FTM-Pumping and Storing

rrrowe15

I am a FTM and am producing a large amount of milk right now.  Even after LO feeds my breast will still be tender, not right away but in about 30 min.  I pumped for the first time yesterday between feedings and got an ounce!  I will be going back to work in 6 weeks and thought no better time to start my supply than now but I have no clue what I am doing!  Should I freeze BM in 1 oz supplies?  When will she need more than 1 oz?  How exactly should I store it?  Right now I have 1 oz bottles from the hospital and I have some Playtex drop in bottles but I haven't gotten any of the BM storage items I registered for (LO was a month early).  Any advice would be appreciated!

vigurl

At 6 weeks your Lo will probably be eating btwn 2.5 - 3.5 oz at a time.  I would buy two cheap bottles from Walmart of Target for .99 cents.  I would pump and but the 1oz in the first bottle.  Then pump and put the next ounce in the second bottle.  But the time you pump the third time the milk in both bottles will be chilled so you can combine.  Then you can put the new milk in the empty 2nd bottle and so on.  At that point I would freeze flat the first 3oz and continue on that way.

JillianAshley6

My LO currently eats 3oz at a time, but I'm freezing in 5oz bags. Its good for 24 hours once it defrosts, and so its not a problem to defrost more than you need as long as you use it that day.

drcolleen

I also freeze 5oz/lansinoh bag flat then put in boxes in the freezer.  DD2 is has been drinking 3.5-4oz since 7 weeks but like previous poster said, I work all day so all 5oz will be used in 24 hrs whether the last bit is mixed with milk from fresh or another defrosted bag.  Bags are not expensive but they are not free, I remember freezing 7oz/bag w/ DD1.  DD1 worked her way up to 5oz/bottle by 6mo so I figure DD2 will likely do the same.

jlsimon56

I freeze in 6oz bags.  My LO takes 4oz bottles so I thaw two bags on Mondays for daycare - that is three bottles. 

Careful about pumping too soon.  It's recommended to start at 5 weeks PP.

katea81

I started pumping when my LO was first born- mostly because we were separated due to his short stay in the NICU. I pump into the Medela 5 oz. bottles that came with my pump and then once I get enough for the day, I freeze the rest in 6 oz portions in the Lansinoh freezer bags. Definitely don't freeze in 1 oz portions- that is way to small! Store in bigger portions and then you can use the BM as you need it throughout the 24 hours it will be good. (I just poor it right from the bag into the bottle)

Good luck! 

missjulierenee

I pump throuhg out the day and store all my milk in the ice box. I will get anywhere from 1 ounce to 5 ounces during a pumping session (I usually will get more in the mornings and less throughout the day). Then once I have an overflow of milk within the ice box, then I start to put my milk in freezer bags (BM is good for 5 days in the ice box). I store mine 4 ounces at a time. My LC recommended freezing 2 to 4 ounces in a bag, but it is up to you.