Mixing Breast Milk?

Question

I am a working mother, and I am forced to pump milk because I am not home with my daughter all day. They tell me not to mix milk from different pump sessions even if they are only a couple hours apart. My question is.
1. Say I am pumping and I only get 2oz at noon and pump again say at 3 and only get another 2oz. 2oz is not enough for my daughter, she eats about 4. If she will be eating both at the same time, what is the problem if I put it in the same baggy and freeze it together rather than putting it in two separate bags.
2. I understand their is a very intricate science to freezing, so if that is not ok, then is it ok to put the two feedings into one bottle and put it in the fridge?

I just wanted to see why you shouldnt mix them, I don't see any harm in it aside from the time of day you pumped, but then again as long as you use it by the earlier of the two times that I dont think there should be a problem...

Thanks for helping me on this!!

"They" is the lady I bought the pump from. She is a private consultant. I didn't see why it would be a problem, I just thought I would ask some other mommies :)

Answer 1

Who is "they", of course you can mix different sessions, almost all mothers do. Breastmilk is not really that perishable.

It keeps 8 days in the fridge, now if you kept it for half that time in the fridge then you should probably only store it half the allotted time in the freezer (3-6 months in a separate fridge freezer)

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html
"Milk from different pumping sessions/days may be combined in one container – use the date of the first milk expressed.

Breastmilk is not spoiled unless it smells really bad or tastes sour."


http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/storagehandling.html
"While it was originally thought that a mother had to cool her fresh breastmilk before combining it with previously expressed cooled milk, the latest research now shows that you may pump directly into already refrigerated or cooled milk as long as the milk is added within 24 hours of the first milk expressed. You should then follow the storage recommendations based upon the time and date of the first milk expressed. You may pump directly into milk that has been stored at room temperature as long as you do so within 10 hours. This milk would need to then be used.

You may add your fresh milk to what you have already frozen as long as you chill the fresh milk first for about half an hour and it is a smaller amount than the amount that you are adding it to."

Answer 2

You can mix, mix, mix. Just be sure to put the date of the older milk on the baggy.

I work and pump as well. I freeze my milk in 2-3 ounce amounts. That way it's easy to defrost only as much milk as baby is going to eat. There's no problem mixing a couple days of milk together.

The freezer science isn't that big of a deal. You just date your baggies and take the oldest out of the freezer for feedings. Throw away milk after 6 months in the freezer.

Answer 3

The tea is not as concentrated as taking supplements directly. Try 9 capsules of fenugreek, and 9 capsules of blessed thistle per day (you'd need to drink something like 12 cups of tea to equal this). Also, avoid cold remedies, mint, sage, thyme seasonings. Eat oatmeal, and take flaxseed oil supplements, and a little beer can help too. Make sure you are pumping EVERY time you give a bottle, and pump for a few minutes once you are dry. Try using a supplemental nursing system so she will continue to nurse, but she gets the formula at the same time. Make sure also that you are pumping at least every two hours. But when she's with you, nurse every two hours, even if she doesn't seem hungry, don't offer her any solids, and use the SNS if necessary. I noticed my babies got fussy between ovulation and period time, so I took the supplements starting on day 14 (I ovulate on day 16), until about day 25. For mixing the formula with the breastmilk....I'd keep it separate actually,. but you do have to mix the formula to the right concentration before adding it to the breastmilk. Great job getting to 6 months!!!!!!

Answer 4

It's ok to mix... just be sure that what you are mixing is the same temperature.

If you pump at noon, put it in the fridge, then pump at 3, put the later milk in the fridge to cool down before mixing with the other chilled milk. When freezing, never add fresh/warm milk to already frozen stuff... that should also be chilled.
You can combine, just be careful about the temperatures...
That's what I was told to do by nurses, anyways.

Answer 5

My son was born at 27 weeks and spent 75 days in the NICU. I pumped from the day he was born and brought the milk to the hospital. The nurses would mix together enough milk to get them through each shift. If the NICU, the institution responsible for the care of the smallest and most delicate babies, does it then it must be OK.

Answer 6

I think they just say that so women don't get the wrong idea about times & age of pumped milk...
Like this:
say you pump today & then tomorrow... which I am sure you do...
The milk you pumped each time will like: have different expiration dates. They don't recommend mixing milk because you might mix some with some that is older.

I think it should be fine.
As long as you KNOW the initial milk is not going bad...
ykwim?

Answer 7

I mix my milk once it has cooled down. This is the third child I have breastfed and always thought it was OK to mix milk from different sessions as long as it has cooled down (you should not mix warm milk that has just been pumped with milk that has already been in the refrigerator). I freeze my milk in 6 ounce portions so sometimes I do have to mix it.

Answer 8

Ive never heard this. I'm pretty sure you can mix from 2 different pump sessions. I don't think that you would want to mix a feeding from today and from next month.

Answer 9

I've always mixed because I can never pump out more than 2oz on each side. My kids are just fine from it.

Answer 10

I have always mixed my milk (3 kids). I don't think it's a problem.

I even mix in fridge while at work and then freeze when I get home. Breastmilk has been shown to have far fewer problems with "spoiling" than cow's milk.

Good for you in continuing nursing - you are doing the best thing for your baby and able to continue that bond!