STMs + that pumped

mnieciecki

I am hoping that BF will work out for me and I will also be able to pump so I can make a stash for feedings when I can't be around or when DH take on feeding duty.  They make different size storage tubes (I was looking at Medela) they have them in 2.5oz tubes, 5 oz containers and I forget the size of the freezer bags.  Did you stock up more of one size than another?  Should I go with bags over the tubes?  When I read the reviews some say the 2.5 is enough, others say it's not because their LO ate 3-4 oz at each feeding.   Thoughts?

6fsn

I used the Lansinoh bags.  The freeze flat and are easy to store.  2.5 oz might be okay for a newborn, but once baby gets older they'll start taking more like 6-12 ozs.

nanabanana06

Yeah, I did bags. You freeze them flat and stack them from oldest to newest. I did 2oz bags.

curtsgrl

I used both in the beginning then switched to just bags.  The bags take up less space.

minervacullen

I loved the bags. They store easier and are easier to thaw. I would have various amounts in them. I would pump daily, as well as bf, and had a good stash that we were very grateful for when it came to going out.

dandlelyon

Nana_Osaki06:

Yeah, I did bags. You freeze them flat and stack them from oldest to newest. I did 2oz bags.

This, expect we did 4 oz bags and then 6 ozbags (but we had twins so...).

Amaryllis619

6fsn:

I used the Lansinoh bags.  The freeze flat and are easy to store.  2.5 oz might be okay for a newborn, but once baby gets older they'll start taking more like 6-12 ozs.

i used these as well.

nanabanana06

dandlelyon:

Nana_Osaki06:

Yeah, I did bags. You freeze them flat and stack them from oldest to newest. I did 2oz bags.

This, expect we did 4 oz bags and then 6 ozbags (but we had twins so...).

Yeah, I did 2oz bags cuz it was easiest to measure out servings. Since DD went from 2oz every 2-3 hours to 4oz, then to 6oz. So it was just easier to do 2oz bags and thaw the amount needed.

egingras

I used to pump into a bottle (I could never get them to attach to the pump correctly) and then poured into the bags.   It made things easier both at work and at home.  I just stored them in a tupperware bin without a lid.  Worked perfectly! 

+Jasha+

I also pumped directly into bottles because I could never figure out how to attach the bags, plus I was so worried about not attaching them properly and then spilling milk all over. 
I was an EPer so a portion of what I pumped was DS's daily food and was portioned out into bottles and then whatever was leftover was portioned out into the bags (I believe I used Lansinoh). The bags went directly into the freezer.  DS never ate more than 4 ozs of BM at a time so all of our bags were 4oz. 

We had to switch to formula at 4 months because we learned the hard way that my milk can't be frozen and my ~3-4 month stash (Our entire freezer was full of nothing but BM) had to be thrown out.  But DS still never ate more than 6oz of formula at one time.  So you will just need to see where your baby falls and go from there to determine how much you should portion into ea freezer bag.  

StefandTodd

I pumped into bottles, and froze the milk in bags.  I never stored more than 4 oz at a time.  A lot of BF babies will never need/take a bottle bigger than 4 oz.  Mine did take to 6 oz BM bottles eventually, but it was easy enough for me to still pull out 4 frozen and pump 2 or defrost 8 and use the other 2 for the next bottle, or make 2 - 6 oz bottles out of 3 bags of 4 oz.  The bags are awesome for freezing.  Freeze them flat and stack them in a standard size gift bag = awesome freezer space saver.

spencermaegan

I'm a FTM mom but I plan on using the bags. Others had recommended the bottles to save money, but I think it will be easier to use the bags.

Target has a sale on Lansinoh storage bags this week. The sticker in the store and adds that I have seen say 7.00 for a box of 50. When I bought some earlier this week the original price was about 9.99 so I bought 2 boxes. At the check out they actually rang up as 2 for $12.00. 

Extra bonus- my Target had the packages that are 50 count +10 extra bags

married2m

I stored them in bags as well. I would put 4oz in each bag. 

sschwege

This is what I used.  I liked it because it was cheaper than the bags and you could take out as much or as little as you needed.  So I might only take out 1oz a day for cereal or more if I needed to leave a bottle.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/17294520?adid=22222222227000996056&wmlspartner=wlpa&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=13697378230&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem 

MommaAmers

StefandTodd:

I pumped into bottles, and froze the milk in bags.  I never stored more than 4 oz at a time.  A lot of BF babies will never need/take a bottle bigger than 4 oz.  Mine did take to 6 oz BM bottles eventually, but it was easy enough for me to still pull out 4 frozen and pump 2 or defrost 8 and use the other 2 for the next bottle, or make 2 - 6 oz bottles out of 3 bags of 4 oz.  The bags are awesome for freezing.  Freeze them flat and stack them in a standard size gift bag = awesome freezer space saver.

 I did this also and cut a slit in the bottom of the gift bag on the side so I could slide out the oldest milk to use first.

My son never really took more than 4 oz.  I froze in 1, 2,  3, and 4 oz bags.  This gave me the flexibility to combine bags and make any size bottle I needed. When I stored them in the gift bags, I put all of the same oz size in the same bag.  It kept everything nice and orderly.

laura1

I used Medela pump and save bags - so much easier for me to pump directly into the bag, and not worry about having to clean bottles between pumping sessions as well.  So each bag had varying amounts depending on how much I got at that time anywhere from 1oz-6oz.  It was nice having the different options - I would leave out what I guessed would be enough for when I was working, but if either kid was still hungry, DH would easily be able to defrost another smaller amount bag.  

I will say it is easier to defrost the 2-4 ounces/bag - takes far less time than the 6ounce ones!   

kimski

 i used bags stored them in a small gift bag with a slit cut out of the side so I could pull out the oldest first without disturbing the rest. I would pump enough most days 

(when i was trying to build my stash and still feed LO) to be able to combine to like a 4 oz bag which is what LO typically needed for a feeding. Then by the time I switched back to work I almost always had 4-6 ounce per pump session.