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How to Pump and Store Breast Milk

Pumping and Storing Breast Milk

A breast pump is a great tool for a nursing mother and her baby, especially a mother that is returning to work while breastfeeding. A breast pump allows you to express milk and store it for your baby to be fed by his or her caregiver while you are away. For you and your baby’s health, it is very important to understand how to use your breast pump correctly and how to safely store your breast milk.

For more information on using a breast pump and storing breast milk, attend a breastfeeding class at Missouri Baptist, or schedule a private, individualized lactation evaluation and consultation with a lactation consultant. These private consultations are available for a nominal fee. For more information, please call our Lactation Services at (314) 996-5747.

Using a Breast Pump

Breast milk is not sterile and its anti-infective properties hinder the growth of bacteria. Still, you do not want to introduce outside bacteria unnecessarily when getting ready to pump, during the actual pumping session or when storing or transporting your breast milk. To minimize the risk of infection, consider the following:

Always wash and rinse your hands thoroughly before handling breast pump parts, your breasts or the milk collection bottles.
Breast pump collection kit parts should be thoroughly cleaned after each use according to the instruction manual.
The collection bottles that attach to the breast pump and are used to collect and store your milk should be sterilized before use.

Be sure to carefully read your breast pump’s instruction manual. You may need to experiment with different techniques and settings on the breast pump before you find what works best for you. Here are some general tips for using a breast pump:

Make sure the breast flange is properly fitted. The flange is the funnel-shaped part that centers over your areola, which is the pigmented ring around your nipple. If you have a question about the fit, ask your doctor or a lactation consultant.
It may help to moisten the rim of the breast flange before pumping to create a better seal on the breast.
Try different techniques for obtaining a seal on the breast. Some mothers prefer to center the breast flanges on the nipple and areola first and then turn the pump on; others turn the pump on first and then place the flanges over the breasts.
Start the pump at the low or minimal suction setting and gradually move the setting to increase the level of suction. The level should be set as high as comfort allows. Decrease the suction if it causes discomfort.
Suction cannot be maintained if the seal of the flange on the breast is broken. If you do not see a rhythmic pull and release of the nipple or areola within the flange, check the seal. Sometimes the tube can disconnect from the flange and needs to be reattached. Sometimes a portion of your clothing is under the edge of the flange and needs to be removed.
Expect to pump for a few minutes before you see a steady flow of milk.
Do not fill collection bottles more than two-thirds full to avoid any back flow or spilling of milk and to allow for expansion if milk is to be frozen. Always have additional collection bottles ready. Stop and change bottles as needed.
When you are ready to stop pumping, slide a clean finger under the rim of the flange. This should break the seal between the flange and the breast tissue. If milk has pooled in a flange, tilt forward so that milk can drain into the collection bottle as you remove the flange.

Storing Your Breast Milk

Glass or hard plastic containers are the best storage containers for breast milk, especially if it is to be frozen and stored for weeks or months. Special storage bags designed for storage of breast milk are available from some breast pump manufacturers. Freezing may cause the seams of disposable bags created for bottle feeding to split, but double-bagging may prevent this problem. If using bags, squeeze the air from the top before sealing tightly with a twist-tie or other clamp. Fasten the clamp at least one inch beyond milk level to allow for expansion with freezing. Place storage bags upright in another container or the milk will leak.

If you pumped both breasts at once and the amount of milk obtained will fill one bottle or bag no more than two-thirds full, you may combine the contents in a single container by carefully pouring the milk from one container into the other. Store only two to four ounces per container. It is easier to thaw a second container of milk than to watch your valuable milk be poured down the drain. Label each collection container with the date and any medications you have taken.

Health Considerations When Storing Breast Milk

The following guidelines are for healthy, term infants. Storage guidelines may be different for premature or high-risk infants. Consult your baby's doctor or a lactation consultant for specific instructions.

Fresh breast milk contains the most active anti-infective properties, followed by refrigerated and then frozen breast milk.
Unrefrigerated fresh milk may be left at room temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius), but it must be used within eight hours.
It probably is better to refrigerate fresh milk when it is not going to be used within 60 minutes. The refrigerator should be at a temperature of 32 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit (0 to 4 degrees Celsius). Do not freeze breast milk for a high-risk baby when that milk has been refrigerated for more than 24 to 48 hours.
If refrigerated breast milk will not be given within one week, freeze it for later use. Breast milk can be frozen for:
- Up to two weeks if the freezer compartment is within the refrigerator. (You must open the refrigerator door to reach the freezer with this model.)
- Three to six months in a freezer that is part of a refrigerator unit but has a separate door.
- Six to 12 months in a separate, -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius) "deep" freezer.

To keep milk cool when a refrigerator is not immediately available, or to transport refrigerated or frozen milk, place it in an insulated bag or cooler with a frozen cold pack.

Taking Care of Your Breast Pump

It is important to take care of your breast pump. With proper care, it can last the duration of your pumping experience:

Read the instruction manual and follow the recommendations for cleaning the equipment.
While cleaning the pieces that collect the milk, take apart any pieces that separate and clean them individually.
If using an electric pump with collection kit, the pump itself and any tubing portion of the kit should remain dry or they will not work appropriately. (These pieces of equipment do not come in contact with milk that is to be stored for your baby.)
After each use, rinse all parts that come in contact with the breast or milk in cool water first. A cool rinse removes residual milk without coagulating hard-to-clean protein. Then, thoroughly clean these same parts in hot, soapy water. Rinse in hot water and air dry between each use.
Some manufacturers recommend boiling the parts that come in contact with the breast or milk once a day. Be sure to check the instruction manual for the care of your breast pump parts.
Check the instruction manual to learn whether a dishwasher is considered appropriate for cleaning the collection pieces that come in contact with the breast or the milk.
Some women prefer to sterilize their breast pump parts in microwave bags used for steaming. Make sure you use only approved bags for sterilizing pump parts and follow the directions closely.