A question for Breast Feeding/Pumping Mom's

belmont1785 · June 2014

I'm at FTM and I do not post often but I have a specific question I would like advice on if anyone has some for me.

I plan on breast feeding and pumping while I am at work. I have been looking at bottles and supplies and I notice that you can buy breast milk storage bags to pump into instead of having a ton of bottles. Obviously this would save money and space, but it seems silly to me to pump into a bag that you are going to dump into a bottle and toss the bag in the garbage anyways.I know when I was growing up and my siblings were babies, they sold bottles that the bags fit into so that you didn't have to pump into a bag and then pour the bag into to bottle. Maybe they still sell this style but I haven't seen any.

What do you use? Do you use the bags and dump milk into a bottle? Seems like it would also present an opportunity to spill the precious liquid (and lord knows I don't need any assistance being a klutz!) Or do I just register for/buy plenty of bottles? How many bottles would I need if I did this?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

belmont1785 · June 2014

Sorry I just noticed someone posted almost this exact question minutes before me.

runningmama14 · June 2014

I'm considering trying this:

https://www.wellwornsoles.com/2013/03/easy-pumping-and-breast-milk-storage.html?m=1

belmont1785 · June 2014

Thank you....this looks great!

Loopyseven · June 2014

I pumped into bottles during the day. I had 6 or 8 small ones (4-5 oz) that I'd pump into, Some of them came with my pump, and some were small 5 oz medela ones that I'd bought to have extras. and then at the end of the day I'd consolidate into the bottles to send to daycare the next day, put any "extra" into a bag for freezing. Then I'd wash the bottles to use with the pump the next day.

A liked the Tommee Tippee bottles so we used those which are not pump compatible, but you can also buy caps with nipples for the Medela bottles so you can just send those to daycare with a flat lid and then swap the lid for a nipple when it's time for the baby to eat. Then you could theoretically send the same bottles to daycare that you are pumping into.

And I liked the Up & Up brand bags from Target for freezing way better than the Lanisoh ones. I had to thaw the Lanisoh ones in a bowl or they'd leak all over my counter and I'd lose the whole bag of milk.

PineApple85 · June 2014

I don't see the other thread, but if you plan to pump a large supply for your freezer, bags store easier and take up less space as well as they're less expensive. It does give an extra opportunity to spill, but pumping directly into a bag would've been a waste for me after about six months because I was only getting a few ounces out of each breast and I was storing 6 ounces in each bag. And I only ever spilled a combined total of about 8 to 10 ounces for the 15 to 18 months that I pumped.

ETA: some perspective, I had a moderate supply in my freezer compared to other mother's and I had close to 200 ounces at it's peak that would have filled my kitchen freezer. We ended up buying a deep freezer for extra space. And that was with bags that can store flat, not bottles.

kimberly_ann81 · June 2014

I would pump into bottles and then transfer into bags to freeze. PS lay them flat when freezing, saves an ton of space and makes it so much easier to store. I did this mainly because I would pump out 6 6oz bottles while at work and DS would only take 2 or 3 6 oz bottles each day. I was a huge over producer compared to most people and never worried about spillage because of this. I ended up giving over 600 oz away to friend who couldn't produce enough due to a breast reduction. I would send three bags of the "oldest" frozen to daycare. They would warm it up in a hot water bath and put it into the bottle there.

PineApple85 · June 2014

Loopyseven said:
I pumped into bottles during the day. I had 6 or 8 small ones (4-5 oz) that I'd pump into, Some of them came with my pump, and some were small 5 oz medela ones that I'd bought to have extras. and then ****at the end of the day I'd consolidate into the bottles to send to daycare the next day, put any "extra" into a bag for freezing****. Then I'd wash the bottles to use with the pump the next day.
A liked the Tommee Tippee bottles so we used those which are not pump compatible, but you can also buy caps with nipples for the Medela bottles so you can just send those to daycare with a flat lid and then swap the lid for a nipple when it's time for the baby to eat. Then you could theoretically send the same bottles to daycare that you are pumping into.
****And I liked the Up & Up brand bags from Target for freezing way better than the Lanisoh ones. I had to thaw the Lanisoh ones in a bowl or they'd leak all over my counter and I'd lose the whole bag of milk.****

This. I'm on mobile so I can't bold the text but that's what I did and we to tried different brands and found Up&Up to be the sturdiest.

SugarSnap83 · June 2014

I agree with previous posters. I pumped into bottles and then poured into the bags. The bags saves so much space and when were layed flat, they thawed very quickly under some warm water.

Melissa2216 · June 2014

kimberly_ann81 said:

I would pump into bottles and then transfer into bags to freeze. PS lay them flat when freezing, saves an ton of space and makes it so much easier to store. I did this mainly because I would pump out 6 6oz bottles while at work and DS would only take 2 or 3 6 oz bottles each day. I was a huge over producer compared to most people and never worried about spillage because of this. I ended up giving over 600 oz away to friend who couldn't produce enough due to a breast reduction. I would send three bags of the "oldest" frozen to daycare. They would warm it up in a hot water bath and put it into the bottle there.

This for me as well. At the beginning, I was making more milk than DS needed, so I would store enough for 1-2 days in the fridge in bottles, and pour the rest into bags to freeze. Once my supply started decreasing, I supplemented with frozen milk. I also used the frozen bags for day care. I tried to use a mix of fresh and frozen milk at all times, since the nutrients in your breast milk change according to what your child needs at each age. So I didn't want to be giving my 6-year-old only frozen milk from when he was 4 months, KWIM? I always tried to use the frozen stash regularly so I would keep rotating in newer frozen milk. I also made my own baby food, and I used extra milk (fresh or frozen) to mix into purees or baby cereals.

MrsDL · June 2014

I pumped directly into the bags when it was an extra pumping to build up my freezer stash. When I was back at work and pumping for the next day, I'd just pump into the bottles I'd be using the next day.

belmont1785 · June 2014

This is all exactly what I was looking for...thank you SO much!

Love4Science · June 2014

We had brunch with some new parents today and they were raving about this system:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0011UH78G/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1403471747&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40

She has the Madela Freestyle pump and the boob funnel parts fit right on to the playtex adapters so you pump right into the cylinder shaped bag. Then the lid goes on the adaptor and you toss the bag/adaptor/lid in the freezer. Once it's frozen they take the lid and adaptor off and store the cylinder bag in a ziplock. When it's time to feed you take out the frozen cylinder bag and drop it in a Playtex dropins bottle and let it thaw in the fridge. There's no pouring milk at any point. They also like the dropins bottles because if the slower flowing nipple.

Seemed like a good system to me. They said get 2 of the starter kits above and some bottles and you're all set.

PennyLane26 · June 2014

The bottles your are talking about are called the playtex nursers. We use them, but for storing lots of BM (I had a big freezer stash) you'll want lay flat bags like Lansinoh.

jac409 · June 2014

I only used the bags for what I put in the freezer. I actually stopped that pretty early on though because my LO wouldn't touch frozen/thawed milk. Most people don't have that problem though, at least I don't think so. After that, I just stored it in medela bottles in the fridge.

Babin5359 · June 2014

Check out the Kiinde line. They have bags that attach to pumps which then have screw on lids. When you are ready the bags slide into the Kiinde bottles and nipples. They can then be recycled. No transferring or spilling of milk and less bulky for travel etc. they also have a storage shelf for the freezer and a warmer in their starter kit. A lot of the reviews say that the nipples are an easy transition between breast feeding but I've been keeping an eye on the reviews since it's somewhat new. Any other moms see this? If so, any thoughts?

jac409 · June 2014

zengal said:

So if you use the Playtex storage system, do you need the Playtex liners or can you use the ones that freeze flat? And how in the world do you freeze milk flat?

You can freeze it flat if you lay the bag on its side. I cleared a space in the freezer door where I could lay them down. I would freeze them flat and then put them upright in a Tupperware container, newest in back and oldest in front so I could just pull one out when I needed it. Sort of like a filing system, for lack of a better comparison.

abbyful · June 2014

I pumped into the Medela bottles that came with my pump. DS drank out of Playtex Drop-Ins, and I used Lansinoh bags for freezing milk.

I never tried Target brand bags that some people mentioned, but I did try Medela bags and HATED them!

I never had any leaking problems with the Lansinoh bags, they worked great! And I had several hundred ounces in the freezer.

pennyandandy · June 2014

I pumped into the storage containers that came with the Avent pump (and had some extras for rotation) and then poured them into Lasinoh bags when I got home. I never had a leak problem with them, either.

momtojad · June 2014

I pumped into bottles during the day and only used bags to freeze. They get expensive.

jaminjeff · June 2014

I pumped into bottles. I didn't feel comfortable pumping into bags (I have a Medela PISA), they felt flimsy and I was constantly worried it would drip out on my clothing while I'm trying to pump, or in the process of taking everything off. I only used the bags if I had too much once I got home and I'd just pour into them to freeze later on.

mb314 · June 2014

I pumped into the bottles because that was easiest with my Medela Pump In Style. I started pumping once a day while still on maternity leave to build up a stash, and I would transfer that milk into a storage bag, and lay it flat to freeze. Laying them flat to freeze is key because they are a lot easier to store and defrost, and the bags tended to leak when being defrosted if they hadn't been frozen flat.

Once I went back to work, I sent the milk I pumped to daycare the following day, so I would just transfer the milk from the pump bottles to the bottles DS drank from at daycare. The medela pump in style came with a cooler pack where the pump bottles fit perfectly so it was more convenient to use the bottles rather than pumping in a bag.

I only used the bags to store excess milk that I was going to freeze. Unfortunately, until DS was on solids, I never pumped more than he needed for daycare (and I relied on my freezer stash from maternity leave to make up the difference).

AlliJeee · June 2014

Warning: Ignorant FTM question.

If you're staying at home, when do you have time to pump? I understand if you're away from your baby, say at work, you'd pump to keep your supply going and have enough for the next day - but if you're always around your baby, feeding your baby, how do you pump and freeze? Will your body keep up with feeding and then additional pumping?

PineApple85 · June 2014

AlliJeee said:

Warning: Ignorant FTM question.
If you're staying at home, when do you have time to pump? I understand if you're away from your baby, say at work, you'd pump to keep your supply going and have enough for the next day - but if you're always around your baby, feeding your baby, how do you pump and freeze? Will your body keep up with feeding and then additional pumping?

I pumped after DS's first morning feed. I didn't have the discipline to wake up at night even though DS slept pretty well for long stretches at night - relatively speaking

. I didn't get much, a few ounces each time, but it added up and I had enough for about a week by the time I went back to work and then I was pumping about an extra 6 ounces a day for several months after that.

ETA: technically speaking pumping in the early, early morning hours of the night is ideal since your production is at peak at that time (I can't remember the exact time) and most mothers that I've spoken to online or IRL set their alarm for some point in the night to pump to build their stash.

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