Tag: breastmilk

Tips & Tricks

Supplementing with Formula

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Let’s talk about supplementing. It’s way more common than you think. Supplementing is a fact of life for many mommas, but can also be the key to prolonging your pumping journey!
How? Read on to find out:
*This post is NOT sponsored by any formula brands, nor is any specific brand mentioned/suggested/promoted within this post*

What is “supplementing?”

Let’s start with the basic idea of supplementing. When the breastfeeding community talks about “supplementing,” we are referring to something that is adding to your infant’s diet of breastmilk to fill any nutritional gaps. We also call this “combo feeding.” This is most commonly referring to supplementing a lowered supply of breastmilk with formula, but can mean supplementing with donor milk, solid foods when the baby is older, or even nutritional supplements like vitamins and minerals prescribed by your child’s pediatrician. For this blog post, we are going to focus on supplementing with formula.

Coming to terms with supplementing

The need to supplement can leave mommas feeling guilty about not being able to provide a complete diet of breastmilk for their baby. I get it, I’ve been there. Keep in mind, even if you can’t provide 100% breastmilk for your baby, they are still getting 100% of the benefits of your breastmilk. Read that again, because it’s true. That amount still matters. (For example, did you know that one teaspoon of breastmilk contains up to 3 million germ-killing cells? Wow!) Still, it can be hard to start supplementing. There can be feelings of failure. There can be feelings of guilt and grief. Let yourself feel your feelings, because they matter. Then, try reframing your mindset about supplementing. Formula was scientifically designed to help infants thrive. A mindset shift that helped me personally was this: Soon, there will be lots of things your baby will eat that you didn’t personally create with your body. Do you give yourself a hard time because you can’t create bananas, bread, or broccoli with your body? Of course not! Just group formula in with all the new foods that will nourish your baby.
I promise, there are so many silver linings to supplementing!

The benefits of supplementing

  • Supplementing can help improve baby’s bilirubin levels to combat jaundice.
  • Supplementing can help while a momma is actively working with a lactation professional to improve nursing or pumping.
  • Supplementing under a doctor’s guidance can help a baby who is struggling with weight gain.
  • Supplementing helps a momma with low supply keep offering breastmilk.
  • Supplementing can help mommas reach their breast pumping goal.
  • Supplementing can help momma ease up on her pumping schedule and potentially pump longer than anticipated because it feels more sustainable!
  • By combo-feeding, you can ensure baby is still getting the benefits of your breastmilk, no matter what amount you are able to provide. Think of it as the most personalized vitamin you can give them!

Keep in mind…

  • Replacing a feed with formula can negatively affect your supply if you aren’t pumping in place of a nursing session.
  • If you are supplementing while “waiting for your milk to come in,” you should be actively working to bring on the next stage of lactation by regularly pumping or nursing to bring on that mature milk.
  • If you are separated from baby, it is wise to pump every 3 hours to protect your supply.
  • It is always advised to work closely with a lactation professional to meet your feeding goals.
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What should I supplement with?

Ideally, supplementing with breastmilk would be “best.” Using your own freezer stash of milk would be great, but that’s not feasible for everyone. Supplementing with donor milk would also be great, but can be extremely pricey to purchase from milk banks. Some mommas are able to link up with family or a trusted friend who are willing and able to donate breastmilk. Others find local mommas on a HumanMilk4HumanBabies or EatsOnFeets facebook groups, both of which are considered “informal” mother-to-mother milk donation platforms that do not screen their donors like milk banks do.
If breastmilk is not available, your other choice is to supplement with formula. Despite clever marketing, there is no formula brand that matches the nutritional composition of breastmilk, it’s just not possible. Before buying a large amount of formula, I suggest seeing if your baby takes it without argument/difficulty. If you need a specialty kind, work with your pediatrician to find the ingredients best for your baby’s unique needs. My colleague Erin, the “Baby Feeding Coach” has a great page on understanding a formula label HERE. For a deeper dive, trust my friend Bridget Young, PhD, the “Baby Formula Expert” advice found HERE.

How do I supplement with formula?

There are many ways to use formula in supplementary feeding. Some mommas choose a specific time of day, such as nighttime feeding by a helpful partner, or when their baby is at daycare. Some pumpers alternate feeds between breastmilk bottles and formula bottles. Another choice is to offer a partial feed of breastmilk and supplement the rest with formula. Some mommas choose to do this with two separate bottles, or feeding the breastmilk first, then putting formula in the empty breastmilk bottle to finish the feed. Others choose to mix the formula and breastmilk together in one feeding bottle.
Try easing into formula introduction when baby is in a good mood. An overly tired or hungry baby is in no mood to try something new. Once you know that baby will accept the bottle of formula, you can gradually increase how much you offer them.

Can I mix breastmilk and formula?

The short answer is yes. Yes, you can mix breastmilk and formula as long as it is done safely. Breastmilk should never replace the water used to mix up powdered formula. If you plan to mix breastmilk and formula, prepare the formula as directed, and then add breastmilk to it. According to Dr. Bridget Young, there is evidence of proteases (enzymes that break down protein) in breastmilk helping to digest the proteins in formula, which can result in easier digestion for baby. This will happen if you feed the breastmilk and formula in the same bottle, or back-to-back in the same feeding.
Are there any reasons NOT to mix breastmilk and formula? You should be sure your baby does not reject the formula you are offering. If they reject the bottle, you may be wasting that liquid gold (a.k.a your precious breastmilk!) Another reason is that once baby has started feeding from a formula bottle, you need to use it within an hour. With breastmilk, that rule is use within 2 hours.

Storing prepared formula

Once prepared, formula should be used within 24 hours. Mommas who prepare a pitcher of formula in advance should use the formula within 24 hours. If baby begins to drink from the bottle, it is advised to use that bottle within 1 hour, without putting it back in the fridge to save for later in the day.

Sources:

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Keeping Breastmilk Cold

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As the summer heats up, we’re all wondering the same thing- How do I keep my breastmilk cold when I’m out and about? Here are some tried-and-true ways to chill out about keeping your liquid gold safe from the heat. (And some answers to the burning questions I know you’ll have!)

Storing breastmilk in a cooler

Breastmilk can be stored safely in a cooler with ice/ice packs for 24 hours. This time range is a bit arbitrary because it doesn’t take into account ice melting/outside temperatures. If you are concerned about how cold your cooler is, consider buying a digital or analog thermometer to keep inside the cooler with your milk. The inside of your cooler should be able to keep milk at approximately 40 degrees. It’s a good idea to refresh ice frequently if you’re using lose ice as opposed to a frozen ice pack.

Is a hard-sided or soft-sided cooler better for storing breastmilk?

As long as you keep frozen ice packs or refresh your lose ice, it really doesn’t matter which kind of cooler you get. I have found that hard-sided coolers usually have the best ratings for keeping food colder longer. Splurge: Yeti Roadie Cooler Save: Coleman Chiller Series. There are really quality soft-sided coolers available nowadays, too! Splurge: Ice Chest Box by RTIC. Save: OPUX Soft Cooler Bag. While these coolers are larger and can store more than just your breastmilk, you may wish to get a breastmilk-only cooler like the ColdGold by Sarah Wells (save at sarahwells.com with code PUMPMOMMAPUMP15). As with anything you purchase online, I suggest reading through the reviews thoroughly. If you will be out in the sun all day (Like at the beach) or in a hot car, I suggest getting a quality cooler with great reviews for keeping cool the longest. (Pricier coolers generally have better quality insulation, in my experience.) You can always do a test-run at home with the cooler and a thermometer.

Storing breastmilk in a CeresChill chiller

Keep your breastmilk chilled in the Ceres Chill. In my opinion, their breastmilk chiller is a MUST-HAVE for pumping mommas on the go. You can put up to 24 ounces of breastmilk in the outer chamber with ice in the inner chamber, or you can put up to 12 ounces of breastmilk in the inner chamber and fill out outer chamber with ice! They even have a smaller version of their original chiller, but the original is the best seller. Learn more about this clever invention in my blog post titled: “Yes, you do need a CeresChill!” Use code: PUMPITUP to save at cerechill.com

Storing breastmilk in a mini-fridge

If you are staying in a hotel, call and see if there is a mini-fridge in your hotel room. If not, you may choose to bring your own mini refrigerator to store your breastmilk in. This refrigerator should keep your breastmilk at a safe temperature (35-40 degrees) just like your fridge at home. Breastmilk is best used or switched to a freezer within 4 days of being put into the refrigerator. For a smaller option, consider this personal sized mini fridge, or a plug-in cooler (This one has a car adapter or traditional wall plug option!)

Using dry ice to transport breastmilk

Dry ice is often suggested for use when transporting frozen breastmilk*, such as when you are moving cross-country and need to keep your freezer stash safe. Dry ice should never touch your frozen breastmilk bags directly, as it could burn through the plastic. Always use leather gloves when working with dry ice, and pack any free space in your freezer with newspaper or brown packing paper.
* I would not recommend dry ice for daily use.

Gimmie the FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • What temperature is safe for storing breastmilk? The CDC recommends keeping milk at a refrigerated temperature of 35-40 degrees.
  • What temperature even IS “room temp” anyway??? “Room temperature” is defined as the temperature range from 68-74 degrees. Breastmilk is good for about 4 hours at room temp.
  • What do I do if I leave my breastmilk out in the heat too long? If your breastmilk sits out in the heat for longer than an hour or two, you should not feel it to your baby. Instead, give it a sniff. Smells like it’s gone bad? Toss it. Smells ok? Add it to their next bath! It’s terrific for their skin! (Or your own bath!)
  • Can my baby drink cold milk? Absolutely! Some babies may be hesitant to drink cold milk if they are used to drinking warm milk. Try room temp first, and then work your way to cold milk. Feeding baby cold milk is also a good way to cool them off on a hot day!
  • Will my baby get a cold from drinking cold milk? This is an old wive’s tale and not true. Cold milk is perfectly safe for your baby to drink. The common cold is a virus and babies cannot catch viruses from cold milk, so don’t worry!
  • Why can’t I just put my breastmilk in my Stanley cup? If you put warm, freshly pumped milk into a regular insulated cup, it will keep your breastmilk warm. If you put freshly pumped milk into a thermal cup and place that thermal cup into the refrigerator or cooler with ice packs, you are actually insulating your milk FROM the cold! Yup! You’re keeping it warmer, longer, and the cup will actually protect your milk from the cold, not chill it. 

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Managing Your Freezer Stash

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Freezer Stash- n. Collection of surplus breastmilk frozen for later use. Whether you are considering starting up a freezer stash or looking for advice on how to use yours, this post is for you! You might be wondering why it might be beneficial to freeze milk, how best to store it, when and how to begin using it, and how to figure out how long it’ll last! All this and more is coming your way. Read on, momma!
*Trigger warning- This blog post contains images and descriptions of large breastmilk freezer stashes. If this troubles you, please close out of this blog post.*

Disclaimers: This post contains affiliate links and codes from trusted brands. All images in this post were either donated with permission or taken by me.

Do I need a freezer stash?

There’s no cut-and-dry answer for this.

Many mommas who predominately nurse baby at the breast do not choose or need to store extra milk. It may be wise, however, to save a few day’s worth of ounces in the freezer (breastmilk fed babies can take up to 30 ounces a day) in case of emergencies. One momma I worked with was admitted into the hospital with appendicitis without warning and was glad she had a bit of milk stored up! Saving a bit of milk can also come in handy if you’re planning to be apart from baby. If you are planning to be separated from baby over the time you’d nurse, you’ll need to leave milk for the baby, and pump at the time you’d normally nurse.

For exclusive pumpers with oversupply, it’s wise to keep a day or two ahead in the refrigerator, and freeze the rest. This milk can be fed when you begin to wean and extend the time you are able to offer breastmilk. Some mommas choose to donate their extra frozen milk formally (milk bank) or informally (mother-to-mother, directly.)

Mommas who supplement with formula can offer partial breastmilk and partial formula, and freeze the rest. This can actually help exclusive pumpers reduce the number of times they pump daily and have proven to pump for longer than they originally planned because their schedule becomes more manageable. A partial diet of breastmilk is still hugely beneficial to your baby, offering white blood cells and antibodies in addition to daily nutritional benefits.

My personal stash story:

With my first baby, I set a goal to exclusively pump for six months. When I hit the six month mark, I began to reduce my pumping schedule to gain a bit more freedom, and began supplementing with formula. Since my son was starting many other foods at this age, supplementing was not a huge mental hurdle for me- I grouped formula in with all the other foods nurturing my baby that I did not personally make. (You don’t give yourself a hard time for not producing pureed yams and apples with your breasts, right? Just group formula in with other additional nutrition!) I switched to 50/50 breastmilk and formula. I stashed my extra milk in the freezer and was able to not only surpass my original pumping goal, but to offer breastmilk longer than I imagined!
With my second baby, who I also exclusively pumped for, I created an unintentional freezer stash because she was having trouble digesting my milk in addition to a milk protein allergy. I donated 1,000 ounces of frozen breastmilk that contained dairy to another baby. When we discovered that she was digesting my milk comfortably with a 50/50 breastmilk-formula ratio, I was able to stash extra breastmilk and once again feed greater freedom with my pumping schedule and offer breastmilk longer than I imagined.

Check for high lipase!

Lipase is an enzyme found in all breastmilk that helps break down fats. It’s a good thing! But some women struggle with high levels of this enzyme, causing their milk to smell or taste funny. You usually won’t notice the smell until you defrost your milk after freezing. High lipase can cause your milk to smell soapy or metallic. (Breastmilk without high levels of lipase usually has a mild smell or no smell at all, and slightly sweet taste.) High lipase milk is ok for baby to drink, but they may not want to. I strongly encourage you to TEST EARLY for high lipase before stashing away a ton of milk! Freeze and defrost milk early to test this out. How do you “test” your milk? Just thaw some breastmilk and give it to your baby! If baby takes it, no problem! If not, you’ll have to scald your milk BEFORE feeding or try one of the tricks listed in my blog post on high lipase.

How do I store all this milk?

Storing breastmilk in “bricks” can really help freezer space and organization…AND flat bags thaw quicker! I stored 5 ounces of milk per bag, removed as much of the excess air as possible, frozen flat on a tray, and then assembled into bricks of 50 ounces in gallon-size ziplock bags. When freezing super flat using a “freese-it-flat” or between boxes of fish sticks like me, you get reallllly flat bags capable of stacking together nicely in gallon ziplocks! This uniformity makes it very easy to stack and count. Check the image below and the storage page of my website for more information on the logistics of milk storage.

I highly suggest freezing in breastmilk storage bags instead of bottles. More and more companies are making silicone freezer bags as a reusable option. (Save on Junobie brand with code PUMPMOMMA10) Some mommas store smaller quantities of milk in silicone trays and then once frozen, transfer to larger storage containers. (Save on SouperCubes with code PUMPMOMMAPUMP10)

Many mommas end up buying a chest freezer for their breastmilk. I recently helped a friend stock their 5 cubic foot chest freezer with approximately 2,000 ounces of breastmilk. If you are a massive overproducer, you might need a larger chest freezer. We personally purchased a 3.5cu feet smaller model chest freezer and still call it the “milk freezer” to this date (even though it’s now full of chicken nuggets instead of breastmilk!)

How long will it last in the freezer?

Breastmilk is good for up to 12 months in the freezer. The CDC used to specify different lengths of time for different types of freezers. They changed their recommendations to “best by 6 months, good up to 12 months” regardless of freezer style.

First in, First out!

When it’s time to begin using your stash, think “First in, First out!” Make sure to rotate your freezer stash by feeding the oldest milk first, and freezing new milk. When doing the “brick method” as described above, write the MONTH really large on the sides/top of the brick- this way, you can immediately know what milk to pull from the freezer! (You can write a date range if you are really organized, but I find that the month is good enough.)

How do I begin using my stash?

This part is up to you! Here are a few ideas of how I’ve seen mommas use their freezer stash.

  • BOTTLE-A-DAY – Give one bottle of frozen breastmilk per day
  • FREEZER FRIDAYS – Choose one day of the week to use frozen milk
  • DAYCARE – Use frozen breastmilk on daycare days
  • SUPPLEMENT – Go 50/50 with thawed breastmilk and formula, either half bottles of breastmilk and
  • MIX IT UP- Combine frozen and fresh breastmilk in feeding bottles *must be used within 24 hrs of final thaw
  • DONATE – Consider donating excess breastmilk formally (through a milk bank) or informally (direct mother-to-mother donation)
  • EXTEND THE END – Extend the time your baby receives breastmilk by continuing to feed frozen milk after you have weaned from fresh milk production.

For more info on introducing a bottle after exclusively nursing, visit my blog post on the topic.

This beautiful momma donated 2,000 ounces to our friend’s baby after she passed away last November

Safely combining frozen milk with fresh breastmilk or formula

It’s completely fine to combine your frozen breastmilk with freshly expressed breastmilk or formula as long as you do it safely. It’s a wise idea to make sure your baby takes frozen milk first, so you do not waste whatever you mix it with. For mommas with high lipase, mixing it with fresh milk or formula may disguise the stronger flavor of the thawed milk!

When mixing thawed breastmilk with freshly expressed milk, temperatures don’t matter as long as you are feeding it to baby right away. You can even thaw larger amounts and combine with fresh in a pitcher, as long as you use this combined milk within 24 hours of complete thaw (going by recommendations for thawed milk here instead of fresh!)

When mixing thawed breastmilk with formula, prepare formula as directed first, then add thawed breastmilk. Use within 24 hours after mixing. *DO NOT use breastmilk as a replacement for water when preparing powdered formula!* Breastmilk can actually help your baby digest the formula!

I recommend using the Dr Brown’s pitcher

Can I feed my older baby milk from when they were younger?

Absolutely! They will most likely need the same amount, or a tiny bit more, than they current drink. I suggest offering the amount you are used to offering, and heating up more if needed, so you do not waste milk. The only word of caution I have about this comes to colostrum. That thick yellow milk from the first few days after birth is still hugely beneficial to your baby, but may act as a bit of a laxitive if given in concentration, so I suggest diluting it in more mature milk. You can even give an older child your baby’s frozen milk! Some people use it in cereals, smoothies, or sippy cups!

Both my pumplings enjoying my milk!

How long will my stash last?

Here’s where you’ve got to do a bit of math. Take the amount of ounces you froze and divide it by the number of ounces your baby drinks per day. (Example- 1000 ounces divided by 30 oz/day = 33 days of milk.) Most breastmilk-fed babies continue to take the same daily total ounces until they are 12 months old, when most pediatricians suggest increasing solid meals and reducing milk to ~16oz/day.

What about a power outage?

The thought of losing an entire freezer stash is horrifying, isn’t it? I highly suggest equipping your chest freezer with a freezer alarm (they even make wifi freezer alarms now!), and taking the necessary precautions for impending outages. I have an entire blog post on what to do if your power goes out, so be sure to bookmark it incase your house experiences a power outage (especially during hurricane or winter storm seasons!)

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Tips & Tricks

Yes, You do Need a Ceres Chill® Breastmilk Chiller

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We’re talkin’ all things Ceres Chill today. In my opinion, their breastmilk chiller is a MUST-HAVE for pumping mommas on the go. There’s nothing out there as compact, as versatile, and honestly as genius as this chiller and if it takes a whole blog post to prove it to ya, that’s what I’m gonna do! If you’re reading this, you probably a) are considering getting a chiller and want to know if it’s worth it, b) already have the chiller and want to get the most out of your purchase, or even c) never heard of the chiller but you’ll admit… now you’re intrigued. Read on my friend, read on….

I get really pumped about cool pumping stuff, ok?

Why the Ceres Chill?

Why not a Yeti, or Stanley, or other insulated cup? Wouldn’t that be just as good? Short answer: No. Long answer: Nope, and here’s why! If you put warm, freshly pumped milk into a regular insulated cup, it will keep your breastmilk warm. (And we don’t want that! We want to get that milk chilled, right?) If you put freshly pumped milk into a thermal cup and place that thermal cup into the refrigerator or cooler with ice packs, you are actually insulating your milk FROM the cold! Yup! You’re keeping it warmer, longer, and the cup will actually protect your milk from the cold, not chill it. Enter the Ceres Chill, which chills your milk from the inside, and then insulated it from the environment around it, keeping it chilled.

How do you use it?

For a complete user’s guide, visit CeresChill.com It’s so simple: To store a smaller amount of breastmilk (up to 12oz): Fill the Outer Chamber with enough ice to be in contact with the bottom of the Inner Chamber and a splash of cold water (no more than 1/4 cup), so that the Inner Chamber is immersed in the ice and water when reassembled. Shake
the ice and water around a bit to screw the Connector and Inner Chamber back on to the Chiller. To store a larger amount of breastmilk (up to 24oz): Pour milk into the Outer Chamber. Fill the Inner Chamber with as much ice as you can fit, and a splash of water, and submerge inner chamber into the breastmilk.

Heating up breastmilk on the go

This is a question I get A LOT. How do you heat up breastmilk on the go? When I told you that Ceres Chill has thought of everything… I wasn’t kidding! Fill your “chiller” with hot water before leaving the house (no internal chiller chamber needed) and when it’s time to head baby’s bottle, attach the bottle securely to the inside of the lid and warm milk. (Warmed milk should be no warmer than the inside of your wrist, so make sure to check!) SO convenient!

Mommy juice

YES the chiller can be used beyond breast pumping! I love when baby items have lasting use, long after the baby stage… it’s the best bang for your buck, ya know? Get the Happily Ever After bundle to turn your chiller into a water bottle with infuser! The bundle comes with an infuser attachment, a sippy cup attachment, and a straw lid for mom! Oh… and it can also fit an entire bottle (750ml) of wine WITH the internal chilling chamber to fully chill a bottle of wine in 30 minutes!

Save on the CeresChill with code: PUMPITUP

F.A.Q.s

Check out the full list of frequently asked questions on the CeresChill website. Here are the questions I get over at Pump Momma Pump:

  • “Can I add freshly pumped milk to chilled milk?” YES (See video below!)
  • “Why can’t I just use my stanley cup? It’s cheaper!” I hope I fully answered this for you under ‘Why Ceres Chill?’ above. If not, DM me and I’ll explain it!
  • “Can I fly with it?” You absolutely can! (And this is a GREAT use for the chiller!) When you go through security, just dump the current ice water and refill with ice and water at any dining location in your airport!
  • “Do you use it yourself?” Yes I did, and I now use it for wine! I just got the DemiGoddess and I want to find creative ways to use that one as well.
  • “How long does it keep breastmilk cool for?” ALL DAY! (And you can very very easily add more ice once the current ice melts!) Kristen from @bemybreastfriend recently did a pretty intense temperature study and the original CeresChill won by a landslide!
[Adding freshly pumped milk to chilled milk]

Other ways to buy:

Disclaimer 1: I was originally gifted the Ceres Chill back in MARCH OF 2020… yup, I kid you not. A chiller for “on the go” when I wasn’t allowed to goooo anywhere! While it quickly became an ESSENTIAL item for essential workers, I’m kicking myself for not getting it sooner, when I was back to work as a pumping mom before the world shut down. Disclaimer 2: While this blog post was sponsored by CeresChill, I do not currently make money off of sales for the chiller.

The Sarah Wells Allie Sling Bag was designed to hold a full-size chiller in the outer pocket! (What a great combo!)

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Tips & Tricks

Protecting your milk when the power goes out

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It’s September! Storm season is upon us, in many part of the U.S. (Or maybe you’re reading this in the winter when there’s about to be a snow storm!) Here’s how to get prepared before a power outage, or react to an unforeseen outage, and protect your frozen breastmilk.

An outage is coming! What do I do?

If you have a heads-up about a planned power outage or impending storm, take precaution now. If you have a small/easily manageable amount of breastmilk, this will be an easier task. If you’ve amassed quite a freezer stash, this could take some more intensive planning. You’re already here reading this, so that’s a great start. *High Five* You’ve got this, momma!

Move your stash

With advance notice, you can move your stash to a safer location. Chances are, a neighbor is sharing the same electricity grid, so move it farther than next door. If you have family or friends with space, ask if you can store your milk at their house. In extreme cases, I have known families to load an entire chest freezer into a pickup truck and plug it in at their parent’s garage.
If your house is in danger of flooding and you must evacuate, transfer your milk to a quality, hard-sided cooler and take it with you. Pack the cooler with hard ice packs surrounding your breastmilk.

Dry or bagged ice

Run out for bags of ice to load into your freezer. Surround your breastmilk with the bagged ice. You may even want to double-bag the ice incase it begins to melt. If you choose to get dry ice, be sure to handle it carefully, with thick gloved. It is recommended to put your dry ice in a separate container away from your milk. If it comes into contact with your breastmilk bag, it can burn through the side of the bag and cause milk to leak out.

Fill your freezer

A full freezer stays colder, longer. Fill any large empty spaces with crumpled newspaper, or even a bed comforter! If you are using a cooler instead, make sure to pack any open space with crumpled newspaper. This reduces air flow and keeps the freezer colder for longer.

The coin trick

Freeze a cup of water and place a coin on top of it in your freezer. After power returns, check your cup. If the coin is still on top, everything has stayed frozen. If the coin is at the bottom of a cup of water, a full thaw has occurred. If the coin is at the bottom of a frozen cup of water, the freezer has fully thawed and frozen again. Breastmilk should not be refrozen once fully thawed. (Though if it’s only partially thawed, breastmilk can be refrozen!)

My power went out with no warning, what do I do?

Your freezer = a cooler

The power is out… no electricity… your freezer is now a really great cooler, so treat it like one. Surround your breastmilk with freezer gel packs, which stay cooler longer than ice made with water. Resist the urge to obsessively check on your freezer stash! The less you open it, the cooler it will stay, so keep it tightly closed! Consider taping the seal on your freezer to keep it from getting opened, and to resist the urge to open it yourself.

Winter = nature’s freezer

Are you living in an area with current snowfall? Consider double or triple bagging up your milk stash and moving it into a shady, protected spot, completely surrounded by thick snow.

Refreezing breastmilk

If you breastmilk has only partially thawed, and still has ice chunks or ice crystals, you can refreeze it! The clock does not start over, it’s still good for up to 12 months.

Fully thawed breastmilk

If your milk has thawed completely (no ice crystals left) it will need to be used within 24 hours. If you have milk that has thawed longer than 24 hours, give it a smell. If it smells ok, write “do not feed” on the bag of milk, refreeze, and use for milk baths! If it smells sour, dump it. (You wouldn’t want to bathe with spoiled milk!)

My own experience

The longest outage I have personally experienced was 35 hours without electricity. I had several bricks (See the brick method of storage HERE) of breastmilk in my chest freezer and harldy any of it thawed. A few baggies began to thaw and could be refrozen. We tried not to open the freezer during the outage, to keep it cooler, longer. Huge *High Five* to our chest freezer, right? Phew!

Sources:

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Tips & Tricks

Frozen breastmilk smell or taste weird? Could be high lipase!

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Here I am, shaking my fist at the sky and shouting…. “WHY DIDN’T THEY TEST THEIR MILK FIRST before freezing hundreds of ounces?!” IYKYK. If you don’t know what I am talking about, here’s the buzzword of the day- HIGH LIPASE. (I guess that’s two words, actually.) What is it, why does it matter, and why should you test your milk for it before starting your freezer stash?

This is one of those things that makes me crazy. Mommas with entire freezer stashes who never tested their milk for high lipase! We get so obsessed with freezer stashes and then I get messages complaining that baby won’t take any of the milk because it tastes funny. AARGH!!! Save this and send this to your pregnant or breastfeeding friends… PLEASE! 

Before I begin… it needs to be said: First and foremost, focus on feeding your baby. Grow and protect your milk supply so that you can feed your baby. Many mommas see pictures of stashes online and feel like they need to have tons of milk stashed away. Don’t let that overwhelm you. Focus on making enough to feed baby first.

What is High Lipase?

Lipase is an enzyme found in all breastmilk that helps break down fats. It’s a good thing! But some women struggle with high levels of this enzyme causing their milk to smell or taste funny. You usually won’t notice the smell until you defrost your milk after freezing, but some women may smell it after multiple days in the fridge. What does it smell like? High lipase can cause your milk to smell soapy or metallic. (Breastmilk without high levels of lipase usually has a mild smell or no smell at all, and slightly sweet taste.) High lipase milk is ok for baby to drink, but they may not want to.

I strongly encourage you to TEST EARLY for high lipase before stashing away a ton of milk! Freeze and defrost milk early to test this out. How do you “test” your milk? Just thaw some breastmilk and give it to your baby! If baby takes it, no problem! If not, you’ll have to scald your milk BEFORE feeding or try one of the tricks listed below.

What Can Be Done About High Lipase?

If you know your milk contains high levels of lipase, consider doing either (or both!) of these two things before freezing: Scalding and Freezing right away:

1) Scalding– You can scald your milk first by bringing the breastmilk ALMOST to a boil but don’t boil! For greater accuracy, heat it to 180 degrees Fahrenheit then remove it from heat. (Honestly I watched a YouTube video demo and it helped me understand scalding) Freeze milk after scalding. For mommas with a larger supply to freeze, you can combine breastmilk in a pitcher in the fridge and scald a bunch at one time. Scalding will not work with thawed breastmilk, only fresh. After doing this, thaw and test your milk to see if baby will take it.

Here are a few videos on scalding breastmilk:

2) Freezing right away– The longer breastmilk sits in your fridge, the more developed the flavor. Try to freeze milk as soon as possible, without allowing it to sit in the fridge overnight or for several days before freezing. Then, thaw and test your milk to see if baby will take it.

Baby Won’t Take My Thawed Breastmilk! What do I do?

If you haven’t tested out your frozen breastmilk by thawing some and serving it to baby, now’s the time to do it! *Here is your sign!* Milk with excess lipase is safe to drink and many babies accept it without issue. However if your baby is rejecting your high lipase milk, here are some options for you:

  • Freeze right away: The flavor of high lipase becomes stronger as milk sits in the refrigerator, so getting that milk frozen as soon as possible will help.
  • Scald before freezing: Scalding milk before freezing can reduce or eliminate the flavor of high lipase milk.
  • Serve cold: Sometimes cold milk will taste milder than warmed up milk.
  • Mix with fresh milk: Try it in small amounts so you don’t waste it if baby rejects it.
  • Add vanilla extract: One drop of non-alcoholic vanilla extract often works. Ask your pediatrician if you are at all concerned about adding vanilla.
  • Mix with formula: Formula has a much different/stronger flavor than breastmilk. By mixing your high lipase with formula, the flavor may be masked.
  • Mix with babyfood/baby cereal: I forgot to put that in my graphic! Oops!

There is no guarantee these tricks will work, but why not given them a try? Always start with smaller quantities of milk so you don’t waste it. Always feed fresh, as high lipase usually doesn’t develop strong flavors until you freeze and thaw it.

What about Chemical Oxidation?

Milk with high lipase smells and tastes soapy or metallic…. but if your milk smells or tastes rancid/like vomit, it could be “chemical oxidation” and should not be given to baby. According to Dr. Nicola Singletary, PhD, MAT, IBCLC, “There is a lot of information out there about lipase issues, but very little about chemical oxidation. And most of what we know is found in dairy industry journals.” Nancy Mohrbacher, breastfeeding author and IBCLC, mentions some specific changes to the mother’s diet may help preserve breast milk in this situation.

What can be done to prevent chemical oxidation?

  • Avoid fish-oil or flaxseed supplements
  • Avoid anchovies, oils, and nuts that can easily become rancid
  • Increase antioxidants in diet by taking beta carotene and vitamin E
  • Switch to bottled water if there is high iron/copper in your tap water

Scalding cannot fix chemical oxidation. You should not try to mask the flavor like you would with high lipase. If your milk smells or tastes rancid/like vomit, throw it out!

Be sure to follow Pump Momma Pump on Instagram for education, motivation, and support! (And more great tips like these!)

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Tips & Tricks

Get down with your “Let Down”

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Let-down: Your “let-down” is your milk ejection reflex. Nipple stimulation signals your body to produce oxytocin to signal to your aveoli [milk making cells] to release milk down into your ducts and out your nipple. Many women feel tingly or even pain during this, lasting briefly. You may also feel sudden fullness or leaking. If you don’t feel it, you may just see milk beginning to come out ideally in the first 2 min of pumping.

Some mommas can turn on their breast pump and experience a let down nearly instantly. Other women have to work for it. Why isn’t it always automatic? What factors could inhibit your letdown?

  • STRESS and anxiety (Blame it on your hormones cortisol and adrenaline!) This is why you may experience a quick letdown at home but maybe not at work
  • CAFFEINE and alcohol can inhibit your milk ejection reflex
  • COLD. Yup, being too cold can stress your body out and you might not be able to relax
  • PAIN. Pain also causes stress which inhibits your letdown
  • WEAK SUCTION- Make sure you replaced your valves/membranes! (Exclusive pumpers should change these monthly, occasional pumpers every 3 months)
  • INCORRECT PUMP MODE- Start with quick cycle, low vacuum. (start on letdown/massage/bacon mode- sometimes this looks like a button with wavy bacon lines, or drops)
  • NERVE DAMAGE from breast surgery

TIPS FOR LETDOWN:

PHYSICAL suggestions to help your milk to let down:
⭐️ Warm, moist heat before pumping (or a warm shower!) Try warming your flanges or using those boobie heating packs before or during pumping
⭐️ Get comfortable! Support your upper back with a pillow. Add a blanket on your lap.
⭐️ Sip on a warm beverage and getting calm and cozy
⭐️Stand up, lean over and shake your breasts together (seriously!)
⭐️Massage each breast with a circular motion
⭐️ Nipple simulation! Gently roll your nipples between your thumb and forefinger (avoid this if your nipples are sore)


PSYCHOLOGICAL methods to help your milk let down:
👉Look at and touch your baby while pumping
👉Have a picture of your baby to look at while you pump if you are separated
👉Watch and listen to a video clip of your baby crying on your phone
👉 Have a t-shirt or something your baby has worn to have baby’s scent nearby
👉 Be in a warm, quiet, private environment. Have a door that locks and put a sign on the door.
Take some slow, deep, relaxing breaths. Try to separate yourself and thoughts from your work environment, thinking about your baby instead.
👉 Think positive thoughts: visualize milk flowing from your breasts or a dam bursting and a huge amount of water rushing down a narrow canyon
👉Play relaxing music
Watch something on TV or read a book or magazine if being distracted and not concentrating on pumping works better for you

I love that Sarah Wells bags have a pocket for a baby picture!
Save using code PUMPMOMMAPUMP15 Link HERE

FUN FACT

Did you know that you can CONDITION your body to experience a letdown? (Kind of like Pavlov’s dogs salivating every time they heard a bell!)
Say you light the same candle, drink the same tea, look at the same video of your baby, or listen to the same music every single time you begin to pump… your body may become conditioned to experience a letdown next time you drink that tea or smell that candle…. isn’t that cool? That’s why you might experience a letdown when you hear someone else’s baby cry in the grocery store (or something like that!) Bodies are so stinkin fascinating!