Are you one of few moms that has decided to breastfeed their baby?  If so, that’s a great decision that will benefit both you and your baby.  Breastfeeding not only creates a nice bond with your baby but it also gives them nutrients that no formula can give them.  It is a very rewarding thing that will save you lots of money and will be much more of a convenience!

If you’re looking to pump your breast milk ahead of time and would like to store it later, here are a few tips to consider!

Tips for Saving Breast Milk:

• You will want to store the milk in a bottle or a plastic bag.  The plastic bags are usually found in the breastfeeding isle at a baby store.
• You will want to either place it on the counter which is good up to 11 hours, store it in your refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in your freezer which is good for months.
• There are vitamin drops that you can put into your breast milk to make sure your baby is getting certain vitamins like Vitamin D.  You will want to put these drop in right before feeding the baby.  Avoid putting them in and then freezing your milk for months.
• If you don’t think you’ll use the whole bottle, be sure to save the rest and keep it for later.  Unlike formula, you can keep it for much longer instead of one hour after mixing it.

Breastfeeding has so many perks and can last so much longer than using formula.  Formula is very expensive and if your baby doesn’t finish their bottle after an hour of mixing the formula you have to toss it.  Although, breast milk can last for hours, days and even months!  To make sure you’re saving your breast milk and storing it wisely, be sure to consider a few of the tips above!