How to Store, Freeze and Pump Breast Milk

Whether you're a mother on the go or you're taking care of a new mother's child, pumping, freezing and storing breast milk for later use proves to be a convenient way to keep a newborn infant nourished. Breast milk offers more adequate nutrition to infant, and, when stored properly, it can feed your infant even when you're no longer lactating.

Things You'll Need

• Breast pump
• Breast milk freezer bags

Instructions

1. Assemble the breast pump by attaching the pumping device to the accompanying bottle.

2. Attach the nozzles to both of your breasts, centering each over your areola and nipple area.

3. Relax and lean forward to allow gravity to assist you in pumping the milk.

4. Switch on the breast pump, and allow it to extract milk from both of your breasts.

5. Once the bottle is filled with breast milk, switch the pump off and remove the nozzles from your breasts.

6. Fill a breast milk freezer bag with the breast milk from the bottle. Breast milk freezer bags are sterile, safe and can be purchased in grocery and department stores.

7. Fill as many bags as you need and seal them firmly before placing them in your freezer.

Tips & Warnings

• Breast milk lasts up to 48 hours in a refrigerator and up to six months in a freezer.

References

• Breast Is Best: Freezing Breast Milk
• BabyCenter: Pumping Breast Milk, an Overview