Sterilising bottles

[Havingkittens]

I've just had to come down in the night to pump because after feeding my baby my breast is still engorged and lumpy. My hand pump, which I'd sterilised last night decided not to work so I came down to use the Medela pump which I'd not used for a couple of weeks. I had sterilised the bottle after the last use and it had remained sealed since then. My question is, do I need to have re-sterilised it or is it still sterile having remained sealed. I don't know whether it's ok to use the milk or whether I should chuck it.

i think they stay sterile for a few hours...

I had similar yesterday. I needed to express a bit off and we were in a hurry to go out and I couldn't find the cable for my electric pump, so I quickly pulled out my hand pump which had previously been sterilised, then assembled with the covers on it. Only when I was washing it later did I realise there was mould growing inside the flange. Obviously I threw the milk away. I wouldn't chance it OP - not what you want to hear I know!

Mmm, I suspected that was the case. Unfortunately at that time of night the risk of having to dispose of half a feed's worth of milk was outweighed by the extra 10 mins sleep I'd get from not sterilising the bottle & filter.