Any advice on storing breastmilk?

[ilovemyoboe]

Hi all, I'm 32 weeks and hoping to breastfeed. I would like to get baby used a bottle too (and be able to give hubbie a chance to feed occasionally) so was planning on expressing some milk and storing it.

Looks like theres sterile pots and storage bags available. Has anyone used these? Any advice on storage?

[goingnowherefast]

Hello!
There is a great site with breastfeeding info called kellymom - here's the page with milk storage info:
www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html

[goingnowherefast]

Oh and you can get pots from Avent that clip onto the ISIS pump, very handy.

[drjane]

I just used to express directly into the Avent bottle then put a lid on it, and stick in in the fridge. That way when DH came to use it he just needed to put the teat on and warm it up. The containers you store BM in don't have to be sterile, just clean. La Leche have some [http://www.llli.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html guidelines].

Good luck!

[drjane]

Oops - link

[tumtumtetum]

I found the storage bags fab, propped them up in a container in the freezer as I was worried they would spill.

They are also fab because of the most important thing: you can freeze one expression (?) into more than one bag. So when your lovely new baby turns it's nose up at the delicious mummy milk that you have offered them in a bottle, you won't have to chuck a whole load away, which is very annoying!

Always always freeze small amounts is my advice, when you're getting started with it all