WWYD: Pumping at work cooler/refrigeration question

vtkgirl77 · August 2011

It's my second day back at work and I am pumping at work for the first time. I have the cooler and ice packs that I got with my pump from Ameda. I've been storing the ice packs in the freezer the night before and then taking them out and putting them in the cooler right before I leave for work in the morning. I'm trying to decide if I should store the milk in the cooler at my desk (with the ice packs) or in the fridge at work. I know they say the milk is fine in a cooler for 24 hours but I'm wondering if the fridge is technically a better option. However, I'm a bit leary of storing it in the fridge because (1) I have a fear that someone could contaminate it (not likely but still a fear) (2) the fridge is on the other side of the building and I'm lazy and don't want to have to walk over there before and after each pumping session and (3) I am much more likely to forget the milk at the end of the day if it's in the fridge. I leave for work at 8am and I'm home by 5:30pm. So, WWYD? Cooler or refrigerator?

otoro98 · August 2011

Hmmm...I tend to think that if you feel the milk is kept cool sufficiently with the ice packs at your desk (and it probably is) that that's the way to go, unless you feel very confident about whoever is accessing the fridge and you won't forget milk at work. Honestly, I feel like it just took me time to figure out, once I got back to work, what worked best for pumping/storage, so you may decide one way now, and then change later. It is sort of a stumbling game and then you'll get it down to a rhythm that works for you. GL!

alliapistor · August 2011

I don't know if you have the option, but a number of women at my work just brought in small dorm size fridges to keep in their office to keep their milk in. That's what I plan to do.

Sofka · August 2011

where do you pump? is there a dedicated mother's room? if so, can you ask to have a fridge put in? if not, as PP suggested, can you get a small fridge? I think if you put the milk in a baby bag (the kind you get for free with formula, at the hospital) no one will touch it. Personally, I always stored milk in a fridge, in the Mother's room while I pumped and then the work fridge from the end of my last pump until I went home. I never forgot it but if you think you will, can you set your calendar to go off with a reminder right around the time to leave?

QueSrah · August 2011

I always kept mine in the fridge because it was just 20 feet from my office. But rather than take three or four long walks across the building, I'd probably use the cooler. If your office is as A/C'd out as mine, it's pretty cool to start with and the ice packs are probably plenty cold enough to keep the milk fresh.

Artslvr · August 2011

With all three kids I did cooler/ice packs. Seemed to be fine.

slukd79 · August 2011

I travel from house to house with my job so I didn't have the option of a fridge/freezer. So I only l did a cooler with icepacks (spring, summer and fall) in my car and had no problems. GL!

tomandcourt · August 2011

I always left mine in the cooler with the ice packs and never had an issue. The only times I left in the fridge was if I forgot the ice packs, but I was always worried I would forget the milk and go home without it.

P.S. Congrats on making it this far with breastfeeding! I remember you had a tough time with your first LO and it's great that you're still going.

umdbride · August 2011

I tend to go from location to location for my job and so I usually do the cooler and ice packs and it works out great. Especially if the milk is in bags I think it stays cool really well.

vtkgirl77 · August 2011

Thanks ladies for all of the responses. The fridge idea is a good one but I'm not sure how long I'll be pumping so I don't think I want to buy one and I'm not sure if my work would get one. However, the fridge suggestion gave me the idea that I could bring in my small hard-case cooler from home with bigger ice packs and use that during the day. So, I may play around with my options. At least it's good to know that no one has had issues keeping the milk in the coolers that you get with the pump.

tomandcourt:

P.S. Congrats on making it this far with breastfeeding! I remember you had a tough time with your first LO and it's great that you're still going.

Thank you! I'm actually really shocked that it has gone so well and that I'm still doing it. My only goal initially was to give her mostly breastmilk for the first 4 weeks. There were a few times that I was going to quit around the 6 week mark and then we just got into a rhythm with it and I actually started to enjoy it. I think that being more relaxed this time and not putting pressure on myself helped. We use formula sometimes too which helps because I don't feel like the only food source and DH can do some of the feedings.

WinesNot Whines · August 2011

I used a fridge, but that's because my office was literally next door to the kitchen, so it was very convenient. I know lots of people use ice packs and they're fine. If the milk bottles feel cool at the end of the day, then I'm sure it's fine.

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