Breastmilk: Pumping, Collecting, Storing

Preparing

Earlier than you start to pump, learn the instruction handbook for the breast pump and assortment equipment you might be utilizing.

Hold it sterile

Breastmilk will not be sterile, however you do not need to introduce “outdoors” micro organism when on the brink of pump, throughout pumping, or when storing milk or transporting it to the NICU.

• All the time wash and rinse your palms completely earlier than dealing with any clear pump elements, your breasts, or the milk assortment bottles or containers.

• Sure pump assortment equipment elements should be cleaned and sterilized in response to the instruction handbook. Most suggest thorough cleansing of those elements after every use and sterilizing elements a minimum of as soon as in 24 hours.

• The gathering bottles or containers that connect to the pump and are used to gather and retailer your milk must be sterile (boiled or steamed). The NICU might be able to provide the milk assortment containers.

Attempt totally different settings

You’ll have to attempt totally different strategies and settings on the breast pump earlier than you discover ones that work greatest for you. The next are some basic suggestions:

• You may moisten the rim of the breast flange earlier than pumping if you wish to create a greater seal on the breast.

• Some moms want to heart the breast flanges on the nipple and areola first after which flip the pump on. Others flip the pump on first after which place the flanges over the breasts.

• Begin the pump on the low or minimal suction setting. Step by step transfer the setting to extend the extent of suction. The extent often is about as excessive as consolation permits. Lower the suction if it causes discomfort.

• Suction cannot be maintained if the seal of the flange on the breast is damaged, so examine the seal of the flange periodically. Additionally look ahead to the rhythmic pull and launch of the nipple and areola inside the flange.

• Count on to pump for a couple of minutes earlier than you see a gentle movement of milk.

• Do not fill assortment bottles greater than two-thirds full in order that milk doesn’t movement again. This additionally permits the milk to increase whether it is to be frozen. In case you simply fill bottles, have extra assortment bottles prepared. Cease and alter bottles as wanted. In case your child takes greater than the quantity in a single bottle at a feeding, you may connect assortment bottles that may maintain a bigger quantity to the breast flange.

• When you’re able to cease pumping, use a clear finger to press in in your breast simply above the pump breast flange. This could break the seal between the flange and the breast tissue. If milk has pooled in a flange, tilt it in order that milk can drain into the gathering bottle as you take away the flange. Then flip off the breast pump. Some moms flip the breast pump off first, after which break the seal between the flange and the breast.

Storing your breastmilk

Combining milk

In case you pumped each breasts without delay and the entire quantity of milk will fill one bottle not more than two-thirds full, you could mix the contents in a single bottle by fastidiously pouring the milk from one sterile container into the opposite. Do not mix milk from totally different pumping periods when pumping for a high-risk child.

Label the gathering container(s) instantly

Labels ought to embody the infant’s title, the date, the time of day pumped, and any medicines or substances, resembling cigarette byproducts that you’ve got taken or been uncovered to because the final pumping session.

• If utilizing unrefrigerated, contemporary breastmilk, it must be fed to a child inside an hour of being pumped. Do not depart milk out longer than 30 to 60 minutes when it’s to be given to a high-risk child. This dangers contamination—one thing a high-risk child doesn’t want.

• It isn’t all the time potential to offer a child contemporary breastmilk. Or you could get greater than wanted for a feeding and wish to save the milk for later use. In these circumstances, refrigerate your milk within the labeled assortment bottles instantly. The fridge must be at a temperature of 32°F to 39°F (0°C to three.9°C).

• Freeze labeled assortment bottles if the milk is not going to be used inside 24 to 48 hours. The NICU employees will let whether or not they’re utilizing 24 hours or 48 hours as a suggestion.

• Do not freeze breastmilk that has been refrigerated for greater than 24 to 48 hours. Though milk has been proven to be secure when refrigerated for a number of days, specialists often suggest freezing milk sooner when it’s to be given to a high-risk child.

• Freeze breastmilk in small quantities in order that solely what your child wants is thawed every time. After breastmilk has been thawed, it should be used inside 24 hours (if thawed within the fridge), or 4 hours if it was warmed, or it should be discarded. Your child’s nurse can assist you to understand how a lot your child wants every day.

Frozen breastmilk could also be saved:

• As much as 2 weeks if the freezer compartment is inside the fridge. You could open the fridge door to achieve the freezer with this mannequin.

• 3 to 6 months in a freezer that’s a part of a fridge unit however has a separate door

• 6 to 12 months in a separate, 0°F (-18°C) “deep” freezer

Transporting refrigerated or frozen breastmilk

Place it in an insulated bag or cooler with a cool pack. The farther you reside from the NICU, the extra seemingly it’s that you’ll have to pad the within of the cooler with further chilly packs to maintain frozen milk from thawing.

Recent breastmilk

Recent breastmilk comprises essentially the most energetic anti-infective properties. Refrigerated breastmilk has fewer anti-infective properties than contemporary milk, and frozen breastmilk has the least.

Thawing breastmilk

The next are basic tips for thawing frozen milk:

• The oldest milk must be used first, until just lately expressed milk is really helpful.

• Thaw breastmilk by inserting the gathering container within the fridge. In case you want the milk extra rapidly, you possibly can maintain it beneath heat, operating water or place it in a cup, pot, bowl, or basin of heat water.

• Do not thaw breastmilk at room temperature, in extremely popular water, or within the microwave. Microwaving can create sizzling spots. Each microwaving and heating in extremely popular water might lower the quantity of sure anti-infective properties within the milk.

• Your milk separates throughout storage, and the cream rises to the highest. Gently swirl, or rotate, the gathering bottle of milk to combine it collectively. Do not shake it vigorously.

• Do not refreeze milk as soon as it has been thawed. Thawed milk should be used inside 24 hours for a child within the NICU. (It’s secure to offer milk that has been thawed for twenty-four to 48 hours after the infant is dwelling.)

Caring for your breast pump and assortment equipment

It is very important keep the breast pump and assortment equipment in good working order:

• Learn the instruction handbook and observe the suggestions for cleansing pump gear, until given particular tips by the NICU.

• The items of the gathering equipment come aside for particular person cleansing.

• The pump itself and the tubing portion of the equipment wouldn’t have to be cleaned, and they need to stay dry or they won’t work appropriately. (These items of kit by no means are available in contact with milk that’s to be saved for the infant.)

• After every use, rinse all elements that are available in contact with the breast or milk in cool water first. (A cool rinse removes residual milk with out coagulating hard-to-clean protein.) Then completely clear these similar elements in sizzling, soapy water. Rinse in sizzling water, and air dry between every use.

• Most producers suggest boiling or sterilizing all elements that are available in contact with the breast or milk as soon as a day. Sterilizing will be accomplished within the microwave in reusable sterilization baggage made by the pump firm. (Examine the instruction handbook.)

Do not use a dishwasher to wash or sterilize the elements that are available in contact with the breast or milk until you will have obtained permission from the NICU and the instruction handbook suggests this methodology as a alternative.