- Wash hands before expressing
or handling breastmilk.
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- Collect milk in clean bottles
or bags strong enough to hold milk.
- Fill bottles or bags in the
portion size needed for feedings. (2 or 3 ounces
per bottle usually works well.)
- Leave space at the top for
expansion of the liquid if freezing.
- Date all bottles and bags.
Use milk with the oldest date first.
- Clean your breastpump after
each use.
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At work:
- Store milk in your own
cooler with ice/ice gel pack or in the company
refrigerator.
At home:
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- Milk may be stored in the
refrigerator up to 3 days, at a temperature
less than 40°F.
- Milk may be stored in the
freezer up to 3-4 months, at a temperature less
than 32°F.
- Milk may be stored in a deep
freezer for 6 months or longer at a temperature
less than 0°F.
- Store milk in the back of
the refrigerator and freezer where the temperature
is lower. Do NOT store milk in the door of the
refrigerator or freezer.
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- Thaw or warm the amount of
breastmilk that is needed for a feeding.
- Thaw frozen breastmilk by
putting it in the refrigerator the night before
use.
- If frozen milk is not thawed
in the refrigerator, set the container in a
pan or bowl of cool water.
- To warm milk, run warm water
from the tap over the bottle or bag or set it
in a pan or bowl of warm water. Do NOT boil
or microwave breastmilk.
- Gently rotate the container
to mix before feeding it to your baby. This
helps mix the fat and water layers that separate
when stored.
- Use the milk right away after
thawing and warming. The milk should be used:
- Within 24 hours if refrigerated and
- Within 1 hour if at room temperature.
- Discard any breastmilk
left in your baby's bottle after feeding. Bacteria
in your baby's saliva can spoil milk and make
it unsafe to drink.
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Adapted
with permission from the Texas Department of Health.
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