STM+ who pumped how many storage bags?

mamaj1220 · October 2013

I have been looking at the storage bags for pumping and I have no clue on average how many get used. Any help is appreciated. Also if you could recommend some that worked well it would be greatly appreciated.
I also wrote this on the breast feeding board.

mavgirl_73 · October 2013

I like the Medela ones the best as they lay more flat and don't tend to leak when they thaw as much as other brands do. I started out with 2 50ct boxes but quickly moved through those.

earychener · October 2013

I'd probably start with 100, that will get you through for now. I would pump and wait until I had enough for 8oz to fill a bag before freezing. At the beginning I wouldn't have enough with each session, but eventually you will make more. I kept it in the fridge until I had 8oz and then dumped it into a bag and put it in the freezer. But I'm pretty sure 100 will last a while. I liked the Lansinoh ones the best. I had a Medela pump, but still used the Lansinoh bags. HTH!

KFED103 · October 2013

Depends how much you pump and how many ounces you store at one time. When they are really young you might only store 3oz per bag and use more bags. When they get older you might put 6-7oz in one bag. I tried to store one feeding per bag so it obviously changed as they get older.

I think I had the Lanisoh (sp?) bags and they worked well

aadamson12 · October 2013

I used lansinoh also. I froze them in 4 oz though. That way I wasn't thawing more then I might need.

mamaj1220 · October 2013

Thanks ladies! Also how did store if you pumped at work? Did you bring a cooler?

mavgirl_73 · October 2013

@jennadyer-yes I pumped at work and yes I took a cooler with ice packs in it

KFED103 · October 2013

JennaDyer said:
Thanks ladies! Also how did store if you pumped at work? Did you bring a cooler?

Yep. The cooler that came with the pump. I also bought a back up ice pack since sometimes I forgot to put it back in the freezer when I got home

mamaj1220 · October 2013

Thank you all so much!

you just made this much less stressful!

insertclevername · October 2013

I would start off with one box of 100 bags or so. Breastfed babies take less ounces so I would recommend storing in 2-4oz increments. Also, the fuller you stuff a bag the more likely it is to leak during the thawing process regardless of the brand. Most people swear by Lansinoh bags and also the Target Up&Up ones. I would also recommend researching paced bottle feeding and review it with whomever will be providing childcare. The kellymom site has good info on paced bottle feeding.

kittyh8r · October 2013

I used the Medela bags. I EP'd, so I was using my milk everyday. I usually pumped into bottles and combined them into one. So if I got 3 oz from each side, I combined them into one feeding amount. If there was any extra, I put it in a storage tube. Once I had a couple storage tubes, I would combine them and put them in a bag and freeze them. If I had BF AND pumped, I would have blown through bags much faster, but since Emma was getting my milk in a bottle everyday, I just used bottles to store the milk.

TheArmadillo · October 2013

I liked the Lansinoh bags better than Medela or First Years.

I tried to do one feeding per bag and froze them flat, in order to store in these (I had two): https://www.amazon.com/The-First-Years-Breastflow-Organizer/dp/B000K4YSVI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1382976772&sr=8-3&keywords=breast+milk+storage.

It helped me organize the milk better and ensure that the oldest was being used first (I was remarkably bad at that in the beginning -- others likely won't have the same issues).

As for pumping at work, I pumped three times, stored the parts in a reusable zipper bag in the fridge in between so that I didn't need to wash them every pump, but rather every night, and transported milk in this: https://www.amazon.com/Playtex-Fridge-To-Go-Bottle-Holder-Double/dp/B000K53U7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1382976689&sr=1-1&keywords=bottle+cooler

willowprincess · October 2013

I loved the medela ones. (the ones that have holes to hook onto the pump, not the yellow strip to hang on it)

I started out with 100, but I moved through them really quickly.

MissyC979 · October 2013

I exclusively pumped last time until about 5 months. I would pump into the Medela bottles, then transfer to the bags. I used both Medela and Lansinoh. I don't really remember which I liked better. I do recommend laying them flat in the freezer to freeze them, then you can store them in baskets or even shoe boxes, for organization. Always label them with the date and put the oldest ones in the front, so you use those first.

I would just buy a small box at first, until you've really established that you're going to keep pumping.

Jen4033 · October 2013

I used Lansinoh bags as well. I froze them in various amounts of 2, 3, 4 oz. Depending on how much extra I had at the time I was doing it. Made it easier later when I was producing less & needed just a couple more oz to send a full amount to day care.

I put four 100-ct boxes on my registry because I know I'll likely go through them over the year I hope to BF.

I froze any extra I had after filling DS's bottles for next day day care. I'm hoping to start a little sooner with creating a stash since last time, while I did make it our 1 year goal, it started getting rough around that 8 mo mark. I went through a LOT of frozen milk. Luckily we made it.

blainethetrain · October 2013

I froze right in the medela bottles as well as in the bags.

amberpro · October 2013

Another vote for lansinoh bags. I froze bags with the exact amount needed for his bottles at the time, with a couple extra with a couple ounces to help with transition times without wasting. But I never had a huge stash.

@superpecialsnowflake I don't see ice cube trays being practical for BM. Each "cube" is about an ounce. It seems as if it would take up a ridiculous amount of space whereas bags can be flat and stacked.

Also, I would just leave a couple bottles at DC and bring in bags every day. 1bag for 1 bottle (feeding). Traveling with cubes would be more challenging and I'd think you'd need a storage bag anyway?

I did love ice cube trays for freezing the baby food I made, though.

musicnmoon123 · October 2013

superspecialsnowflake said:
Have any of you tried any of the freezing trays/ice cube trays, as opposed to just freezing it in the bag? Thoughts on that method? My cousin swears by it, but I'm surprised no one else has mentioned it.

I used the freezer sticks trays in addition to the bags. That way, if I had 4 oz bags, and LO was taking 5 oz, I could just defrost a 1-oz stick to add to his bottle. Prevented waste as I didn't need to defrost an entire bag.

Plus, I could leave a handful of sticks in the freezer at daycare in case of emergency.

ETA: as for storage, I emptied the frozen trays into ziplock bags and stored them flat in the freezer.

[Deleted User] · October 2013

Also, you can get the Lanosh bags on Amazon for a pretty decent price.

tyedyeme12 · October 2013

lrachelle80 said:
I preferred the Lansinoh bags as well. When at work for 8 hours, I pumped 3-4 times a day, and used a new bag for each session. So each week I was using 15-20 bags. It's really a matter of how much you're pumping.

Oh my goodness, I am so naïve. I was really hoping I could pump once in the middle of my 6hr work day. I just can't think of another time I can. I was going to pump once at 7:25 before I leave, once at 12, and when I get home at 3. (And then throughout the evening). Is that just not going to work?

Sigir · October 2013

tyedyeme12 said:

I preferred the Lansinoh bags as well. When at work for 8 hours, I pumped 3-4 times a day, and used a new bag for each session. So each week I was using 15-20 bags. It's really a matter of how much you're pumping.
Oh my goodness, I am so naïve. I was really hoping I could pump once in the middle of my 6hr work day. I just can't think of another time I can. I was going to pump once at 7:25 before I leave, once at 12, and when I get home at 3. (And then throughout the evening). Is that just not going to work?

I have pumped successfully for two babies now. You need to pump every 4 hours at the beginning for sure, and you might be able to stretch it out from there after a few months (I did every 5 hours after two months back to work). You may want to consider pumping on your commute w a hands free bra- that was my lifesaver. My schedule was : 8 am in the car, 11:30 am, 3:30 pm then back with baby at 6 - 6:30 pm. I think your schedule might be ok if you move the 7:25 back a little, possibly through commute pumping.

lilybeth12 · October 2013

I asked this question on my local mom's board and got very similar answers. Lanisoh bags got the most thumbs up (medela's are known to crack when frozen), but Target's Up and Up brand are a good option as well. I just bought a 50 bag pack of up and up for ~8 dollars.

lollipoppoop · October 2013

I have heard great things about target up and up brand milk bags. You can usually get a $1 off coupon for any up and up item on their website as well.

joshandpanda · October 2013

Lots of good info thanks ladies! I didn't think to ask like the OP, but glad she did. Just got done reading all this.

kate14 · October 2013

My sister said that the target brand are just as good as the Medela bags and a whole lot less.

airsica · October 2013

I pumped exclusively also till my girls were 10 mos. I pumped into bottles, and transferred into bags. I used Lanisoh bags I think because they were less expensive and they worked fine. Definitely label them and store in your freezer with oldest in the front. I stored in a cooler bag at work, and had some extra freezer packs also. I think buying one or two boxes to start just to see how things go, and go from there.

amberpro · October 2013

tyedyeme12 said:

lrachelle80 said:
I preferred the Lansinoh bags as well. When at work for 8 hours, I pumped 3-4 times a day, and used a new bag for each session. So each week I was using 15-20 bags. It's really a matter of how much you're pumping.
Oh my goodness, I am so naïve. I was really hoping I could pump once in the middle of my 6hr work day. I just can't think of another time I can. I was going to pump once at 7:25 before I leave, once at 12, and when I get home at 3. (And then throughout the evening). Is that just not going to work?

I BFed right before we left at 7:00ish, I pumped 3 times a day (9:30, 12:00, 3), and BFed as soon as we got home at 4:30. I was able to pump exactly what he needed. If I had to miss a pump, I didn't get enough milk to cover the following day. I pumped on weekends a little just on case I didn't pump enough to cover the day.

thetheisens · October 2013

I went through A LOT of storage bags because I bf/pumped a year. I would just get one box to begin with though, stuff happens and pumping doesn't work for everyone. I did not like Medela ones, I though they got holes easily. I liked the target Up and Up brand one and the Nuk ones, I thought the plastic held up better. As for pumping at work I took a cooler and 2 large Mother's Choice bottles(they are the Wal Mart generic brand) because the fit on the Medela pump and the lids for the smaller Medela bottles screw on the top. That way instead of like 6 or 8 smaller bottles or trying to dump the bm in storage bags at work I could just do all my pumping into 2 large bottles and then divide the milk when I got home. I used the frig at work and threw my whole cooler in there with my bm and pump parts(because they were refrigerated I didn't have to clean them at every break). If you can't use a frig I would put some ice packs in the cooler and rinse your pump parts between each pump.

bumpuser2505903 · October 2013

I like the Lansinoh bags best. I agree with PP to make sure to date each bag and also label with the number of oz and freeze the bag flat. It is best to measure the milk in the bottle first, then pour it into the bags. The marks on the bag can be a bit off.

I also second the recommendation to freeze in 2-4 oz increments so you're actually able to use all of the milk with one bottle and not waste any. My DD never took more than 4 oz of BM at a time even from 6-12 months.

If you are planning to work, the best method I found was to use frozen for all three bottles on Monday, then use the previous days fresh milk for the following days feeding (Mondays pumped milk for Tuesdays feedings, etc.). Freeze all Friday milk and then use the oldest frozen for the following Monday.

Also, another tip is to use the "gift bag" method for storage. You can YouTube it to get a good example. It saved our freezer from becoming nothing but a frozen milk stash and also made it super easy to make sure we were using the oldest milk first.

mamaj1220 · October 2013

Thanks again everyone. It's so helpful to hear what works well for most people.

Red_Dahlia · October 2013

I liked the Lanisoh bags. However, I pumped directly into Tommee Tippee bottles mostly. Why wash two sets of bottles and mess with transfering from bags if you don't have to? And less transfer = less opportunity for spilling. I only used the bags to store excess in the freezer.

HerbanMom · October 2013

Yeah it really depends on how much your planning on pumping- I'd start out with a big box and judge your useage based on that on how quickly you move through them. I used the lansinoh and the medela, just bought whichever ones I had coupons for or were on sale, they both worked great and stored well in my BM freezer tray.

sportsmomma · October 2013

Another vote for Lansinoh bags with the Medela pump. I had TERRIBLE experiences with the Medela bags and leaking as well as not keeping the milk good as long even with a deep freezer.

As for what I use at work to keep the milk cold (as well as what I sent DS's bottles to daycare in), I LOVE using a PackIt. You can get it on Amazon, they're pretty cheap, they're easy, they're cute and they fit taller bottles (8oz Dr Browns) and can be used afterwards as a lunch pack. Love, love, love them!

drcolleen · October 2013

I pumped into bottles, combined bottles of similar temp and brought them home this way only using freezer bags for what was going into the freezer which was the "extra" every few days. At work I pumped and kept everything in a minifridge in my office. Bags were dated in boxes in the freezer to minimize temp fluctuations when the door opened.

Medela bags took up too much room, quickly abandoned for Lansinoh frozen flat. Found HoneySuckle bags which are biodegradable and will keep using these, can buy in bulk which helps. Bags are like diapers though, you can always get more.

RNmommyof2 · October 2013

I used the Lansinoh bags. I pumped into bottles and transferred 4 oz at a time into bags. I stored the milk in a cooler with an ice pack at work. My toddler never drank more than 4 oz at a time. I bought a pack of 75 on Amazon to get me started. I plan on pumping earlier this time to get a freezer stash started.

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