Expressed milk- how quickly do you need to get it to the fridge?

[pulapula]

Basically, I often express whilst feeding off the other breast which means it could be a while before i get to put the milk in the fridge.

Is this OK, or should i make the effort to break the feed and go to the kitchen straightaway.

Also is it OK to get breastmilk out of the fridge at bedtime ready for a 2-3am feed?

I've read you can keep EBM for 48 hours in fridge, but others say 7 days. What do others do?

[Pannacotta]

Thanks for that LL and Bookthief. GLad to know it will be much easier to express (and store ebm) than I thought.

[laundrylover]

But that's great that a Dr recommends it and not just a lazy slob like me.

[bookthief]

Sorry, didn't read Laundrylover's post suggesting exactly the same thing!

[bookthief]

Pannacotta, Dr Jack Newman suggests that you just wash your breastpump in hot soapy water (or dishwasher - even easier) once every 24 hours and store it in a plastic bag in the fridge inbetween pumping sessions during the day. I did that from 8 weeks with no problems (and only started from 8 weeks because thats when I read the advice!).

It really cuts down on the faff of expressing not having to disassemble and reassemble an Avent Isis between sessions.

[laundrylover]

Well, I only express now when I'm away overnight and then chuck it away as she just has cow's milk instead.I couldn't have ever imagined chucking ebm away in the early days though!

I used to express on the train, decant into a bottle and take it home to freeze.

[laundrylover]

OMG yes, you mustn't get our of bed early just to go to the fridge!!

Green nappies happen all the time and often for no apparent reason. He would be really unhappy if he had a tummy upset I think.

[bumperlicious]

laundrylover, i'm glad someone else just sticks the whole pump in the fridge like me! who can be faffed sterilising it each time!

[pulapula]

thanks, this is all really useful advice. i assume from this that i'm ok to express early morning (6-7am) and not worry about not getting it to fridge til 8. I've had a little taste (very sweet) but generally go on appearance/common sense when i've decided whether to store it or chuck it.

I am interested in the no sterising and leaving pump in fridge for next time.

I have often left the pump in the fridge but chicken out and washed/sterilise it (microwave) before the next use. I think its because DS has been having a lot of green nappies so i worry about his tummy being upset.

[laundrylover]

I didn't sterilise anything second time around. Dishwasher is OK (I always used to forget that little whizzy valve in the basket tho) as is hot washing, rinsing and air drying but NEVER use a tea towel apparently!!

[chipmonkey]

Pannacotta, apparently no-one in the USA sterilises their pumps and the babies seem to survive OK!

[Pannacotta]

This is deviating a bit from the OP's question, but do you think it is necessary to sterilise your breast pump? I haven't got round to expressing for DS2 as I creally cant be doing with faffing around with a steriliser but I think DH and I really need a night out!
I do wonder if the pump would be fine to use after being washed in the dishwasher. Any thoughts?

[ruddynorah]

yes i used to express before bed then leave the bottle on the bedside table for dh to do a night feed. it would be sat there for maybe 6 hours, maybe 10, depending which feed he did.

[throckenholt]

it varies from person to person - but whatever - it strays fresher for much longer than formula and cows milk.

I often used to express in the evening and leave out (in a sterile bottle obviously !) on the shelf for a middle of the night feed - felt it was better than chilling and reheating.

[islandofsodor]

My HV told me that because breastmilk has its own antibacterial properties it was fine at room temp for about 6 hours.

It was a godsend knowing that because I was exclusively expressing for a newborn at the time.

[laundrylover]

Antibodies - those are the thingies!

I think lots of it comes down to common sense really doesn't it? In the past I think the advice was tied to formula advice but now since expressing is much more common someone has bothered to do some research and issue seperate guidelines.

[lailasmum]

The guidelines changed about 18months ago. I thought it was odd that my friend was leaving her EBM out of the fridge for ages but she filled me in. Its changed since I expressed 2-3 years ago. I guess its got antibodies in it.

[terramum]

Have you tasted/smelt your milk when its fresh pulapula? The kellymom figures are right imo...but of course all mums milk is different & if your fridge isn't very efficient or its a hot day it's a good idea to know how to tell if its gone off.....saying that though I found my milk kept fine for 8 days in the fridge, sometimes longer, when I was expressing exclusively for DS...it was also reassuring to be able to re-offer milk that he didn't want at the next feed & not have to throw it away...

[laundrylover]

LLL did some research and after 8 days the milk was actually better than at first (if this makes any sense!!) because it is 'live', like yogurt.

Also like yogurt it lasts for ages - my Yeo valley stays in the fridge for weeks.

In answer to the OP though don't worry about getting up mid feed to put it in the fridge. BTW I also used to put the whole pump in the fridge and then top up at the next opportunity.

[chipmonkey]

Katy, when ds3 was prem the nurses told me 48 hours but La Leche League and Kellymom say 8 days.

[chipmonkey]

No, 8 days at the back of the fridge is fine. I think EBM is OK for 6 hours at room temp.

[Katy44]

8 days
i thought it had to be used within 48 hours from the 1st express

[Seona1973]

I do mean Breast milk of course!!

[Seona1973]

Acording to the kellymom website expressed milk is ok for up to 10 hours at room temperature (4-6 hours if the room is warm).

It also says up to 8 days in the fridge between 0-4 degrees.

Brest milk handling and storage

[bumperlicious]

Ooh, I would be interested in this answer too as I wa wondering the same thing.

In answer to you question about how long you can store it, I read that if your fridge is above 4 degrees it's 3 days, below that and you can store for 7 or 8 days. I'm also sure that I read (and someone please correct me) that you can smell when EBM is "off".