Recommendations:

Your milk supply will be established during the first few days and weeks after the birth of your baby. Nursing early (within the first half-hour), and frequently (on demand, or 8 - 12 times per day), allows you to nurse comfortably and efficiently. It usually takes less than 1 minute for an infant to stimulate the milk ejection reflex. You should feel little discomfort or pain when breastfeeding appropriately.

Within 6 - 8 weeks, your milk supply will adjust to your baby's needs. Before that time, your breasts may feel either too full or empty. Frequent, comfortable feedings will maintain your milk supply. Your milk supply will increase or decrease based on your baby's hunger and energetic sucking (milk demand or use). Changes in your milk supply will occur within 1 - 3 days after changes in milk demand or use.

MILK HANDLING AND STORAGE

When storing milk for home use, wash your hands before expressing (pumping). Use containers that have been washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed well. Always date the milk before storing it.

Fresh breast milk can be kept at room temperature up to 8 hours, and refrigerated for 5 to 7 days. Frozen milk can be kept in a freezer compartment inside the refrigerator for 2 weeks; in a separate door refrigerator/freezer up to 3 or 4 months; or in a deep freezer at constant 0 degrees for 6 months. Frozen and thawed milk can be refrigerated for up to 9 hours, but it should not be refrozen.

Plastic containers are the best for storing breast milk. For freezing, use small (2 or 3 ounce) containers to avoid the waste of unused portions at the end of the day. Refrigerated milk and frozen milk should be warmed under a stream of warm tap water. Never microwave breast milk -- overheating destroys valuable nutrients and "hot spots" can scald your baby.

Related topics:

• Breastfeeding tips
• Breastfeeding resources
• Overcoming breastfeeding problems
• Self care for mothers who breastfeed