When the mother works outside the home
How to remove milk by hand
1. Wash a jar and lid with soap and clean water and leave them in the sun
to dry.
If possible, pour some boiling water into the jar and then pour it out just
before using it. This will kill germs in the jar, and keep the milk safe.
2. Wash your hands well.
3. Put your fingers and thumb at the edge of the
dark part of the breast (areola), and press in
towards the chest.
4. Gently press the fingers together and roll
them towards the nipple. Do not pinch or pull
the nipple. Removing milk should not hurt.
5. Move your fingers all the way around the areola
so the milk can come out of the whole breast.
Do this with each breast until it is empty.
At first, not much milk will come out, but with
practice, more will come. The mother can
usually remove more milk if she is in a quiet,
calm place and feels relaxed. Thinking about her
baby while she removes her milk may help the
milk flow for her.
Saving milk
Breast milk should be saved in clean, boiled containers. Keep it covered in a cool
place, away from sunlight.
Breast milk can sit in a room for about 8 hours before it spoils — as long as the
room is not very hot. It can be stored even longer if it is kept cold.
Try wrapping the jar in wet cloths. Milk stored in a refrigerator can
last for 2 or 3 days. It can also be kept in a very cold freezer for
up to 2 weeks, but once it thaws it should not be frozen again.
To warm up milk that has been stored, put the container of milk
in a bowl of warm water. Do not microwave breast milk.
WARNING! Milk that cannot be kept cold will spoil and
should be thrown out. If milk smells sour or strange, throw
it out. Spoiled breast milk can make a baby very sick.
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A Book for Midwives (2010)