exclusively pumping storage ?

buckeyebride22

I cannot seem to find how to do this with the search function. Since DD only latches a few times a day I'm mostly pumping and giving bottles. I have some medela storage bottles that I've been putting 1.5 oz in but I get two of those per pumping session and she only takes one. I've quickly accumalated like 10 bottles. How should I be doing this? Start freezing some? How do you rotate to use the older ones first?

SnoopyLuv

Look up gift bag freezer storage. Storing in bottles is inefficient. You'll want to store in 2-4 oz increments.

SnoopyLuv

Kellymom.com has good tips as well. You can combine milk from different sessions and days.

bumpuser3155624

Another option that I like better than the gift bag is an ice cube holder. I freeze flat then stand them up in the holder with the date up. I put the new bags in the back to easily rotate.

buckeyebride22

Do you keep any in the fridge or store in the freezer right away? I used the lansinoh bags froze flat in large ziploc bags labeled by month with DS and that worked fine. I like the tray idea too though. ..

Mrs_D_in_KY

You have to find the system that works best for you.

When I was EPing, any milk I pumped during the day at work would be put in the fridge for 24 hours to cool down. Then I would transfer to milk storage bags, put the date pumped and the number of ounces. I had about 1,000 oz and found my best method was to group them by the week pumped and then put the oldest in the top in the deep freeze and newest on the bottom.

The gift bag storage is nice. But there are all kinds of ways to store frozen milk. A friend of mine used to put hers in old shoe boxes in her deep freeze. But milk storage bags are the way to go.

mommatotwo2

I only pump during the work day, and at night, but felt I could chime in on the storage. Ditto what previous posters said, but I also transfer the milk from the bottle to the bag right upon pumping, because it's easier than trying to get the fat off the sides of the bottle after it's chilled in the fridge. Milk is good in the fridge for 3-8 days, so you don't have to freeze right away, just keep everything dated, so that you know when to transfer it into the freezer. Freeze flat and then store it however you like. I never had a huge freezer stash, so storing the Lanisoh bags, once frozen flat, inside of a gallon sized storage bag worked fine for me. If you are storing large  amounts, the gift bag thing works well, a shoe box, or even a diaper or wipes box inside of a deep freeze would work well. The size 3 pampers in particular are a shallow and long box that would probably work well.

You didn't ask- and please feel free to completely ignore my unsolicited advice- but from your ticker, it looks like you have a preemie. DD1 was a 35 weeker and she didn't get breast milk past 6 weeks (and was supplemented the whole time) because she wasn't latching well and I tried pumping, but I just found it to be too much work to care for a newborn and try to pump a bunch of times throughout the day as well. I know EP works very well for many people, so it might work out just fine, but for me, I wish I'd tried a little longer to encourage her to latch.

babymama619

I have the first years milk storage thing. I really like it.

MamaLlama14

theresat858 said:

SnoopyLuv said:

Look up gift bag freezer storage. Storing in bottles is inefficient. You'll want to store in 2-4 oz increments.

This.  For now, do 2 ounce bags.  Use the lansinoh freezer bags; they are much nicer than the medela ones(and actually freeze flat). Measure in bottles, transfer to bags, label bags with the date (and amount if you vary it).  Freeze flat.  Get a gift bag and cut a slit in the bottom of it -- put fresh milk in the top and pull milk from the bottom to feed.  To start out, I would just rotate one bottle a day or so.

This and This.  The bottom of Lansinoh bags can be "tucked in" so that they freeze flat, unlike the Medela bags that freeze like wedges and then store awkwardly.  I also bought these storage pods from BBB (orange, came in 2oz and 4oz sizes... the name is escaping me ATM) that had rubber bottoms so that after freezing, I could easily pop the cube out and store several cubes in freezer bags with the date.  Then I had a bunch of 2oz cubes ready for defrosting.