Community› The Bump Local Boards› North Dakota Babies
North Dakota Babies
New Discussion

? about using pumped milk

dani_girl08dani_girl08
in North Dakota Babies

I go back to work tomorrow. Crying  I have about 400 oz of pumped milk stored in the freezer (dating back to about 7/25), & I will be pumping at work.  I know it's best to give fresh BM, but I obviously need to use my stash as well.  How should I go about this?  Should I do a couple bottles of frozen & a couple fresh each day, or should I just give all from my stash & keep freezing what I pump each day?  I will still be nursing her in the morning before I leave, & at night.  It will be 3-5 bottles a day & 3-5 feedings depending on the day.   

Also, how do you leave your milk for your care providers?  My milk is stored in Lansinoh bags anywhere from 3-5oz portions. I also have some stored in .5oz ice cubes, so I can add to my bag amounts to get the amount that I need.  Should I thaw out an entire day's worth ahead of time & have it ready in the bottles, or should I have my mom thaw as she goes?  I just don't want any to get wasted, & I want to BF her when I'm home, so if I got out of work early or something, I wouldn't want to toss the thawed milk.  Also, if she thaws a 5 oz bag & R only eats 3oz, then it's wasted that way too since it's already heated up to thaw, KWIM?

This post is all over the place.  I'm an emotional wreck today, & this probably isn't even making sense.  This is so complicated, & I'm thinking way too much about it.  Aaaggghhh. Here's a warm brownie with a scoop of ice cream for anyone who made it this far.  TIA for any suggestions. 

Report Reply to Post

Re: ? about using pumped milk

  • CanadianBride84CanadianBride84 member

    I cant pump enough to store, so I am not helpful, but I wanted to say *hugs* I am sorry you have to go back to work, but Reese will never ever forget who her real mama is.

    A & T Since 2009 Parents of A born July 2010
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • sarlahsarlah

    Coming from someone with no experience (so take this with a grain of salt) maybe you should focus on only tomorrow. Do what makes sense & will provide what your LO needs for one day only. Maybe taking it one day at a time will be less stressful for you in the beginning. Then you will adjust, figure it out, and be able to plan ahead without stressing yourself out. This tactic usually works for me... I just have never applied it in your situation.

    Just have to add - 400 oz. of frozen BM?! You're a rockstar!!

    (hugs) GL tomorrow! 

     

    Report Reply
  • lindeenweddinglindeenwedding member

    I work M-Th so Alexa would get frozen milk on Mondays and fresh the rest of the week. On Thursday I would freeze what I pumped that day and also any leftover from the week.

    I had to bring everything onthawed and ready to go in bottles since Alexa goes to a center but since your mom is watching her I would thaw the amount that you know for sure she will go through (a couple bottles worth) and then if your mom needs to give her more she can take more out. There is always a chance of her using less then you take out but with 400oz stashed I wouldn't be too concerned. I had probably 300oz and I never had to dip into that in an entire year (granted I always took the oldest on Mondays so I still had that amount of milk - just not the "same" milk), so I was able to quit pumping at a year and still provide BM for the last two months at daycare. 

    image
    ~Kimberly & Eric~ April 21, 2008 ~Tensing Pen ~ Negril, Jamaica ~ My Blog: One Sunset at a Time
    image
    Report Reply
  • sillybiochemistsillybiochemist

    Good luck with going back to work!  I'm not in that situation yet but my plan was to freeze the fresh milk (unless I was going to use it in the next few hours) and pull the oldest frozen milk from the freezer to use.  That way you have the option of doing a slow freeze of the milk (in the fridge) which gives you a bit more time to use it.  Also thawing frozen milk (3-5 oz) doesn't take very long so if you're mom doesn't mind, I'd almost have her thaw it as she needs it.  Main reason I'd use the frozen first is because frozen milk is only good for about 6 months (reg refridge freezer) to 1 year (deep freeze) so that way you can use what you produced and don't feel like you have to pitch it because it might be old. 

    Definitely keeping you in my thoughts as you go back to work.  Just spending a few weeks with my little one is enough to make me realize that it's going to be hard to go back to work eventually.

    Report Reply
  • MrsBlayneMrsBlayne member
    I always use the oldest frozen milk and freeze the new. The only time she gets fresh is if for some reason I pump in the morning. I pull out 3 bags the night before and put them in the fridge. The idea is that the sitter will put just as much as she needs in a bottle and save the rest for the next bottle if there is extra. And she can always thaw another bag if she needs.

    Hugs on going back to work! You can do it!

    image Lilypie Third Birthday tickers Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers
    Report Reply
  • DreamsBride411DreamsBride411 member

    I just wanted to offer you MUCH MUCH MUCH hugs and love all around for tomorrow!!!

    (And when I thought I was going back to work, I planned on doing what Blayne said)

    image
    image
    image
    [url=http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers][img]http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tte03a3.aspx[/img]
    Report Reply
  • WendellsWendells
    imageMrsBlayne:
    I always use the oldest frozen milk and freeze the new. The only time she gets fresh is if for some reason I pump in the morning. I pull out 3 bags the night before and put them in the fridge. The idea is that the sitter will put just as much as she needs in a bottle and save the rest for the next bottle if there is extra. And she can always thaw another bag if she needs.

     

    Hugs on going back to work! You can do it!

    This is pretty much exactly what I used to do as well. 

    Report Reply
  • WendellsWendells
    imageWendells:
    imageMrsBlayne:
    I always use the oldest frozen milk and freeze the new. The only time she gets fresh is if for some reason I pump in the morning. I pull out 3 bags the night before and put them in the fridge. The idea is that the sitter will put just as much as she needs in a bottle and save the rest for the next bottle if there is extra. And she can always thaw another bag if she needs.

     

    Hugs on going back to work! You can do it!

    This is pretty much exactly what I used to do as well. 

    actually I didn't put them in the fridge, I would thaw them in a bowl of warm water.  was so much faster! 

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"