Feeding Patterns Is Baby Getting Enough? Let-Down Reflex Making Enough MilkToo Much Milk Leaking Your Nipples Family Planning Pump & Store Eating & Exercising Need Help?
Bella is 7 1/2 months old and I'm still nursing. We have an amazing bond together and it's very rewarding. I think it's much easier than making a bottle, cleaning a bottle or spending all the time to feed with a bottle. As time has passed, the baby has figured out how to get all the milk she needs within 10 quick minutes. I save so much money nursing and I have filled up an entire deep freezer with milk I've pumped!!! 
Courtney Crowley Morrill
Breastfeeding Mother
Pump & Store - If you will be away from your baby long enough that you regularly miss one or more feedings, you might need to use a breast pump to express your milk.
Breast pumping allows you to continue breastfeeding if you need to return to work or school after the birth of your baby. Having a supply of stored milk can also give you a break to sleep or relax, and gives your partner a chance to bond with baby while offering a bottle of pumped milk.
- Avoid pumping and formula use for about the first four weeks. Remember, the first four weeks is when you should be breastfeeding exclusively in order to set a good milk supply.
- Wash your hands before you hand express or pump milk.
- Pump both breasts at the same time after baby is done nursing, or pump one breast while your baby is nursing on the other. This helps produce more milk.
- Massage your breasts while pumping. This can increase your milk supply as well as the fat content in your milk.
- Look at a photo of your baby while you pump, or smell an article of her clothing. This releases hormones that allow you to pump more milk.
- Listening to a recording of your baby’s voice can also release hormones that allow
you to pump more milk.
- Be sure to wash your hands before expressing or handling breastmilk.
- Breastmilk can be stored in a plastic or glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid, or in a heavy-duty sterile, sealable bag.
- Store breastmilk in amounts that you use every day. Store about 2-4 ounces per bottle or bag if your baby is under six months of age. Store more if your baby usually takes more than that from a bottle.
- The fat in the milk will rise to the top. This is normal.
- Label the containers with the date the milk was pumped and your baby's name.
- Breastmilk can also be frozen for future use.
As your baby starts taking more calories from solid foods they will begin taking a little less breast milk. In the beginning your care provider may simply be mixing breastmilk with cereal but as your child begins eating more solid foods and drinking water you may find that your child only requires 2 bottles while you’re away instead of 3. This is the natural gradual weaning process. Keep in touch with your child care provider to ensure that you’re leaving the right amount for your baby.
- Use the oldest milk first.
- If your bottled breastmilk smells sour, throw it out.
- You can thaw breastmilk in the refrigerator, under running water that is gradually warmed or in a cup or bowl of warm (NOT HOT) water.
- Never microwave breastmilk—this can make hot spots that burn baby’s mouth.
- Gently turn the bottle to redistribute the fat and even out the milk.
| Best used within | Still safe to use within | |
| Insulated cooler bag | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Refrigerator | 3 days | 5 days |
| Freezer section inside a refrigerator | 2 weeks | 2 weeks |
| Freezer with a separate door or deep freezer | 6 months | 12 months |
Need to go to work?
Find out why continuing to pump breastmilk is a better option than formula feeding with this activity.
Breastfeeding moms enrolled in WIC who are returning to work or school are eligible for a free breast pump from the WIC office.
