Don't tense up while pumping

I've found that when your pumping the worst thing you can do is tense up or stress out. You need to be calm collected and focused on your little bundle of joy to be able to extract as much milk as possible. I know it seems very odd to think that our mood will dictate what we pump, but its true. This can be hard when your pumping at work, because of the environment your in. Different moms use different tricks while they are pumping. Some moms, bring a picture of there child, others bring there phone with videos and picture of there loves. I do a combination of things. I find relaxing for me includes finding a way to think of my son (who i am pumping for) by either running through in my head things we did the night before, watching videos of him on my phone and just enjoying thinking of him. other times i flip through a magazine or play games on my phone. Anything that gets me to relax in a high pressure work environment. Also try not to stress on the time, it'll work against you. I find that when I'm really pressed for time, and trying to fit my pumping time in between my appointments, I pump less and I end up needed to use a emergency frozen pack for the next day. That's the most frustrating part when I work so hard to get a stash of frozen breast milk and then need to use it because I cant relax. Its suppose to be for emergency not for non relaxing pumping sessions... So I guess my point is RELAX, easier said than done right!

The ABC's about bottle feeding expressed milk

Baby Bottle Nipples

There are two things most nipples are made from. One is silicone the other is latex and they come in various shapes. They also have different "flow rates," which correspond to the size of the nipple's hole. The flow rate will correspond with your babies age and or the way he/she eats.

2. Make sure you sterilize all your bottles

When using your bottles for the first time, sterilize them in a pot of boiling water for 5- 10 minutes. washing bottle after that initial sterilization is easy.. you can soak the bottles and nipples with detergent and hot water, or in the dishwasher.

3. Breast Milk or Formula that's it!

Avoid water or juice in a bottle. Your baby really only needs pumped breast milk or formula. For folks who are intermixing formula with breastfeeding, make sure your reading the directions carefully.

4. Warming Expressed Milk

Remember never to put your breast-milk in the microwave... it'll kill all the nutrients! Rather take your frozen milk and place it in warm water and let it thaw that way.


5. Avoid overfeeding...

A few signs that your baby is done eating will be: They will turn away from the bottle, stop sucking, or may even refuse the bottle and push it away. Once the baby starts to give you these signs, he/she is most likely finished.


6.How Long Can You Store Breast Milk?
Here are some general guidelines from La Leche League
- at room temperature (66-78°F, 19-26°C) for 4 hours (ideal), up to 6 hours (acceptable)(Some sources use 8 hours)
- in a refrigerator (<39°F, <4°C) for 72 hours (ideal); up to 8 days (acceptable)
- in a freezer (-0.4 to -4°F, -18 to -20°C) for 6 months (ideal) up to 12 months (acceptable)