BLOOMINGTON WIC BLOOMINGTON WIC PROGRAM

Storage Containers:

BEST: • storage bags storage trays Glass bottles ADDITIONAL

ALSO ACCEPTABLE: • Drop-in plastic bottle liners RESOURCES • Food grade plastic bags or bottles, BPA free • Bloomington WIC

*All plastic should be BPA free Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program (952) 563-8993 Don’t use plastic bottles with a 7 inside the recycling triangle. • Bloomington WIC Office For more information on BPA: (serving Bloomington, Edina, www.healthychildren.org and Richfield) (952) 563 8993 In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, the WIC program is prohibited from • discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or www.lllusa.org disability. Persons seeking to file discrimination BREAST MILK STORAGE complaints should write to USDA, • www.breastfeeding.com Director, Office of Adjudication and AND HANDLING Compliance • 1400 Independence Ave, SE, The National Women’s Health Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call Information Center (800)795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720- 6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal www.womenshealth.gov opportunity provider and employer. WIC: Women Infants BREASTFEEDING and Children

BREAST MILK STORAGE AND “Breastfeeding is “There is a gift that lasts a something so HANDLING lifetime…” intimate about it.” -Unknown -Catherine Zeta How do I thaw milk and serve it (or Jones How should I store expressed breast milk? have it served) to my baby?

• • Wash your hands before expressing or Thaw milk in the refrigerator or by handling your milk. swirling in a bowl of warm water (do not shake!). • Use only clean containers to store • Never use a microwave to thaw or heat “While It is the best expressed milk. • Freshly expressed milk can remain at bottles of breast milk breastfeeding choice for every o Microwaves do not heat liquids may not seem the child.” room temperature for 4-6 hours. • Use refrigerated milk within 3-8 days. evenly. Uneven heating could best choice for -Amy Spangler easily scald a baby or damage every parent…. the milk How do I freeze my milk? o Bottles may explode if left in the microwave too long. • Store milk at the back of the freezer — o Excess heat can destroy the Breast milk Storage Guidelines never in the freezer door. nutrient quality of the expressed (For Healthy Term Babies) • Make sure to label the milk with the date milk. • you froze it. Thawed milk must be used within 24 hours. Room Cooler Fridge Freezer Thawed • How much milk should I store at a Do not refreeze your milk with 3 Breast time? Temp ice Milk • Freeze 2-4 ounces of milk at a time, packs depending on the average amount of a 4-6 24 3-8 6-12 Within single feeding for your baby. • If the milk separates, gently swirl the hours hours days months 24 container. Do not shake or stir the milk. (Taken from Centers for Disease Control/CDC) hours