Sterilising bottles for expressing

[JoJoCK]

I need to start expressing to give my sore nipples a break (ebf 6 week old, we both have thrush so vv painful nipples). I am totally confused about how to sterilise and store bottles correctly so advice needed. I have mam anti-colic self sterilising bottles. Can I sterilise in the microwave, leave to air dry and then store them dry and assembled before use? And if so how long can they be left stored with the cap on? And do they need to be stored in a container? Or should I be cold sterilising because of the thrush? Thanks

You don't need to sterilise bottles for breast milk - you sterilise because of stuff in the formula which isn't needed for EBM. Just wash with hot soapy water.

Really? That makes it much simpler, thanks

I thought you sterilised anything that came into contact with milk, breast or formula. The instructions in my breast pump mention sterilising pump and bottles so I use a big microwave steriliser after each use (after a thorough wash in hot soapy water) then as long as its not opened the contents I think stay sterile until the next use (assuming you're pumping at least once a day). Once removed they could in theory come into contact with bacteria straight away but I'm not sure how much of a risk this is provided you've done a really thorough wash etc.

I was also under the impression that washing in the dishwasher was an acceptable alternative, but as I don't have one I couldn't say for sure.

I was told by my midwife and health visitor not to sterilise for breastmilk so I never did. Hang on, I'll see if I can find a link

Annoyingly I can't find a link immediately. But it was definitely the advice I was given

I'm expressing exclusively (admittedly for a preemie in NICU) and everything is sterilised. Never heard of not for BM.
And I'm sure if you leave it out on the side it won't be sterilised. It only takes mins to do, why would you need to store them pre-done?

you are supposed to steralise with Bm. I washed steralised then kept them in a sealed plastic zip lock bag. breast milk still bottles still have bacteria if it's not cleaned properly. it's milk

I'm not saying don't clean them properly, I'm saying I was told they don't have to be sterile. I used to hand express, store it in a bag and then put it into a clean bottle. I didn't sterilise my boobs, or infact anything else DS stuck into his mouth. Drinking breastmilk (which isn't milk in the same way that formula is - formula is cows milk; breast milk isn't dairy) out of a non-sterile bottle isn't a problem according to the NHS staff in Gateshead!

yes, but I also dont have rubber breasts where milk could get stuck in the nipple

no need to sterilise bottles link

There's a recent study I believe showing that cleaning properly with hot soapy water is as effective as sterilising. My local NICU is considering changing its advice.

I've also heard you don't need to sterilise for breastmilk, it's the bacteria in the formula that's the problem.

It's not a great link but bizarrely the only one I can find! As I said, this is just what I was told and the advice I followed, but I know that it was consistent across the area and reiterated by the Breastfeeding peer supporters.

If you feel happier sterilising, then do it.

Woo hoo! Cross posts with people who've heard it too! I was just starting to think I was bonkers :o

That's really interesting pottering thanks for sharing, I have never heard that but I can see the argument.

I think just out of habit I will probably keep sterilising as it doubles as the storage pot anyway!