Rotating stash

Carebear517

What exactly is this, just using the oldest frozen milk first? I have seen some women refer to baby getting frozen milk from the stash one day and then freshly expressed (refrigerated) milk the next. Is there a reason for this? 

beebe929

Use the oldest frozen first.  But I also add some frozen milk into the mix just so the stash doesn't get too old.  They say 6 months in a deep freezer is the max.

 

bancbev

I don't hav a deap freezer so my milk is only good for about 3 months.  I usually pump more than I need (have 150+ ounces in the freezer).  In order to use it, so it won't go bad, I rotate the stash by using my oldest frozen milk on Mondays for daycare.  Everything I pump on Fridays I freeze.  This was she is getting mostly fresh milk all week long, but I am making sure non of my frozen milk goes bad.

AutumnBride929

bancbev:

I don't hav a deap freezer so my milk is only good for about 3 months.  I usually pump more than I need (have 150+ ounces in the freezer).  In order to use it, so it won't go bad, I rotate the stash by using my oldest frozen milk on Mondays for daycare.  Everything I pump on Fridays I freeze.  This was she is getting mostly fresh milk all week long, but I am making sure non of my frozen milk goes bad.

That's a good plan.  I should start doing this.  I've been wondering how I am going to keep my freezer stash from expiring.

Jaylea

Since I work FT, I pump 5 days/week. Every Friday I freeze what I pump, and pull out frozen milk Sunday night for Monday. This way I can make sure no milk goes bad, but he's getting fresh milk most of the time.

GBCK

I do the oldest fresh first.

 Yeah, frozen eventually 'goes bad' but it's a year  in the deep freeze.

Fresh = more health benefits (antibodies don't freeze well and better storage times (that whole 8 hours at room temp thing doesn't apply to thawed milk), and doesn't have the 'fishy' lipase smell.

That does increase the odds that some of my frozen stash goes bad (which is why I'm donating it to the milk bank, actually, before it does) but, I have more than enough, so we'll manage.

 

dharvey29

AutumnBride929:

bancbev:

I don't hav a deap freezer so my milk is only good for about 3 months.  I usually pump more than I need (have 150+ ounces in the freezer).  In order to use it, so it won't go bad, I rotate the stash by using my oldest frozen milk on Mondays for daycare.  Everything I pump on Fridays I freeze.  This was she is getting mostly fresh milk all week long, but I am making sure non of my frozen milk goes bad.

That's a good plan.  I should start doing this.  I've been wondering how I am going to keep my freezer stash from expiring.

Is there a reason the fresh milk is better?  I give the daycare only frozen milk - every Monday I drop off enough for the week, and they keep it and thaw for each feeding.  Then at the end of each day I freeze what I pump.  This way, my milk is no more than 2-3 weeks old since that's how much of a stash I have.  Even though milk stays good for up to 6 months in a deep freezer, your baby's needs change, and your milk changes with it.  By doing it this way, I know the frozen milk will be close to what her needs are at the current time.

Carebear517

GBCK:

 and better storage times (that whole 8 hours at room temp thing doesn't apply to thawed milk)

 

 How long can thawed milk be kept at room temperature? Is is just fresh or refrigerated milk that the 8 hours applies to? 

Also, if you are keeping milk in your refrigerator do you just leave it in the little bottles that attach to the pump or do you still transfer it to a freezer bag? I use playtex drop ins if that makes any difference. 

GBCK

Carebear517:

GBCK:

 and better storage times (that whole 8 hours at room temp thing doesn't apply to thawed milk)

 

 How long can thawed milk be kept at room temperature? Is is just fresh or refrigerated milk that the 8 hours applies to? 

Also, if you are keeping milk in your refrigerator do you just leave it in the little bottles that attach to the pump or do you still transfer it to a freezer bag? I use playtex drop ins if that makes any difference. 

the 8 hours is supposed to apply to fresh or refrigerated.

Honestly, we use frozen so rearely that I'm not sure but it goes from smelling 'off' from the lipase to smelling off OFF pretty quickly.

And in the fridge, milk lasts a weekish.  Thawed milk has to be tossed in 24 hours.  

I transfer it to freezer bags because they heat quicker.

 

So, right now, @ home, this morning, Mr. had Buffy and the 4 bags of milk (for today use that I pumped yesterday).  They're in the fridge. (and if something stupid were to happen, there's the freezer stash in the freezer)

In my office fridge are 2.5 of the 4 bags that I'll pump today for him to feed her tomorrow.

On Friday (the end of my week) I'll figure out how much I have that I need on monday (I aim for 4 bags, 4 bags = 24-30 oz--there's always some in the freezer if I'm wrong)...if I have less than 4 bags, I know to get some out of the freezer on Sunday night. If I have more than 4 bags, I take the excess and put them in my freezer stash.

 

Does taht make sense?  I hate trying to describe this because it makes sense in my system but not when I try to type it out

dharvey29

GBCK:

Carebear517:

GBCK:

 and better storage times (that whole 8 hours at room temp thing doesn't apply to thawed milk)

 

 How long can thawed milk be kept at room temperature? Is is just fresh or refrigerated milk that the 8 hours applies to? 

Also, if you are keeping milk in your refrigerator do you just leave it in the little bottles that attach to the pump or do you still transfer it to a freezer bag? I use playtex drop ins if that makes any difference. 

the 8 hours is supposed to apply to fresh or refrigerated.

Honestly, we use frozen so rearely that I'm not sure but it goes from smelling 'off' from the lipase to smelling off OFF pretty quickly.

And in the fridge, milk lasts a weekish.  Thawed milk has to be tossed in 24 hours.  

I transfer it to freezer bags because they heat quicker.

 

So, right now, @ home, this morning, Mr. had Buffy and the 4 bags of milk (for today use that I pumped yesterday).  They're in the fridge. (and if something stupid were to happen, there's the freezer stash in the freezer)

In my office fridge are 2.5 of the 4 bags that I'll pump today for him to feed her tomorrow.

On Friday (the end of my week) I'll figure out how much I have that I need on monday (I aim for 4 bags, 4 bags = 24-30 oz--there's always some in the freezer if I'm wrong)...if I have less than 4 bags, I know to get some out of the freezer on Sunday night. If I have more than 4 bags, I take the excess and put them in my freezer stash.

 

Does taht make sense?  I hate trying to describe this because it makes sense in my system but not when I try to type it out

Makes total sense - but how in the heck do you pump 24-30 oz in a day??  I am lucky to get 12-13, and I need at least 15 to keep up with her!  Yesterday she ate 18 oz!  Must be a growth spurt.  I pump 4-5 times per day and still get only 12-13 oz.  I have milk envy!

Carebear517

That makes perfect sense, thank you for explaining! I'm still on leave right now so I'm mostly just freezing to build up my stash but it's good to get an idea of how to work it out when I go back to work. 

GBCK

I've been REALLY lucky in the milk production department.

I can't explain it and heaven knows it's not anything I'm doing 'right', as much as...my bodyjust decided to cooperate.  About time, considering some of the other issues my body and I have had :-P

 

ETA--I see what I did there though, I used my math for being gone for 24 hours (which is the 30oz) not for a normal workday (which has me gone from teh house for 14ish hours).  

Sorry :-P

Normal work day, 14ish hours, is more like 15-20 oz.
(and that also explains why I have more during a work day than most people--I'm doing at least 1 more pump. I work 4-10's)