Breastmilk Storage Bags

A customer in Australia wrote to tell me today that she had received the order of breast milk storage bags that I sent to her.

She wrote "Thanks very much. I had been trying to freeze milk in Avent bottles that I thought were airtight but apparently not as the milk was taking on a taint from other things in the freezer. Another mum mentioned the medela milk storage bags to me so I thought would give them a go!"

The breastmilk storage bags that we sell at our webstore Breastmates, are sterile and ready to use. You can attach them directly onto your breast pump too.

For more information on breastfeeding and storing breastmilk, go to our main website http://www.breastmates.co.nz/

Starting a Bottle

If you are expressing breast milk with a breast pump, either to relieve breast engorgement, to get baby used to taking a bottle, to share feeding with dad, or if you are going back to work, or just prefer to feed baby with a bottle, then here are my starting tips.

To get baby to drink from a bottle, let baby play with the bottle first. (When it is empty or with cold boiled water). Then they might put it in their mouth, suck a little maybe, and must be familiar with it.

If you are expressing breast milk with a breast pump, store this in the freezer. You can store it in special breast milk storage bags or you could freeze it in the icecube tray and then put the frozen cubes into a snap lock bag in the freezer.

Just defrost a small amount of milk first, like 20mLs or so. Otherwise if your baby rejects the bottle on your first attempt all that milk is not wasted. I know how much work goes into getting breast milk!!

Try it at a lunch time feed. Try your baby on the bottle before baby is really really hungry, before they start crying and wind up too much. You want to try this when baby is in a calm and happy mood.

Just nudge their lip with the bottle teat, and if they open place the teat inside. baby should then suck like on the breast. Tilt the bottle upright. You should see bubbles coming through the milk.

Yay if it works.

If baby keeps mouth shut and does not drink, try a few more times. If no luck, try again tomorrow with a small amount of milk. ALWAYS DISCARD the milk after trying. Don't reheat it.

View our breast milk storage guidelines here http://www.breastmates.co.nz/storage_guidelines.html

After baby has learned to drink from a bottle, sometimes they get lazy and will reject the bottle as they prefer to drink from mom's breast. There are some special bottles available that help to minimise "nipple confusion" and the bottle teat works the same way as a breast. If baby is rejecting all bottles, you could try a special Adiri bottle. It can also help if you get Dad to feed the baby, as if baby smells that you are around they can get very picky!

How much does baby drink?

When you are a breastfeeding mom, it is nearly impossible to tell how much milk baby is drinking from you. Baby will be latching and drinking, and you dont even see the milk.

This can make it really hard when you start expressing breast milk - to know how much milk baby will need for a feed, and how much milk to feed baby (and you don't want to waste any milk after you have gone to all that effort pumping it!!)

Based on a information specified on a baby formula tin, this is the volume of milk and number of feeds per day that they recommend. This will be the same for breastmilk, so I think it is fair to use this guide so you know how much expressed breast milk to give your baby.

Baby age:
1 week: 50mL feed for 6-7 times per day.
up to 2 weeks old: 100mL feed for 5-6 times per day.
up to 1 month old: 100mL feed for 6 times per day.
up to 2 months old: 150mL feed for 5 times per day.
up to 4 months old: 200mL feed for 5 times per day.
up to 6 months old: 200mL feed for 4-5 times per day
over 6 months: 200mL feed for 3-4 times per day.

This is a guide. your baby may need more or less than this.

I would also like to suggest that you view our website, we have other articles online which give you guidance on expressing, and storing breast milk. Go here: http://www.breastmates.co.nz/Articles_Breastfeeding_Nursing.html

Teats for Medela Bottles

Medela manufacture a range of fantastic breast pumps, bottles, cooler carriers and storage bags etc. But one thing that they dont manufacture is their own brand of medela bottle teats.

Crazy huh?! I'm not entirely sure why this is, it might have something to do with the World Health Organisation code of marketing breast milk substitutes - with this code you can't advertise teats (or bottle nipples as some call them).

But if a mother is going to all the effort of expressing breast milk, she'll need a teat inorder to feed it to her baby.

Here at our webstore, I have finally found some great bottle nipples that will fit onto the Medela range of breast pumping products. These are free of BPA chemicals etc, so are very safe to use.

You can order them at the same time as you purchase a breast pump online, at our webstore http://www.breastmates.co.nz/

Expressing Breast Milk is a Lot of Work

Mothers that express breast milk are obviously dedicated breast feeding moms. It is a lot of extra work to get breast milk to feed your child in a bottle, at a time when the household is already busy and stressful with a newborn baby.

If you are expressing breast milk for the occassional bottle feed, or to get baby used to taking a bottle, then most mothers do this after breastfeeding their baby on the boob. If you express after a feed, then you will only get a smaller volume of milk, as the baby would have had most of the milk to drink first from your breast. But the next day, your breasts will naturally produce extra milk (i.e baby's feed + the volume that you expressed).

when you are expressing breast milk with an electric breast pump, allow about 10 to 15 minutes per side. Expressing with a manual breast pump takes longer. You may need to do this a couple of times to get enough milk for one bottle feed.

How much volume does baby drink? The volume required depends on the age of your baby. Try to aim for 150 mLs to offer to a baby first to see how much volume they are drinking. This is something that you don't know until you introduce a bottle, as with breastfeeding there is no volume guage!

You will need to store the breast milk that you collect.

And you will need to sterilise all equipment that you use.

Personally, I express occassionally. Just to get my son used to taking milk from a bottle. But I am quite lazy and find that feeding from my boob is just a lot easier. It really does make me appreciate how lucky I have been with my breastfeeding journey. Some mothers have to express breast milk as the only way their baby can feed. Go them!!

To view all of our breastfeeding products, visit our website http://www.breastmates.co.nz

Using a Breast Pump

What does expressing mean? Expressing breastmilk is the act of squeezing milk from your breasts, either by hand or with a manual breast pump or with any of the medela electric breastpumps. It is the only way, apart from breastfeeding itself, to release milk from your breasts. Once you extract the milk, you can store it in baby bottles or breast milk containers to feed to your baby at a later date. Some women say expressing milk makes them feel like a cow - so if you've had this thought, you're not alone. It is certainly not a glamorous role.

Continue to read our advice and tips on breastfeeding and expressing, choosing a breast pump, buying a breast pump, and using a breast pump on our Breastfeeding website.

Baby Bottles - BPA Free

There has been a lot of media attention recently about BPA (Bisphenol-A compounds) in baby bottles. Apparantely when the milk is heated in a normal baby bottle, the chemicals leach out of the plastic and go into the bottle. I'm not going to spout on about the research and risks here.

Well, we stock the Medela Bottles and Medela Breast Pumps which are all free of BPA compounds. They always have been.

We also have a range of BPA free bottle teats, made by Green to Grow, which will fit the medela bottles.
Another option is the Adiri Natural Nurser - which is also free of BPA. Now this is a BEAUTY of a baby bottle. The top quarter of the bottle is soft and squishy like a boob. The teat and bottle are all one piece, and the milk squirts out with the same action as breastfeeding. So with the Adiri bottle, there is less chance of baby rejecting your boob if you are doing a mix of breast feeding and bottle feeding.

The Adiri bottle is great also if baby has been rejecting other types of bottles and teats.

Its worth a try!

Breast Milk Storage - freeze defrost heat - some Tips

Make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling pumped breast milk. If your breast pump does not collect milk in a clean storage container, begin by pouring your milk into a container designed for storing milk in the refrigerator or freezer. Try not to touch the insides of the storage container.

You may want to store milk in single-serving sizes of 2 to 4 ounces. Seal the container with a solid lid and label each container with the date the milk was pumped.

Breast milk that will be frozen should have at least one inch between the milk and the container lid. Frozen milk expands as it freezes.

Store milk in the main refrigerator or freezer compartment, away from the door, to avoid changes in temperature that may compromise the milk.

Use milk that has been in the refrigerator or freezer the longest first.

Always make sure to check the date on the milk's container before using.

Do not use undated milk, or milk that has been stored too long.

Thaw frozen milk in the refrigerator or under cool, running water.

Heat the milk under warm, running water and gently swirl the container to mix the milk. If warm water is not available, heat a pan of water on the stove or in a Bottle Warmer.

Once the water is warm, not boiling, remove the pan from the stove and place the milk container in the pan.

Never warm the milk container directly on the stove.

Never microwave breast milk because microwaves can cause dangerous hot spots that could burn you or a baby.

Always test the temperature of the milk on the inside of your wrist before feeding it to a baby.

The milk should feel warm, not hot.

After thawing, milk should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours.

Never refreeze thawed milk.

Throw away previously frozen milk that is not used within 24 hours.

Breastfeeding and Expressing: Choosing the Right Breast Pump

If you need to express breast milk, the type of breast pump that you purchase really depends on how often you plan to use it.

Say for occasional use – like once per week, if you are going out for a night and will be away from baby, or to relieve breast engorgement and mastitis symptoms, then a manual pump would probably be best. For this I’d recommend the Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump

For medium use, say 3-4 times per week, once or twice a day, the occasional feed, or to build up your supply, then I’d recommend a mini-electric breast pump (medela)

For heavy or frequent use, such as returning to work, or being away from your baby for 8 hours per day and expressing all their feeds, then I’d recommend either the Avent Uno Electric Breast Pump or the Medela Swing electric breast pump which are both more powerful breast pumps.
if you need to express the majority of your baby's feeds, then you will need to look at either the Avent Duo Double Electric Breast Pump, or the Medela Pump in Style advanced system.

For a little more detail I have elaborated below:

The Avent Uno Electric Breast Pump is a fantastic pump because you can set the speed by starting the pump off manually, push the button, and then it continues at that speed that you started. It can also be used as a manual pump (in case of power cut), or with batteries and mains. The Avent Uno Electric Breast Pump comes with additional items such as the carry case, cooler packs, and a couple of baby bottles and avent bottle teats. (Which you’d need to purchase separately if you go for the medela brand).

Comparatively the medela mini electric breast pump only has 3 suction levels, so you just choose which level suits you for comfort. The Medela Swing Electric Breast Pump (with more closely resembles the avent uno) has the unique patented milk let down which more closely resembles breastfeeding. All of the medela pumps can only be used with batteries or mains power, they don’t have the ability to go manually like the Avent Uno does.

The difference between the medela mini electric, and the medela swing is really just the frequency that you are planning to use it.

The medela swing breast pump and the avent uno electric breast pump are more suited if you are needed to express for least 3 feed per day

All our breast pumps have a 1 year warranty also.

Now as for bottles: all Medela breast pumps come with one bottle that attaches to the pump. They don't make their own brand of teats, but we do sell Green To Grow narrow neck teats which fit the medela bottles. But you could also buy the avent bottles or the Adiri Natural Nurser and then pour/store the milk in those bottles. With the avent starter set you get 4 bottles, and 6 teats, and a brush. The good thing about all the avent bottles, is that the bottles, toddler cups, sipper cups everything, teats, etc they are all interchangeable, which makes them really useful if you are short on bottles at any time.

I would also recommend that you purchase the Avent Microwave Sterilizer or the medela microwave sterilization bags .

The microwave sterilising method method is a lot easier to use than boiling parts on the saucepan (and so many people contact me needing spare parts after they melt their stuff on the saucepan). The avent sterilizer also comes with some bottles and teats too.

Okay, well I hope that has answered your questions, I know it can get very confusing.

How to Preserve and Store Breast Milk

It is best to put breast milk in plastic feeding bottles with secure tops to seal in freshness. You can also use plastic bags made especially for storing milk. You can also use your breast pump to express breast milk, and store the milk directly in the bottle.
Remember to write the date on the bottle or bag before putting it in the refrigerator or freezer so you'll know how fresh it is.

Use fresh, refrigerated milk within three to five days, and keep it at the back of the fridge, away from the door, at a temperature of 4 degrees centigrade or lower.

Frozen milk lasts at week in the ice box of a fridge, and three to six months if kept in a freezer set no higher minus 18 degrees Centigrade (and then up to 12 hours, refrigerated, after thawing).

The process of freezing destroys some of the antibodies in milk, so don't freeze any that you plan to use within the time limits.

But frozen breastmilk is still much healthier and offers more protection from disease than formula milk does.

To thaw frozen milk, place the bottle or bag in a bowl of warm water, run it under warm tap water, or defrost it in the refrigerator overnight. Don't use the microwave for defrosting or warming - it kills the nutrients in breast milk. And don't ever save partially drunk portions for later use - health professionals recommend throwing out any milk that's left in the baby's bottle.

More information on breast milk preservation and storage guidelines is available here. We have also prepared a guide for expressing and how to express breast milk for customers at our Specialty Breastfeeding Store.

How To Express Breast Milk

There are two ways to express breast milk. Though they are certainly not a glamorous mothering role!

HAND EXPRESSING If you only need to express breast milk every once in a while, for comfort or a rare bottle-feed, you may be able to get by with expressing by hand. This is the cheapest way to express breast milk because it requires no equipment, but it can be time-consuming and takes practice. Wash your hands before you start. Then, place your thumb 4-5cm away from your nipple and your fingers below so they form a "C" around the areola, and squeeze your finger and thumb together, pushing your hand back against the chest wall, continuing this process in a circular motion around your areola. If your finger and thumb are too close to the nipple, the "squeeze" will hurt and be ineffective. Use a sterile, wide-rimmed breast milk container or baby bottle to collect the milk. Electric and manual breast pumps may be faster and more efficient to express breast milk.

BREAST PUMPS To use an electric pump, you put a suction cup over your breast, turn the breast pump machine on, and let it do the work of extracting milk into an attached container. Manual breast pumps also use a suction cup, but you extract the milk by using a squeeze mechanism or operating some other device rather than relying on a motor powered by electricity. On average it takes 15 to 45 minutes to pump both breasts. Good breast pumps try to mimic the sucking action of a baby, stimulating your let down reflex, and don't cause pain.


Knowing which breast pump is right for you depends on how often you plan to use one and how much time you can spare for expressing. If you work full-time and have to find time to use a breast pump during a busy day, you might want to choose an ultrafast hospital-grade electric pump. But if you only need to express the odd feed occasionally so your partner can feed the baby when you're out, a cheaper manual breast pump may be sufficient, and some women prefer them to electric breast pumps.