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  3. Cleaning and Hygiene for Bottles and Storage Containers
Course Content
Why Breastfeeding Matters (10 minutes)
Health and developmental benefits for infants Maternal benefits (physical and mental) Economic and community-level advantages Common myths and culturally specific misconceptions
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Health & Developmental Benefits for Infants from Breastfeeding
Maternal Benefits of Breastfeeding (Physical and Mental)
Economic and Community-Level Advantages of Breastfeeding
Common Myths and Culturally Specific Misconceptions about Breastfeeding
Newborn Feeding Cues & Anatomy (20 minutes)
Early vs. late hunger cues and what they mean Normal newborn feeding patterns and stomach capacity Brief breast anatomy (lobes, ducts, nipple, areola) in plain language Signs of effective feeding (swallowing, contentment, diaper output)
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Early vs. Late Hunger Cues in Infants
Normal Newborn Feeding Patterns and Stomach Capacity
Breast Anatomy (in Plain Language)
Signs of Effective Feeding in Breastfed Babies
Positions & Achieving a Good Latch (40 minutes)
Position options: cradle, cross-cradle, football/clutch, side-lying Stepwise approach to help baby latch (prepare — attach — assess) Signs of a good vs. poor latch (comfort, nipple shape, audible swallowing) Small-person adaptations (premature, small mouth, tongue-tie considerations) Safe positioning for mothers with C-section recovery
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Position Options for Breastfeeding
Stepwise Approach to Help Baby Latch
Signs of a Good vs. Poor Latch
Small-Person Adaptations in Breastfeeding
Safe Positioning for Mothers with C-Section Recovery
Protecting & Building Milk Supply (25 minutes)
Establishing supply in the first days and weeks (frequency, skin-to-skin) Night feeds and cluster feeding explained Lifestyle and medical factors that reduce supply (e.g., certain medications, stress) Relactation and increasing milk supply safely Nutrition and hydration myths vs. evidence
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Establishing Milk Supply in the First Days and Weeks
Night Feeds and Cluster Feeding
Lifestyle and Medical Factors That Reduce Supply
Relactation and Increasing Milk Supply Safely
Nutrition and Hydration Myths vs. Evidence in Breastfeeding
Expressing & Storing Breastmilk (20 minutes)
Hand-expression steps and common mistakes Choosing and using pumps (manual vs. electric) — practical tips Safe collection, labeling, storage, thawing and warming guidelines (low-resource options included) Cleaning and hygiene for bottles and storage containers Feeding expressed milk to infant (cup, spoon, paladai, bottle considerations)
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Hand-Expression Steps and Common Mistakes
Choosing and Using Breast Pumps (Manual vs. Electric)
Safe Breast Milk Handling
Cleaning and Hygiene for Bottles and Storage Containers
Feeding Expressed Milk to Infants
Common Problems & Practical Solutions (25 minutes)
Causes of sore nipples and immediate relief techniques Managing engorgement and preventing blocked ducts Recognising mastitis vs. normal engorgement and when antibiotics may be needed Low weight gain: assessment steps and feeding plan adjustments Non-judgmental approach to supplementation and safe short-term options
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Causes of Sore Nipples and Immediate Relief
Managing Engorgement and Preventing Blocked Ducts
Recognising Mastitis vs. Normal Engorgement
Low Weight Gain — Assessment and Feeding Plan Adjustments
Non-Judgmental Approach to Supplementation
Returning to Work or School; Feeding Outside the Home (15 minutes)
Creating an express-and-feed routine (timing, containers, transport) Practical storage and transport tips for different commute types Rights and workplace basics (general guidance; encourage local legal verification) Communicating with caregivers and preparing safe feeder notes Emotional coping and practical fallback plans
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Creating an Express-and-Feed Routine
Practical Storage & Transport Tips for Expressed Breast Milk by Commute Type
Rights and Workplace Basics for Breastfeeding Mothers
Communicating with Caregivers and Preparing Safe Feeder Notes
Emotional Coping and Practical Fallback Plans
Special Situations (20 minutes)
Feeding preterm or low-birthweight infants: kangaroo care, cup or tube feeding basics Managing twins/multiples: tandem feeding tips and time-saving routines Mothers on medication or with infectious illness: how to check drug safety and local guidelines (HIV, TB, etc.) Using donor milk or milk banks (where available) — safety basics
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Feeding Preterm or Low-Birthweight Infants
Managing Twins/Multiples — Tandem Feeding Tips and Time-Saving Routines
Mothers on Medication or with Infectious Illness — Drug Safety & Guidelines
Using Donor Milk or Milk Banks — Safety Basics
When to Seek Help & Building a Support Network (15 minutes)
Red flags for baby and mother (e.g., poor weight gain, fever, severe pain) Where to seek help: clinic, CHW, lactation consultant, emergency care Building a support network: partners, family, peer counsellors, community groups Using telephone/text supports, community groups, and referral pathways
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Red Flags for Baby and Mother
Where to Seek Help for Breastfeeding Challenges
Building a Support Network for Breastfeeding Mothers
Using Telephone/Text Supports, Community Groups, and Referral Pathways
Wrap-up, Resources & Final Assessment (15 minutes)
Key takeaways and common pitfalls to avoid Next steps: seeking local support, advanced training options How to use course materials beyond the course (groups, sharing, peer support) Final 20-question multiple-choice quiz (80% pass mark)
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Key Takeaways and Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Next Steps — Seeking Local Support & Advanced Training Options
How to Use Course Materials Beyond the Course
Final 20-question multiple-choice quiz (80% pass mark)
How to Breastfeed — Self-Paced, Evidence-Based Course for African Moms

Introduction

Clean feeding equipment is just as important as safe milk storage. Poor hygiene can cause bacteria to multiply quickly in breast milk, leading to diarrhea, infections, and malnutrition in infants. With simple steps, mothers and caregivers can keep bottles and storage containers safe, whether at home, hospital, or in low-resource settings.

1. General Principles

  • Always wash hands with soap and clean water before handling bottles, cups, or containers.

  • Use dedicated feeding equipment for each baby (do not share between babies).

  • Clean promptly after each feed — dried milk is harder to remove and grows bacteria.

2. Cleaning Steps

Step 1: Disassemble

  • Take apart bottles, nipples, and caps fully.

  • Rinse with cool water to remove milk.

Step 2: Wash

  • Use hot, soapy water and a clean bottle brush (not used for anything else).

  • Scrub inside bottles, nipples, and lids thoroughly.

  • Rinse well under running water to remove soap.

Step 3: Sterilize

  • Boiling Method (Low-Resource Friendly):

    • Place bottles, nipples, lids in a pot of water.

    • Boil for at least 5 minutes.

  • Steam Sterilizer (if available): Follow manufacturer instructions.

  • Chemical Sterilization (when boiling not possible): Use chlorine solution (WHO-recommended strength), soak for recommended time, then rinse with safe water.

Step 4: Dry and Store

  • Place bottles and parts on a clean towel or drying rack in an area free from dust.

  • Do not wipe inside with cloths — they may carry germs.

  • Store in a clean, covered container until use.

3. Storage Containers for Breast Milk

  • Use glass jars or food-grade plastic containers with tight lids.

  • Ensure containers are washed, sterilized, and air-dried before use.

  • Avoid cracked bottles or scratched containers — bacteria can hide in crevices.

4. Low-Resource Adaptations

  • If no bottle brush, use a clean dedicated cloth but boil afterward.

  • If no sterilizer, boiling is the safest and most widely available method.

  • Clay pots with lids or covered baskets can protect clean bottles from dust and flies.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Rinsing only, without soap or boiling.

  • Using the same brush for dishes and bottles.

  • Leaving bottles wet in dirty kitchens.

  • Storing milk in used soda bottles or non-food-safe containers.

End of Lecture Quiz

Q1. What is the minimum boiling time to sterilize bottles and nipples?
A. 1 minute
B. 3 minutes
C. 5 minutes
D. 10 seconds

Answer: C. 5 minutes
Rationale: At least 5 minutes of boiling effectively kills bacteria and viruses.

Q2. True or False: Wiping bottles with a kitchen towel after washing is recommended.
Answer: False
Rationale: Towels may contain germs; bottles should air-dry instead.

Q3. Which of the following is acceptable for low-resource sterilization?
A. Boiling in clean water
B. Chlorine solution soak (correct strength)
C. Leaving in the sun for an hour
D. Both A and B

Answer: D. Both A and B
Rationale: Both boiling and chlorine sterilization are WHO-approved methods; sunlight alone is not enough.

Curated Online Resources

Key Takeaways

  • Hand hygiene and thorough cleaning are the foundation of safe milk handling.

  • Boiling for 5 minutes is a reliable, low-cost sterilization method.

  • Allow bottles and containers to air-dry — avoid cloths.

  • Dedicated, food-safe containers protect milk from contamination.

Call to Action

  • Mothers: Always wash and sterilize bottles/containers before every use.

  • Health workers: Teach safe cleaning methods during antenatal and postnatal visits.

  • Communities: Support mothers with access to clean water, fuel, and safe storage spaces for infant feeding equipment.

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