Saving Breast Milk

Human milk varies in colour, consistency and odor, depending on the mother's diet and storage container used. Because breast milk is not homogenized, the cream will separate and rise to the top of the container. Breast milk may be safely stored by following these steps:

Collecting Breastmilk

1.	Pump or express milk into a clean collection cup.
2.	Transfer the milk into a clean storeage container. If you can, pump directly into a storage container, it will lesson the chance of contamination.
3.	Label the container with the date and the amount of milk colleced, be sure to use the oldest milk first.

Storing Breastmilk

Room Temperature	4 hours - it is suggested that to inhibit the growth of bacteria, refrigerate collected breastmilk if not being used immediately.
Refrigeration	48 hours - breastmilk can be safely be stored in the refrigerator in a sterilized bottle or a disposable bottle liner.
Freezing	6 months in a refrigerator freezer. 12 months in a deep freeze (-20 degrees C). Fill the container only 3/4 full to allow room for expansion during freezing. Freeze the milk in 2 oz. to 4 oz. portions. These smaller amounts will thaw quicker.

Thawing Breastmilk

1.	Thaw the milk by holding the container under cool, running water and gradually add warmer water until the breast milk is thawed and warmed to room temperature for feeding. NEVER REHEAT OR THAW MILK ON THE STOVE OR IN A MICROWAVE OVEN. The uneven heat of a mircrowave can scald a baby. Also, some nutrients are destroyed by over-heating in a microwave.
2.	Swirl the container to blend any fat that may have separted and risen during thawing.
3.	Feed thawed milk immediately or store in the refrigerator for a maximum of 24 hours. Once thawed, breastmilk should not be re-frozen. It is possible to conbine fresh breastmilk with frozen milk. To prevent premature thawing, always cool milk before combing it with previously frozen milk. The amount of newly added milk must be less than the amount of milk alreadly frozen.