Expressing and storing breast milk is a valuable skill for breastfeeding mothers, offering flexibility and ensuring your baby has access to breast milk even when you're apart. Here’s a guide on how to do it safely and effectively:

Expressing Breast Milk
You can express milk by hand or with a breast pump (manual or electric). The choice depends on your preference, convenience, and how often you plan to express.

• Hand Expression: Useful for relieving engorgement or when you don’t have access to a pump. It involves massaging and compressing the breast with your hands to express milk.
• Breast Pumping: More efficient for regular use. Pumps can be single or double, with double pumps saving time by expressing milk from both breasts simultaneously.

Storing Breast Milk
Proper storage is crucial to maintain the quality and safety of your expressed milk.

• Containers: Use clean containers made for breast milk storage, including special plastic bags, or clean food-grade containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Labeling: Label each container with the date (and child’s name if used in daycare) to ensure you use the oldest milk first.
• Temperature: Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored:

At room temperature (up to 77°F or 25°C) for up to 4 hours.

In the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Place it in the back, where it’s coldest.

In the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable. Avoid the freezer door due to temperature fluctuations.

Thawing and Using Stored Milk

• Thawing: Thaw frozen breast milk in the refrigerator overnight or by holding the container under running warm water. Do not use a microwave to thaw or heat breast milk as it can create hot spots that might burn your baby and degrade the milk’s quality.
• Temperature: Breast milk should be fed to the baby at body temperature. You can warm the milk by placing the container in a bowl of warm water.
• After Thawing: Once thawed, use the milk within 24 hours if it's stored in the fridge. Do not refreeze. Milk that has been warmed but not used should be discarded.

Safety Tips

• Hygiene: Always wash your hands before expressing or handling stored milk. Ensure all pumping equipment and containers are clean and sterilized according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Mixing Milk: You can add freshly expressed milk to refrigerated or frozen milk, but it should be cooled in the fridge first. Avoid adding warm milk directly to frozen milk to prevent thawing.
• Quantity: Store milk in small portions (2-4 ounces) to avoid waste, as unused milk should not be returned to the container.

Expressing and storing breast milk can take some practice, but it provides a wonderful way to continue providing your baby with breast milk even when you’re away or when someone else is feeding the baby. If you encounter difficulties or have questions, consult a lactation consultant or healthcare provider for guidance.