New to pumping - can I add to a bottle

[chandni3]

I'm going to introduce the occasional bottle, and build up a freezer supply and my baby has been favouring one side lately. Anyway, my question is, if I'm pumping into a bottle for my husband to feed her later in the same day, can I add to the same bottle? So if I only get a small amount at a time can I pump into the same bottle a couple times and keep it in the fridge inbetween?

[leila03ash]

I read somewhere on here that you could as long as you were combining milk within the same 24 hours. I would definitely get a second opinion though.

[Lilwndr]

No. Not if you put in fridge in between. You must chill the new milk pumped in same day before adding to refrigerated milk. Only add cold milk to cold milk. Milk pumped within same day can be combined if that rule is followed or if you don't refrigerate between pump sessions (fresh pumped milk can be left out at room temp for several hours).

For example: at noon you pump an ounce, close bottle and leave on kitchen counter.
At 3 you pump again and get another ounce. You can pump into the noon bottle or combine from new bottle. At that time you decide to put in fridge.
Next morning you pump again and get 2 ounces. You want to combine with previous day, which you can do since within same 24 hours, to make a 4 ounce bottle. To do this, you must put the new 2 ounces in fridge to chill. Once cold, take out, swirl to mix separated cream and milk (never shake breastmilk) and pour into yesterday's bottle.

Hope that makes sense and helps.