Expressed breast milk goes thick in the fridge??

Question

What do I do with my breast milk.. I have three kids but have never expressed before. Currently I am:

1. Sterilising all equipment

2. Pumping (about 100ml max out of both b*****s)

3. Storing in fridge for maximum of three days

My questions are:

!. Am I doing this right?

2. How long can I store the milk for in the fridge

3. Can I transport it anywhere (like to a friends house, shopping, etc)

4. Why is it going thick? Does that mean it's gone bad?

5. How much should I be expressing? She's nearly 4 months old

I should add that I feed on demand, she is not on solids, and that I only want to express for convenience.

Thankyou!!

Answer 1

It sounds like you're doing everything just right.

In the fridge you are good for 3-8 days, depending on who you listen to and how cold your fridge is.  You should put it in the coldest part of your fridge (so, not in the door for instance).  

You can transport it anywhere, of course.  

It is going thick because it's not homogenized, like the cow's milk we're used to seeing is.  It's not going bad.  

I think that 3-4 oz is fine -- don't forget that your child is far more efficient than even the best breast pump.  

Answer 2

You are doing fine. It thickens due to the fat content of the breast milk. nothing to worry about and you can even freeze it for up to a month. you can transport it but make sure that when you get where you are going to put it in a fridge. it will last about 4 to 5 hours out of the fridge. if you leave it out over night you should toss it out. I hope this will help.

Answer 3

!. Am I doing this right?  Yes

2. How long can I store the milk for in the fridge  http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milks...

3. Can I transport it anywhere (like to a friends house, shopping, etc)  Yes

4. Why is it going thick?  Breast milk seperates.  It's normal.  Swirl it around a little but don't shake it.  Does that mean it's gone bad?  No.  You will know when it goes bad by the smell.

5. How much should I be expressing? There is no way to get an accurate estimate if you are feeding on demand.