Pumping Question

nilu129

So my LO is alittle over a month old and I want to introduce the bottle to her with my breastmilk and I have no idea how much to pump into the bottle and the bag to freeze. Also how long is the milk good in the bottle if its pumped directly into the bottle and how much long is it good if I freeze my milk in a bag and defrost it to use during the day in the bottle. Sorry for the dumb questions but i am so lost about this and don't want to start until I know what to do. Thanks

Hyaline

The guidelines here: https://www.llli.org/faq/milkstorage.html are pretty widely used.  I usually pump twice a day--once to freeze and once for an evening bottle for DH to give DD--and put the milk to be frozen directly in the bag, into the freezer and the milk for the bottle stays in the bottle it was pumped in.

nilu129

Thanks. I am just worried about transferring milk from the bag to the bottle. right now I am still breastfeeding but want to introduce hte bottle to her so my husband can feed her along with my mom. I just dont know how much to put into the bottle from the bags of milk that I freeze. and how long the thawed bag is good for. 

NJbaby2012

I'm nursing, bottle feeding breast milk, and also formula bottle feeding as well. I'll tell you what I'm experiencing...

My daughter actually doesn't take the bottle any differently than the breast. But I did notice when using Dr Brown's bottle nipples that the Level 1 was frustrating her (which I believe is the nipple for 0-3 mons). I skipped right to the Level 2.

 There's a couple of things to note with freezing...I use Ameda products. I can NOT fill the back passed 2 ounces or else the bag seems to pop open. If I don't freeze it I only like to keep it in the fridge for a day because the fat of the milk floats to the top and kinda sticks there - I find that gross. LOL I've read up to a week it's good in the back of the fridge though. My opinion is if you aren't going to use it within about 6 hours, just freeze it right away. If you are thawing the bag to bottle feed I put the bag into a hot cup of water then swish and knead the bag around cause it might start seperating. I don't like to freeze then thaw in the fridge - I think it looks nasty.

 If you have any questions and want to chat, feel free, natalie.scelsa@gmail.com - been there honey!  

 

Hyaline

nilu129:

Thanks. I am just worried about transferring milk from the bag to the bottle. right now I am still breastfeeding but want to introduce hte bottle to her so my husband can feed her along with my mom. I just dont know how much to put into the bottle from the bags of milk that I freeze. and how long the thawed bag is good for. 

I pump what LO would take in one feeding (ie, right now she drains one side per feeding, so I pump one side per session).  It's about 3-4 oz at a time in the bag and then just thaw and use that.  So--one bag = one bottle = one feeding (kind of...)  If she doesn't finish I put the bottle in the fridge and use it later...I'm not sure if this is 100% recommended or not, but I hate to waste it!