■ Massage
gently the breast before and during milk expression. ■ An electric or battery-powered pump should be switched on and put at the lowest setting for suction and speed. If the pump is manual, the guide will give tips on the ideal pumping speed; usually the speed will need to be adjusted for individual comfort. ■ A pumping session usually will last 10 to 15 minutes per breast; however, the length and milk production varies for everyone, so a mother should pump only as long as she is comfortable and producing milk. ■ A mother should be patient if human milk does not flow immediately after pumping begins; soon it will flow into the container attached to the pump. If leaks occur in the pump, she should check to be sure it has been assembled properly. If the problem persists, she should call the manufacturer’s customer service line. ■ Break the vacuum seal between the breast and breast shield by placing a finger between them, when finished pumping. ■ Separate the bottle with the milk from the pump, cap the bottle, and then label it with the date and time of pumping; the milk should be stored in the freezer, refrigerator, or cooler bag with ice packs. ■ Follow proper manufacturer instructions to wash and clean the pump. ■ If pump instructions are not available or help is needed, WIC breastfeeding staff may be contacted.
Know Your Milk— and Keep It Safe Since human milk is not homogenized, the fat in it will separate and come to the top. Also, if human milk sits for a while, there may be small lumps of cream that do not dissolve. These characteristics are all normal. For optimal safety, human milk should always be collected in a very clean container: rigid plastic or glass containers are generally recommended.
Human Milk Storage Tips for Collecting and Storing Expressed Human Milk Pumped/expressed human milk is a perishable food, which must be stored properly for safe consumption. Table 3.1 on page 66 gives human milk storage guidelines. The mother should also follow these steps to collect and store the milk: ■ Wash
hands thoroughly with soap and water. ■ Wash bottles and pumping supplies in hot soapy water in a clean wash basin used only for washing infant feeding equipment, or in the dishwasher. (Be sure to check the manufacturer information on whether pump parts are dishwasher-safe.) ■ Store human milk in clean glass or BPA-free plastic bottles with tight-fitting lids. Do not use disposable bottle liners or other plastic bags to store human milk. (Bottles or milk storage bags that are made for freezing human milk, with the recycle symbol number 7 indicate that the container may be made of a BPA-containing plastic) ■ Put the collection date on the container and then place it in the refrigerator or freezer. Do not store milk on the shelves in the refrigerator or freezer door because the temperature there varies due to the frequency of opening and closing the door. ■ If giving the milk to a childcare provider, put the infant’s name on the container and talk to the provider about guidelines for storing, thawing, and reheating human milk. ■ When traveling for short periods of time, such as to and from work or school, store expressed milk in an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs. 50
Freezing Milk
Human milk can be frozen immediately after it is collected. Freeze in portions generally needed for a single feeding. See portion sizes and other tips below: ■ Freeze
milk in small batches of 2 to 4 ounces. some 1-ounce portions for times when the infant wants extra milk. ■ Leave an inch or so of space at the top of the container because milk will expand as it freezes. ■ Freeze
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