How to Not Spill Breastmilk: The Ultimate Guide for the Gracefully Clumsy
How to Not Spill Breastmilk: The Ultimate Guide for the Gracefully Clumsy
Alright, moms and moms-to-be, let's talk about one of the most heart-wrenching tragedies of motherhood: spilling breastmilk. If you're nodding along, you've probably experienced that soul-crushing moment when your precious liquid gold goes splat on the kitchen floor. If you've yet to experience this moment, fear not! Here’s the guide to keeping every drop where it belongs.
1. Double-Check the Lid:
Before you even think about moving that bottle full of milk, make sure the collar, nipple, cap and/or lid are on securely. We're talking superglue tight. Give it a gentle test before making any assumptions to avoid leaks or total spills.
2. Be the Boss of Your Pump
Pumping is .... a lot of adjectives and sometimes expletives. Make sure your pump parts are properly assembled and secure. There’s nothing worse than getting into a good rhythm and realizing milk is leaking out of a loose connection. You engineer that pump like the boss that you are!
3. Slow and Steady Doesn't Spill the Milk
Whenever you find yourself transferring milk from the pump to the bottle, or bottle to freezer bag, channel your inner zen master. Take regular deep breaths. Move with intention. This is not the time to multitask.
4. Invest in a Milk-Collecting Gadget
Say what now? Hear me out. If you're using a single pump (versus a double pump) or breastfeeding one baby (versus multiples), your other breast may leak... and for some leak enough that it's sad to see it go to waste into a burp cloth, your shirt or a pad. Now, you can use breastmilk collection shells or silicone milk collectors! These little (genius) heroes fit inside your bra and collect any milk that leaks out during feeding or pumping. You might be amazed at how much your body is producing just on the other side! While we don't want to make you loco about how precious every drop is... every ounce counts!
5. Use a Tray
Ever noticed how a tray makes anything nicer? Pumping or prepping a bottle is worthy of the niceties. You could also think of it as a breastmilk safety net. Place all your pumping and feeding supplies on a tray with raised edges. If anything drips or spills, it’s contained by the tray. If you hadn't already guessed, this makes cleanup a lot easier. FYI: breastmilk is sticky from all its wonderment! Anything that alleviates a cleaning process is a win!
6. Channel Your Inner Bartender
Ever watched a hurried, in-the-weeds, under-paid server re-fill a water glass? That's not what we're trying to emulate when pouring/transferring milk. Ever watched a bartender pour a craft cocktail into a beautiful glass? That’s the level of precision you're aiming for. While we definitely encourage as minimal transfers as possible, it happens, so when you find yourself pouring milk from one container to another, channel your inner craft cocktail bartender. Slow pour, no rush, no spills.
7. Label Before You Pour
If you're freezing milk, label the storage bags before filling them. Wrestling with a full, floppy bag of milk while trying to write the date? Recipe for disaster. Pre-label and save yourself the headache.
8. Be Mindful of the Fridge Shuffle
Your fridge is a jungle (or is that just mine?), and that precious milk can get lost or knocked over. Dedicate a safe, stable space for your breastmilk, away from grabby hands and towering leftovers. A labeled, milk-only container would be optimal. Pro Tip: the further back you can store your milk, the better, as the temperature changes a lot as the doors open and close throughout the day.
9. Teach Your Tribe
Anyone helping with feeds? Make sure they know the rules. Spouses, grandparents, older siblings, babysitters – if they’re handling the milk, they need to know, first, the safety guidelines for handling milk and the lowdown on how to avoid spills.
10. Laugh It Off
Okay, maybe cry first because despite all your best efforts, spills happen. When they do, take a deep breath and remember: what you're accomplishing is incredible. You’re doing an amazing job at this new-mom-thing. Literally... tell yourself those words! *Milk can be replaced; your sanity cannot.* Try to embrace any current chaos and know that you're a absolutely amazing, spills and all.
Bonus Tip: Welcome to the Club!
Remember, you're not alone in this journey. Every mom has had her fair share of milk mishaps. Share your funniest (or most dramatic) spill stories with your mom friends. Laughter is the best remedy, and who knows, you might pick up a few more tips along the way.
In the grand saga of motherhood, spilled milk is just a minor plot twist. You’ve got this, momma, and we've got you!
If you're interested in learning more about the "how-to" breast feed and bottle feed basics and nuances, we've got an easy to digest, self-paced online course for you that's led by our partner Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)! Learn more about it here!
