STORING OF EBM (EXPRESSED BREAST MILK)
There are basically 3 modes of storing ur EBM...glass bottles, milk bottles (esp avent bottles) and breastmilk bags (i know avent sells BM bags and i've come across pigeon selling too).
I started wif glass bottles which u can collect from the nursery in the hospital u deliver. the glass bottles can only hold up 2 90-100ml of EBM so very ideal for ur bbs in the 1st 2-3mths when they are only consuming tat amt of EBM/FM.
after tat, when u r able 2 pump more and/or ur bb is consuming more, it's best 2 store in BM bags cos BM bags can hold up 2 8oz (if i not wrong). the only problem abt BM bags is tat it's rather ex (glass bottles collected from hospital nurseries are free, u only need 2 buy the caps which barely cost $0.60-$0.80 each) AND u need 2 buy the clips for the bags. no need 2 buy avent BM bag clips. buy from ikea. much much cheaper. the only disadvantage is tat if ur milk supply is endless, u need lotsa bags & clips so can b rather pricey.
i've come across a few mummies who use avent milk bottles 2 store EBM cos they dun use them n their bbs are using other brands of milk bottles. of course when u have EBM, u'll use watever mode of storage u can find, since the avent bottles are available at no xtra cost, y not use it?
for me, i'll stick 2 using glass bottles 1st then when my bb is consuming more, i'll switch to avent BM bags. when u heat up the EBM in those glass bottles, i merely put the teat onto the glass bottle (all other brands of teat holders except wide-necked teat holders from avent, pigeon, nuk can fit onto the glass bottles). for me, i was using NUK teat holder so i just placed it on the glass bottle, feed my boy direct from the glass bottle. save the hassle of transferring EBM from the bottle to the actual milk bottle.
likewise if u r using BM bag, u heat it up, put into the bottle, pull the plastic over the bottle, cover wif the teat holder n just feed.
when u heat up EBM, once it's lukewarm, EBM can b consumed. no need 2 heat it up until hot cos our EBM is of normal body temp (abt 36-37degrees). anything hotter, u'll kill all the nutrients in EBM.