expressing question

[hildysmom]

i express milk for hubby to feed dd at night. sometimes she drinks loads and some nights she takes about half, with no way of knowing which she'll do. i don't want to waste the rest of the bottle so can i put it back in the fridge and use it the next day? if not, why not.
thanks,
sara

No, you can't. It's just the same as any other milk - once you start to use it, the bacteria gets in and will multiply horribly within 24 hours.

Why don't you put a smaller amount into two separate bottles - if one is unused you can keep that one to use another night.

so can i use it later that day..eg; if she has a bottle lunch time and wants more later?

Why are you making such a full bottle? Agree with WWB - split it and give her more if she wants it then.

I agree it is best to put it into smaller portions. You can keep it at room temperature for quite a while (better than cooling and reheating I think) - it seems to vary for each person how quickly it goes off.

I used to express for my twins - and kept the milk for the midnight feed on the shelf by the bed for a few hours before hand.

How old is she ? You can always use it to make rice pudding or something else that uses milk.

No you can't. She 'll have salivated back into the bottle and introduced bacteria which will multiply. Agree with WWB split the feed so he can switch if she wants more but you should ditch any left overs that have been "used" .

whoops, I used to put it in the fridge! Never really thought about salivating into bottle.

You can only use it later that day if she hasn't already taken anything from it. If she's taken any of it, even just the smallest amount, you should throw it away.

Untouched milk will keep in the fridge for at least 24 hours (some recommendations say 36 hours), or you can freeze it to use another day.

oh dear! my dh sometimes goes out with ebm and feeds half and then gives the other half coupl of hrs later. Is that not allowed either? Also is this different from formula feeding.

I did that once when we were out - dd threw it up second time, never again. No different to formula, you should n't keep leftovers of a bottle of that and reuse either. Seriously what is wrong with having one container of ebm in the fridge and decanting it as required ?

actually I think it is different to formula.

Breast milk has inherent antibacterial qualities (formula doesn't). Also any bacteria from the first feed will be from the baby itself - so maybe not as dangerous to her/him.

Frankly it depends on how old the baby is - eg if would be more careful with a newborn - particularly if they had a rocky start - but if you are talking about a 6 month old who is crawling around putting everything he finds in his mouth I would be less worried.

But to be safer it would be best to decant some into a second bottle and feed from that - just so you don't risk cross-contamination. But then technically you could get contamination during the process of decanting.

i've also been expressing so dh can do dream feed and any letfovers i freeze in an ice cube tray. is this wrong then? I'm sure the nct breast advisor told me it was ok?

another question while we're on the subject...
hilldysmom, when do u express and how much do you usually get at any one sitting? I'm using a manual pump but wonder would electric be more productive?

manual should be as good as an electric - the only advantage of elextric is you may be able to double pump (both sides together) and you don't get a sore hand.

Try and mimic the babies suck - fast and shallow to begin with and once the milk starts flowing deep and slow. Also alternate sides (5 min one then 5 the other, then back to first for 4 mins, then carry on to 3, 2,and 1 mins - totals 20 mins I think).

as for freezing in an ice-cube tray - I wouldn't - not sterile environment. You can get sterile bags for freezing excess ebm - most supermarkets etc sell them.

so can i freeze the 20mls at the end of bottle that my ds doesn't want? and if i use freezer bags , can i add milk to already frozen milk? if not i'iihave loads of bags with only 20mls in each, if ya see what i mean. sorry, bit confused.

If you split the amount and dd doesn't take second bottle then you can freeze that yes. Also ended up with lots of small bags of ebm in our freezer! Found they were useful to do a half and half bottle with formula is you are giving any formula feeds. otherwise if you keep in sterilized bag you could add another 20ls the following day and then freeze imediately. that way it's not been keep for ages just sat in the fridge. Lansinoh freeze bags are good. Instructions with them say you can keep milk for 36hrs or 24 if it's been frozen and defrosted. Aparently the avent ones say something differnt. THey all have different guidlines. I used to throw mine out or freeze after 24 but sometimes 48 if I though i'd use it but then didn't.

billyog , you should n't use the dregs from the bottle fed to your ds but if you decant a feed for your dh and there is some in the first container left you can freeze that. I used to use ice cube trays , initially I'd sterilise with Milton then with dd I just used boiling wtaer, once the milk was frozen into cubes I'd put into freezer bags, separately though by date.

hey billyog,
i express in the morning when dd is feeding from the other breast and can squeeze out 120ml on a good day. ie: when she hasn't fed more than once and from just one breast in the night. i also express at night around 9.30-10.00. but often only get about 40ml then. i've been expressing since she was born (10 weeks ago) cos i got paranoid that my breasts would get blocked and i'd get an infection. now i just enjoy it and am donating the extra to a milk bank. would be interested to know how much other people express as well. and what works for them. i use a hand pump which works much better for me than an electric as i can control speed.
have looked up some studies done on reusing a bottle- it seems to be just fine within a certain time limit. see link below:
www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/reusing-expressedmilk.html

oh dear, I used to put milk (ebm) back into the fridge. In fact, sometimes I didn't even put it back in the fridge . Oh I'm such a bad mum . She has always been healthy so it can't have done too much harm .

When I was back at work I was getting 8/9oz a time.

i have to go back to work soon so would love some tips on how to keep up milk supply and express as much as poss at work.
how did you keep up 8-9oz at a time?

I have expressed since my son was born and he is now 15 weeks, He has only had my milk and is on 180ml bottle 6 times a day. I only express 3 times a day and get 300ml and 400ml each time, I use both the electric pump at home and a hand held manual when I am out.

i have been very lax with 5 breast fed /ebm babies and alls well in otter household...i would not worry

I was missing my baby, and thinking about her all the time, also I was around children constantly so I think that all helped to spark the milk bar into action. I was also so worried about losing my supply that I expressed more than I needed to and so actually built up my supply rather than it decreasing.
The best thing you can possibly do is to relax, then it is easier. It also got easier the more times I expressed.

i would recommend looking on breastfeeding network web site re info on storing. in some cases ebm can be stored in the fridge for several days thus reducing the need for freezing which alters the taste and properties of ebm.

can anyone recommend any electirc double pumps? i think its cheaper to buy them than rent -in london anyway..