BM storage question

almostjones · May 2010

Hi everyone,

I had originally registered for the 50 pack storage bags to have on hand when I start building my freezer stash, but I was thinking...would it be better/easier to have these? Can they go straight from thawing to feeding by just screwing on a nipple? Or is there an option to pump into - for instance - a Playtex drop-in? I'm just trying to think of the easiest way, and if I don't have to pour the BM from the storage bag into a bottle each time that would be great.

Thank you!

monkaloo · May 2010

Maren was in the NICU when she was born and they gave me a ton of those types of bottles that were compatible with the Medela pump. It was super convenient to pump into them, but I wasn't crazy about using them as bottles - especially when they start eating more. Plus they take up a lot more space in your freezer. The bags are much easier to use because they can stack easily. Also, on more than one occasion, one of those bottles fell out of the freezer (or we dropped it) and the plastic cracked.

I'm not sure about the drop-ins part. We ended up using Avent and Dr. Brown's bottles for our kids and never went the drop-in route. I will say it wasn't too bad to thaw the bag and pour it into the bottle.

kreeper611 · May 2010

I would use the bags. I have probably 30 bags in the freezer now and you'll have to buy a LOT of bottles for that to work. I usually pull a bag out the night before, put it in a glass measuring cup (in case it leaks) and it's thawed the next morning. The other option is to run it under hot water. Either way, I would go with bags.

Just be careful putting them in the freezer because they do get tears easily. Last night DH dropped 2 frozen bags and they got holes in them. I wanted to CRY. We just rinsed them off and slid another bag over them and it collected what dripped in there overnight.

sad5781 · May 2010

I think I would only wonder how much extra space they take in the freezer since they are round and not flat/stackable (i've never seen them in person). One of the online reviews says medela nipples fit on them so that answers that question.

I use the bags and have been happy. I'm on my second box of 50 (Switched to the NUK brand for the second go round since they were cheaper). You can also pump straight into the medela bags, they come with this little tape strap that you can attach where you normally screw on the bottle.

I like that the bags freeze flat and can be stacked up nice. I have them stacked in gift bags in the freezer and they take up way less space. (someone posted a link to this previously, i'll see if i can find it)

I'd also probably not like the little bottles only holding 2.5 ounces. If you have a good supply, you might fill them up really quick. The bags say they hold 5oz but you can get more like 6 ounces in them without worrying about the bags leaking. And if you are looking at using them for "freezer stash" by the time you use the milk, baby might be drinking 4-5 ounces in a feeding so you'd have to switch bottles.

You might just register for both and if you get both you can see what you like best. They definitely are less waste and it looks like you can pump straight into them which would be very nice.

Suzi-G- · May 2010

Pumping into those bottles would never ever work for me. They take up too much space in the freezer, cost WAY too much, and don't hold enough milk. I think I'd use 4 to 6 of those bottles per pumping session. The bags are super easy, they store well, and pouring out of them is no big deal. And like SAD said, the other brands are cheaper than the Medela bags.

melrrr · May 2010

I didn't have a huge freezer stash, but I used the gerber (I think) and the lansinoh bags with a platex drop in. The gerber ones specifically give you instructions on doing that. The lansinoh ones didn't but I used the same way. You just pull it all the way over the threads and make sure you get a good seal.