Barb,

Maybe a compromise would work. Not to be adversarial, but most moms don't
need to keep the milk (in hospital) for several hours. In my experience, if
they are pumping due to no latch, then they are rather quickly feeding it to
baby.  Either pumping right before feeding baby or post-feed, using it again
only a short time later at baby's next feed. If they are pumping post-feed
due to supplementation with ebm (twins maybe) or to stimulate more milk
(breast reduction surgery maybe) then they will, in all likelihood, use that
milk quickly too.

Actually I get a bit nervous about keeping milk out for that long. Under the
normal circumstances, milk is meant to be kept inside mom til ready to be
consumed directly at the breast. I know that some work has been done about
keeping milk at room temp for longer, but I believe that should be done only
when there are no provisions for refrigeration. I think it is always best to
have a cooler or ice handy. In hospital, if there is a concern about mixing
up different mother's milks, then a small plastic basin or even plastic bag
filled w/ ice could be kept at bedside. I realize this would involve warming
the milk or taking it out of the icea short time before a feeding.
Perhaps a shorter term of room temp storage could be acceptable (3 or 4
hrs?) or use of ice or small cooler at bedside. Hope this is of some help.
Good luck and let us know what is decided.

Laurie Wheeler, IBCLC, MN, RN
New Orleans Louisiana, s.e. USA

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