
Formula milk is a product that’s sometimes offered to infants over 6 months of age as a substitute for breast…
The extraction and conservation of breast milk may be necessary on many occasions, and so it's good to know the different options available.
During breastfeeding, there are situations that may require the mother to express her milk. This is why a mother needs to be well-informed about the different options available for extraction and conservation of breast milk.
The most common situations that may require pumping are the following:
Apart from these specific situations, expressing and storing breast milk is unnecessary in a normal lactation.
It’s important to always wash your hands before pumping. The release of oxytocin and the ejection of milk are improved by external stimuli such as the baby’s crying, smelling a piece of their clothing, or seeing a picture of your baby.
Sometimes rapid milk production is necessary. This could be the case when the newborn has lost too much weight, or when the mother wants to resume breastfeeding after a period without it. The mother may also need to do it with premature or hospitalized babies, or newborns who refuse to feed.
In these cases, the so-called power pumping technique can be used. Developed by the IBCLC Catherine Watson, it consists of hyperstimulating the breast with breast pumps, if possible two at the same time. The mother would make extractions of 10 minutes every 45-60 minutes for 24 hours, with a rest at night that doesn’t exceed 4 hours.
When the mother obtains 15-20 ml every hour, then she can carry out extractions of 20 minutes every two hours. When she obtains 40 ml every two hours, then she can perform the extractions for 30 minutes, between 6 and 8 times in 24 hours.
Experts consider that this technique isn’t working when the mother performs the extractions correctly for 48 hours and doesn’t achieve more than 100 ml per day in total.
A mother can use different methods and utensils to extract breast milk:
To know the size of the extractor cup that you should use, measure the nipple from end to end and add 2mm. The nipple shouldn’t rub against the inside of the cup, nor should too much of the areola enter the cup.
Here are some general recommendations to guide you, regarding the conservation of breast milk.
Expressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for 6-8 hours, in the refrigerator at 4°C or below for 3-5 days, and in the freezer for 2 weeks.
When you want to use breast milk that you’ve frozen, the ideal way is to thaw it in the refrigerator. It can remain there for a maximum of 24 hours. Alternatively, you can thaw it at room temperature and use it within 4 hours. Never refreeze thawed milk, and always discard any left over milk from each feeding.
It’s important to freeze the milk quickly after extraction and to heat it immediately after taking it out of the freezer. This will ensure that the milk won’t change its taste.
We hope you’ve found this information on the extraction and conservation of breast milk useful!