expressed breast milk?

[Turtle]

OK this may be a silly question but here goes..... I want to start expressing some milk and preparing bottles for when I go out for the day or if bubs is being looked after.

With the bottles especially the ones I am taking with me (say to the shops) does the bottle need to be stored in a cooler bag until I use it? How long can it be out of the fridge?does it need to be heated when given to bubs?

Seriously I have no idea - sorry for the silly questions I hope someone can enlighten me :o Thanks

[aardvark]

Why do you need to express to go to the shops?

It's safer and easier just to feed the baby from the breast - and better, too, as you are likely to get engorged if you skip a feed and feed EBM from a bottle instead of from the breast, and it can mess with your supply.

And yes, you would need to cart it in a cold bag, and you should not heat breastmilk in a microwave, so you'd have to either take a thermos of hot water or ask for some. And that assumes the baby will take EBM from a bottle in the first place, whcih is often not the case,

Too much trouble IMO when you can just feed the baby yourself.

For when bub is being looked after is a different story, but you still need to keep the EBM chilled until use.

[jarrahsmumma]

Breastmilk can be kept for 6-8 hours at room temp (26c)

here is a chart from the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/express.html (just scroll down the page a bit)

if you find in the future you need to leave bub, in daycare or with relo's, then the ABA might be a useful resource as they can advise on all sorts of Breastfeeding questions, a return to wrk doesnt mean the end of your breastfeeding relationship.

all the best

[Toffee apple]

I used to use EBM when going out, DD had 4 months of latching on problems ( i used sheilds) & they were to much for me to want to deal with in public , so i found bottle feeding with my EMB so much easier .
In saying that it depends on when bubs is due for the feed , i never used a microwave to heat my milk ( i think i heard it does something to BM .) i used to get some hot water fom the shops (even Macca's ) & they are all to willing to help out ,i have a cooler in my nappy bag that i just kept the bottle in there till i needed it .
But if bubs was close to having a feed then i would just heat at home & give it to her on the run .

[Areca]

If bubs is with you it's so much easier to just feed them yourself (IMO).
I had expressed milk for DD for when I wasn't with her but never had to cart it far so never had to worry about it staying chilled.
Like Aardvark says, no microwaving breast milk either.
Good luck! ABA should be able to help!

[Beany]

Turtle: As aadvark says, it's just too much hassle to take a bottle with you to the shops: you'd generally have to carry more than most formula feeding mums and there's really no need.

If it's an issue of being shy of public breastfeeding, remember that most chopping centres have mother's rooms. Some even have private cubicles to feed in. Every Myer and David Jones store I have been to so far have private feeding rooms.

Also, you can easily drape a muslin wrap over your shoulder for privacy while nursing. Practice at home. It's a bit of a hassle to begin with but believe me, it becomes second nature soon enough. This also gives you the flexibility to feed wherever you are - shops, park, waiting in queue at the RTA ...

Generally, expressed breast milk is only good at room temperature for about 4 hours. So, if you take it out of the fridge/freezer, by the time it's room temperature, it has to be used or chucked. A cool bag will slow this process down a little but not by much.