How to use freezer stash if you supplement with formula?

vtkgirl77

I have a decent freezer stash of about 150+oz. of milk. I've shifted to just pumping once a day at work for a variety of reasons so I'm not pumping enough for all of DD's bottles each day. We usually give her a bottle of formula at night and she takes it fine.

I feel like I can either make sure that all of her bottles for daycare are BM by using up my freezer stash which means she gets more BM now and less later. Or, I can start supplementing with formula for the DC bottles and draw out my freezer stash longer so that she's getting BM for a longer period of time. I'm leaning towards drawing out the freezer stash so she gets at least some BM for a longer period of time (although I'll make sure to use each bag within 3 months of when I pumped it).

Has anyone heard any advice either way of what the best thing to do is?

doggylovr

when my freezer supply started to run low, I dragged it out as much as possible. I gave DS bottles that were actually half flormula and half BM (which I know if you have a lo who does not finish bottles, it is not recommended, but I NEVER had that issue)  My ped said it really doesn't matter if you do it for more or longer though, it was just a personal preference.  I thought frozen BM was good for longer than 3 months though, I thought it was 6.....

 

good luck!! 

vtkgirl77

Thanks. I'm glad to know you asked your Ped and that they said it didn't matter. I had never heard guidelines on whether it's better to stretch it out or not but I thought I would ask. As far as the freezer, I don't remember why I thought it was 3 months but either way, I think I'll use it within 3 months regardless since it will get used up pretty fast.

Sofka

I didn't have to supplement but I would not mix BM and formula just b/c if she doesn't dink it all, you have to trash it and you don't want to trash any BM.  I'd give her formula for DC and BM at home, b/c if she doesn't drink it all at home, you can just save it for later (it's good upto 8 days), you wouldn't throw it out like a DC would!

As for guidelines, I believe it's 4-6mo in regular freezer and 8+mo in deep freezer. If it smells Ok, give it to her.

 

LMH1209

Personally, I'd probably use the freezer stash now to give her as many EBF days as possible between now and when you start to introduce solids. I just personally felt more comfortable with the idea of throwing the occasional formula into the mix when DS was already eating something other than just breastmilk anyway. Also, my understanding is that breastmilk adjusts to your baby's needs over time so that it's best to use it as close as possible to when it's pumped. It's still great for the baby whenever she gets it. My understanding that it's just what you're pumping now is a better match for her needs now than it will be for what she needs in three months.

By the way, I'm glad that BFing is going better for you with DD2! I know you had a hard time the first time.

umdbride

LMH1209:

 Also, my understanding is that breastmilk adjusts to your baby's needs over time so that it's best to use it as close as possible to when it's pumped. It's still great for the baby whenever she gets it. My understanding that it's just what you're pumping now is a better match for her needs now than it will be for what she needs in three months.

I heard this too, so I'd probably go with using all the breastmilk now and switch to all formula later.  As for DCP throwing out milk if the baby doesn't finish it - I think you can ask her to put it back in the fridge for you. She's always written down if DS didn't finish his bottles and based on what she's written I think she usually tries to get him to finish it an hour or so later (or mixes it with his cereal) if he didn't eat it all in one sitting. 

vtkgirl77

Thanks ladies for all of the responses. Maybe I'll just use it up then. I did notice that my earliest breastmilk was really yellow from the colostrum so I can definitely see how it changes over time.