When To Start Pumping Breast Milk For Storage

Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed after storing in the refrigerator or freezer it should be used within 2 hours.

When to start pumping breast milk for storage. The time of day you choose really depends on the reason behind you pumping breast milk. If you are going back to work at 6 weeks don t start pumping until 4 weeks. Your breasts are milk producing champs and you need relief. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of a deep freezer for up to 12 months but using the frozen milk within six months is optimal.

How to safely pump store and feed medically reviewed by meredith wallis m s cnm anp written by ashley marcin on october 21 2019 storage guidelines. Whether you re going back to work want to have your partner help with feedings or want to make sure you have breastmilk for your baby if you are away for a few hours you will need to pump and store your breastmilk. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of the refrigerator for up to five days in clean conditions. Ideally when you are trying to create a stockpile of milk you will wait until about 2 3 weeks before returning to work to start pumping.

Want to stash some milk. Pump in the morning as it is the most productive time because your milk producing hormones have been doing their stuff at. For example if i fed josie at 2 a m. Use breast milk within 24 hours of thawing in the refrigerator this means from the time it is no longer frozen or completely thawed not from the time when you took it out of the freezer.

How to store breast milk after pumping. Breast milk storage guide. What if i am going back to work before 6 weeks. Get tips on pumping your milk and storing it safely.

Once you are ready to start pumping then try to pump at the same time of day and after a feed. If you are not going back to work or another activity where you ll be pumping away from baby wait until 6 weeks after birth to start pumping on a regular schedule. Ideally you should store breast milk in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible but at least within 4 hours of pumping especially if the room is warmer than 77ºf 25 c. However it s optimal to use or freeze the milk within three days.

If you know that you want to breastfeed exclusively at least for the first month or two you may not need to start pumping until one of the following scenarios make it necessary. If you re introducing at 3 weeks start by pumping every day one hour after the early morning feeding around 2 or 3 a m long answer. If you are going back to work start pumping at 2 3 weeks before you start working if you can don t start regular pumping until baby is 4 6 weeks old.