Care and Keeping of Breastmilk

Here is some info for you. There is a helpful chart...
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t026900.asp#T026901

Also, when I had questions, I called the hospital where I delivered and talked with a lactation consultant. Don't know if this is an option.

Don't believe what you read about your milk drying up faster because you pump. My son is 16 months old. I could have pumped forever. I had a TON of milk because I pumped completely instead of only feeding (nursing) him what he needed. I have friends who pumped for the full year.

Good luck!

I never let me milk stay in the fridge more than a day and if my milk was in the bottle I threw away anything that was left. If it was warmed but only half put into the bottle then I would allow the other half to be used for her next feeding if it was within that day. She never had a bottle when I was around so whether or not my rules were actually "enforced" while I was away is another issue! I know there are guidelines for it but I dont know what they are, just what I did.

As far as getting back on the boob she may not latch back on. A bottle is easier for her to get milk out of so she may not latch back on very well for you! Good luck!

The problem seem to me, is that bottles are easier to feed from, they take some sucking all at the same rate and that´s it. On the other hand breasts have to be "primed". Milk is not jus sitting there it has to be "let" so the child will suck and then, suddenly, all the production will come flushing down! makes for a very surprised baby sometimes. They learn when only breast fed to sort of "open their gullet" and all the milk goes almost without swallowing. But they have to work for it a little at first. So it maybe thar she is getting tired of not getting it at the same ususal rate as with the bottle.
An idea would be to feed her from the breast at least twice or thee timeson a row so she´ll get hungry enough.
Good Luck!

Pumped breast milk will last three or four days in the refrigerator, 6 months in a freezer and 12 months in a deep freezer. It is not ok to warm the milk, then refrigerate it. If there's some left in the bottle, you need to throw it away.

Just keep trying to get her to latch. She's going to have to re-learn. Just don't offer her the bottle. If she knows she can get the bottle, she won't have to learn to latch. If you notice that she's just using you as a pacifier, take your finger and break the suction and try to give her a pacifier. It takes longer to get milk from the breast, so it will take her longer to eat. She's going to have to work harder to get the milk out and that might be frustrating for her. Just keep on trying. It sounds like you are a SAHM so nurse on demand for now. I would encourage you to contact a lactation consultant or La Leche League. They would be able to help you our a little more.

it sounds like you take awhile for the let down if you have time apply a hot compress on your breast to help get things relaxed and maybe hand express to get the milk flowing that way she wont have to work as hard to get back in the game. as for refrigerating after she has drank some I would give it no more than an hour out of the fridge or cooler. I would smell it also if it has a funky smell pitch it, if not your safe but only for on time dont keep pulling it out and back in again. I kept a little cooler with ice packs in it and would toss it back in there if my dd was not super hungery if after an hour she still was not interested I put it in the fridge. dont get discourged she will get back on the boob. gl

I know how difficult it is when trying to pump. I did it for a year after my son was in the NICU for 6 days and definately preferred the bottle by the time he was home.

Try contacting a lactation consultant at the hospital or La Leche League representative should be able to help you.

Good luck!