CAN YOU ADD EXPRESSED BREAST MILK TO PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED BREAST MILK?

[melaniespeaking]

I have expressed varying small amounts of expressed breast milk and frozen it. When I defrost them, can I add them together to make larger amounts?

Also if I sterilise equipment can I store it anywhere, or do I always have to use it straight away?

Hi melaniespeaking.
Yes to the mixing of the breast milks.
Not so sure about the sterilising... I assume that once it's sterilised it stays sterilised but perhaps there are special precautions to take? I'm sure someone else will know...
Welcome to mumsnet, by the way.

I have mixed frozen gags - I don't think that's a problem (presumably well frozen at -18 degrees)

Sterilising normally only last for 3 hours (if shut tight) or so I remember reading... how old is your baby ???

I was told that its OK to mix chilled (or presumably frozen) breastmilk but fresh (still warm) breastmilk should not be mixed with chilled. Not sure why though.

Definitely fine to mix frozen breast milk. As for the expressing equipment - what sort of sterilising system are you using ?

Melaniespeaking - if you are wondering how long equipment should remain sterilised it won't matter too much if you are expressing for your own baby. A pump or bottle for example that can be sealed with a cover once sterilised will be fine until use. It might not be 'sterile' after a few hours but it will still be clean.

You can add milks together but not frozen and warm because the frozen milk will defrost partially. As with any other foods you should not refreeze once defrosted. Rather than freezing lots of very small amounts you can mix more than one batch of refridgerated milk and freeze it in a bigger batch. I personally would not freeze more than 4oz at once for a younger baby incase they don't take it all. If though you know that your baby will always take 7 oz you could add milk from more than one expressing session together. I used to collect amounts over 24 hours, keep it in the fridge then add it all together for freezing.
Hand expressing reduces the amount of equipment you need to sterilise.

Thanks to all of you for replying. Eliza is 2 and a half weeks old, so since I wrote my question I seem to have been upstairs feeding, changing, changing again, feeding again etc. So thanks for all your tips. I managed to get mastitis as well, so any thoughts on how to avoid that would be helpful.