Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored: At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours. In the refrigerator for up to 4 days. In the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable.
Freshly expressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to six hours. However, it's optimal to use or properly store the breast milk within four hours, especially if the room is warm.
The Benefits of Hand Expression
Early stimulation of the breast is essential to building a strong milk supply. Studies have found that hand expression can be more effective at removing colostrum, boosting production, and increasing the duration of breastfeeding than pumping alone.
Hand expressing after using an electric pump is a great way to help stimulate your milk production. Studies have indicated that some women who hand express after pumping may boost their breastmilk output by up to 48%.
Hand expression increases the pressure inside the breast by compressing the alveoli that hold the milk and hence, pushing it into the ducts and towards the openings in the nipple. Pumping decreases the pressure outside the breast by creating a vacuum at the nipple. This is called suction.
Squeezing the breast can cause bruising. Pulling out the nipple and breast can cause tissue damage. Sliding on the breast can cause skin burns.
Hand expressing is a skill and, like any skill, takes time to learn. If you're not careful, you can damage your breast tissue. This can lead to pain, bruising, and even mastitis.
Even if milk production doesn't start out well, however, don't get discouraged–many moms will see an increase (even as late as 9-15 weeks after birth) if they continue with regular pumping.
You can express milk by hand or with a breast pump. How often you express your milk, and how much you express, will depend on why you're doing it. Sometimes it takes a little while for your milk to start flowing. Try to choose a time when you feel relaxed.
How often? If you need to establish milk production without breastfeeding your newborn baby, aim to express 8–12 times per 24 hours including at least once during the night to mimic a baby's natural breastfeeding pattern.
Being apart from your baby
If you have to spend time apart from your baby, and you're unable to breastfeed, this will impact the amount of breastmilk you produce. Regularly expressing your breast milk will help maintain your milk supply.
You can get out milk that you might not have been able to express using your pump. Believe it or not, your hand can actually be more effective than a pump. Many breastfeeding parents choose to hand express after feeding their baby and pumping to ensure that they have drained all the milk out of their breasts.
Is it safe to feed babies cold milk? Yes, it's safe to feed your baby cold milk. In fact, frozen breast milk can be used as a form of pain relief for teething babies!
Expressing your milk by hand is a useful skill to have. It may take a bit of time and practice, but once you've mastered it, you'll find it's very helpful. And the great thing is you only need your hands and a container – rather than a shop-bought breast pump.
Milk from different pumping sessions/days may be combined in one container – use the date of the first milk expressed. Avoid adding warm milk to a container of previously refrigerated or frozen milk – cool the new milk before combining. Breastmilk is not spoiled unless it smells really bad or tastes sour.
It can also help prevent and provide relief from common challenges like engorgement, clogged ducts, and mastitis.
Milk supply usually reaches its peak around four weeks after birth, with most of the increase happening in the first two weeks. If not enough milk is removed during this time, your breasts may end up making less milk than your baby needs.
The first few days: Your breast milk coming in
Around day three after your baby's birth, your breast milk 'comes in' and your breasts may start to feel noticeably firmer and fuller.
It's important to remember that your baby is much more effective at getting milk from your breasts than a pump will ever be. A healthy, thriving baby will get more milk than you a capable of pumping.
Use your hands to remove your breast milk. This is called hand expression. Use a manual or electric machine called a pump. With these, the pump helps to remove your milk.
If your sore nipples are causing you so much discomfort that you feel like you need to take a break from breastfeeding, don't worry! You can still use a breast pump to express your milk. This will give your nipples a rest, while allowing you to continue to give your baby all the benefits breastmilk can provide.
Hand expression can also be used as a technique during and after pumping to increase caloric content2 and remove more milk. It can be more reliable than a pump when electricity is scarce. It's quieter than a pump when privacy is needed.
Expressing frequently (at least 8–10 times in 24- hours, including overnight) will help establish the milk supply. If your breasts become very full, hand express a little milk just before the feed to help your baby to latch on well.
A pumping session will take 15-20 minutes ideally pumping both breasts at the same time. Full milk production is about 25-35 oz. per 24 hours.