breast milk questions!!

[mum2b09]

hii girls got 5 weeks to go and just realised... i know absolutely nothing about breast milk!!

I know how to breast feed and when 2 feed etc.. well how ive been told by my mw anyway lol and i know your not meant to brest and bottle feed together but say i was going out and someone was babysitting for me ;)

but theres just a few questions if anyone can answer them :D

• how long does brest milk last for after its expressed if its kept refrigirated??

• do you have to wait for it too cool before refrigirating?

• what should expressed breast milk be kept in.. can it just be expressed and refrigirated in a bottle?

thanx girls xxxxxxxxx

1. 6 days I think is the current recommendation

1. you can put it straight in

1. yes - in a proper bottle or special breastmilk bag

I'd suggest you learn how to breastfeed and be a Mummy for a few weeks first though. Read/learn about expressing when you've sorted the Mumming/feeding

At the back of the fridge, 8 days

No, put it straight in

Yes, a normal bottle is fine

try here

1. It lasts at least a few days
2. No, I never did
3. You can keep it in pots or you can put it straight in a bottle.

If you have any more questions about breast feeding there is a specific topic for breast/bottle feeding and quite a few real experts (BF counsellors etc) post there

thanx 4 the help girls just a few more question while im here lol

once breast milk is heated how long does it last and can it be refrigirated or reheated again

and

how many times can breastmilk be reheated xxx

You should only heat it once but because it is full of good bacteria (unlike formula) which fight nasties, people do reheat it. Similarly, you shouldn't put it back in the fridge after it has been heated but I know some people do. The guidelines say you should throw away EBM an hour after it has been heated - the same as formula - but again, a lot of people are flexible about it. It depends on your attitude to risk I suppose. Personally I was fairly lax. If you are concerned it is best to heat small quantities at a time.