Storing Your Breast Milk
Breast Milk Storage Guidelines*
Room
Refrigerator
Temperature
Freshly Expressed
4 hours
at 73 – 77ºF
at 32 – 39ºF
Breastmilk
(23 – 25ºC)
Thawed Breastmilk
DO NOT
(previously frozen)
store
Note: Breast milk should be stored in the main refrigerator or freezer
compartment, away from the door, to avoid changes in temperature.
Using Your Breast Milk
1. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator. Avoid letting milk sit out at room tempera-
ture to thaw. (For quicker thawing, hold container under running water –
start with cool water and gradually increase the temperature.)
2. Just before feeding, warm the milk by:
• Using a bottle warmer
• Holding the sealed bottle under warm, running water, or
• Heating water in a cup or other small container, then placing frozen milk
in the water to warm.
3. The milk fat may separate during thawing. If so, gently swirl milk to mix
before offering it to baby.
4. If feeding from the collection bottle, you must use Evenflo Balance
+ Standard Nipples. Other brands or types of nipples will not work
effectively. When using the Evenflo Balance + Standard Nipples for feeding,
squeeze nipple base and insert through the TOP of the cap ring. Once lip is
inside cap ring, release the nipple and lightly push the inside lip towards the
edge. Hand-tighten cap ring with care to not over or under tighten.
Evenflo Balance + Standard Nipples sold separately.
5. Always test the temperature of the milk before feeding.
IMPORTANT!
• NEVER microwave human milk or heat it directly on the stove.
• Previously frozen milk may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours after it
has finished thawing. DO NOT re-freeze.
• If baby does not finish milk at one feeding, it may be refrigerated and of-
fered at the next feeding before it is discarded (4 – 6 hours).
• DO NOT pour freshly pumped breast milk onto frozen breast milk because thaw-
ing can occur.
*
Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Best practice for expressing, storing, and handling
human milk in hospitals, homes, and child care settings. Raleigh, NC: 3rd Edition, 2011.
Self-contained
Refrigerator Freezer
5 – 7 days
3 – 4 mos.
6 – 12 mos.
at 0ºF (-19ºC)
at 0ºF (-19ºC)
(0 – 4ºC)
24 hours
NEVER re-freeze
NEVER re-freeze
thawed milk
thawed milk
12
Deep
Freezer
Possible Cause
Flange not assembled to
pump properly.
Control Dial set too low.
Valve not assembled to flange.
Membrane worn, torn or not
assembled to valve.
Dried milk in pump parts.
Membrane not sealing.
Not a good seal on your breast.
Low batteries.
Possible Cause
Suction is too high.
Improper flange fit.
LOW OR NO SUCTION
Problem:
Check assembly of flange to pump unit. All parts
must be assembled properly and fit together snugly,
without gaps, for the pump to provide maximum
comfortable suction (p. 6).
When pump unit is connected properly, diaphragm
should move as referenced on page 10.
If the diaphragm is not moving when the pump is
on, disconnect and reconnect the flange assembly
to the pump unit (p. 6).
Turn the control dial clockwise for stronger
suction (p. 10).
Mount the valve firmly to flange (p. 6).
Replace membrane or ensure that it is connected
properly to the valve (p. 6). To maintain optimal
performance with daily use, it is recommended that
membranes be replaced every 3 months.
Note:
Spare membrane is included in the battery
door tray.
Follow cleaning instructions. This pump can be
easily disassembled and washed (pp. 4 and 11).
Make sure valve and membrane are clean, with no
debris on the surface of the seal. Make sure mem-
brane lies flat against the surface of the valve (p. 6).
Reposition the flange to get a better seal. If the
breast becomes wet with milk, you may need to dry
skin and flange and start again (p. 9).
Make sure fresh, brand name batteries are installed
correctly (p. 7).
DISCOMFORT WHEN USING PUMP
Problem:
Turn the control dial counterclockwise to reduce the
suction (p. 10).
Reference flange fit guide on page 8. Note: Pump
can be used with or without insert.
13
Troubleshooting
Action
Action