every 3 hours.

● When you first start to use your pump, be sure to use the lowest setting or the least

amount of suction. Pumping should not be uncomfortable and should never be

painful.

● If your nipples become sore during pumping, try a lower suction setting or lessen the amount

of time spent pumping. You can also massage an ointment, such as lanolin cream, on your

nipples before pumping. Check to be sure you are using the pump correctly. If you are still

having pain you may need to switch to a different brand or type of pump.

● Before pumping, look at a picture of your baby and think motherly thoughts. For some

mothers just getting ready for breastfeeding or pumping may make the milk-producing

hormones begin to flow. Try to pump in a quiet, relaxed setting.

● See below for information on storing pumped breast milk.

● It is important to keep your breast pump clean. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for

cleaning your breast pump.

● Ask a local lactation consultation or check your local drug store for the latest information on

selecting the right breast pump for you.

Important: Do NOT use a pump with a rubber bicycle horn-trumpet shaped rubber bulb. The suction on this pump is too strong and can damage your nipples.

Storing and Freezing Breast Milk

Important: If your baby is premature (born too early) or in the hospital, speak to your nurse about storing breast milk and cleaning containers.

Containers for Storing Breast Milk

● Use glass or hard plastic containers with a tight lid.

● Special breast milk freezer bags can also be used.

● Do not use bottle liner bags. These are thinner plastic bags made for bottle feeding.

Cleaning the Containers

● For healthy babies: wash containers in hot, soapy water and rinse well with hot water. Let the

containers air dry.

Tips for Storing Breast Milk

● Label the container with the date the milk was expressed.

● Breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for two days before use, after which it should be

frozen.

● Store in 2 - 4 ounce portions to prevent wasting milk.

● Always cool freshly expressed milk in the fridge before adding it to already cooled or frozen

milk.

● Leave a 1 inch space at the top of the container when freezing.

● Frozen breast milk that has been thawed can be kept in the fridge for 24 hours. Use thawed

milk within 24 hours.

● Do not refreeze breast milk once it has been thawed.

Milk can be stored in:

● The fridge for up to 2 days (after that it should be frozen)

● The freezer of a one-door fridge for 2 weeks

● The freezer of a two-door fridge for 2 months

● A deep freezer at constant 0°F or -18°C for 6 months

Important: Place containers at the back of the fridge and freezer where it is the coldest. After the storage time has passed, throw out the breast milk.

Thawing Frozen Breast Milk:

1. Check the date on the stored breast milk. Use the container with the earliest date (the oldest milk) first. Do not use milk if it has passed the expiry date (6 months). Refrigerate the milk until you are ready to use it.

2. Thaw frozen breast milk by leaving it in the fridge for four hours.

OR

Place the container of frozen breast milk under cool, running water. Once it has

begun to thaw, run warm water over the container to finish thawing.

3. Never thaw breast milk at room temperature.

4. Warm breast milk by placing the container in a bowl of very warm water. Before using, gently mix warmed milk to blend any cream that has risen to the top.

5. Do NOT heat breast milk on the stove or in the microwave as this destroys proteins that boost your baby’s immunity- their ability to fight off illness and infection.

Feeding Tips:

● Test the temperature of the warmed breast milk on your wrist before using it.

● Many babies take expressed breast milk well when fed with a cup or spoon.

● Hold your baby when feeding expressed breast milk.

● Make feedings an enjoyable time for you and your baby. Talk to your baby and give

her lots of smiles.

● Burp your baby as needed.

● After each feeding, throw away any breast milk that your baby does not drink. Don’t save any

leftover milk for the next feeding as baby’s saliva breaks down important parts of the breast

milk. If you are unsure if your baby will drink the entire bottle, make smaller bottles – you can

always add more milk to the bottle if baby is still hungry.

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