Breastmilk Policies?

[preemieRNkate, RN]

I read on the donor breastmilk thread a few different unit policies for giving breastmilk. What is yours, as far as labeling, storage, checking and feeding (special syringes, tubing, etc)? Just trying to get an idea with what everyone else does, because I feel like my unit could maybe use a revamped policy. Thanks!

[Sweeper933]

Our unit is set up w/ 8 different rooms, with 2 rooms connecting in the middle. In that middle part, there are counters for thawing / adding calories to breast milk, and a fridge/freezer set. Each babies milk for those 2 rooms are kept in those fridges/freezers. We also have 2 big freezers in our utility room for extra long-term storage of the breast milk.

Each babies milk is kept in separate bags with their patient label on each bag. Each bottle of milk also has the baby's patient label on it, in addition to the time/date that the mom pumped. (we give the labels to the moms that way they can put them on when they pump)

Our general rule is that thawed out breast milk (whether it's fortified or not) is good for 24hours. When we take milk to thaw, we double check all patient labels against the bedside card for each baby with a second nurse. We then put all of the thawed / fortified milk in a new 8oz bottle with a patient label that states what it is (24 cal fortified BM...) and the time/date.

When we go to use the breast milk, we also double check the name/birthdate against the bedside card with a second nurse. We do all of the preparing / warming up at the bedside to help avoid someone grabbing the wrong one and feeding it to a different baby. In our charts, we document who we double checked all of the milk with for each feeding.

Part of the charge nurse's responsibilities are to go around to each fridge and make sure that there isn't any milk over 24hours old in there each shift. They also check each set of rooms fridge/freezer to make sure that all of the milk in there belongs to babies in those rooms - we sometimes move babies around to place multiples together, change of acuity...)

Sorry this ended up being kinda long, but I hoped it helped!

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

We have a U shaped unit with 25 pods of 2-3 beds, separated into halls of 12-15 beds. Each hall has a breastmilk fridge, and every 2-3 halls has a freezer. BM is good for 24h when thawed, or fresh. (fortified or not) Each baby receiving BM has a bin in the fridge where their milk is kept, as well as a bin in the freezer. We use a barcode scanner to scan the baby, chart, and BM bottle before using.