Bottle Feeding Breast Milk
Bottle feeding breast milk can be a great solution for new mothers. If mom goes back to work or even just wants to out for the evening, expressing and storing milk will ensure that your baby is still receiving all the benefits of breast milk. Breast feeding and working can be accomplished with little effort. Touch base with your employer before you return and explain that you will need time throughout the day to express your milk. Find a quiet, clean, private spot. A woman I used to work with simply hung a sheet over the entrance to her cubicle. She had explained to everyone in advance what the sheet was for. In very little time, even the squeamish guys would come up and talk to her (through the sheet) while she was pumping. Here are some guidelines to help get you started:
- Choosing a Pump:
- A breast pump can be useful even if you're not planning on being away from baby. Pumping can relieve engorgement and help to increase milk supplies (by pumping in between feedings.) Pumping can also be used to maintain your milk supply if you go on any short-term medications that will affect the baby.
Manual breast pumps are inexpensive and may be a good choice for occasional pumping. Stay away from the "bicycle horn" type of manual pump. Small electric pumps are mid-range in price. These pumps use either AC or battery power and vary in style and quality. For mothers who are planning to pump large volumes regularly three are larger, automatic electric pumps starting at around $200. You can also rent a large, automated pump however these are usually pretty big and not easy to transport. Ask around to see what worked for your friends and colleagues who pumped. To avoid contamination, don't ever borrow or buy a used breast pump! - Get a Head Start:
- Start pumping a week or two before going back to work. Pump between feedings or just after baby is done nursing. This will help you get used to the process as well as to build up supplies for the first few days you're at work.
- Storing Breast Milk:
- Breast milk can be stored at room temperature (< 77F) for up to 10 hours, in a refrigerator for up to one week and frozen up to one month.
Store milk in tightly sealed glass or plastic containers or in freezer bags specifically designed to store breast milk. Store serving sized portions of milk. If baby eats 4 oz, store in 4 oz portions. This avoids waste as any left over milk should be discarded after baby's feeding. Thaw frozen milk in luke-warm water and, once thawed, run hot water over bottle to warm it up. Never use a microwave!!! It destroys the proteins and can create hot-spots that can burn baby. Also note that freezing does reduce some of the protective qualities of breast milk by damaging the antibodies. - Be Vigilantly Clean:
- Always wash hands before expressing milk. Make sure all parts of the breast pump are extremely clean as well as the storage containers you use.
Soap and hot water followed by air-drying is sufficient.
Follow these steps and bottle feeding breast milk should be an easy practice to adopt.
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