storing breast milk

[Anonymous]

For those working moms, what is easiest container/method to transport milk to and from work. Also, what are the best solutions for storing milk.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I bought a bunch of the Lansinoh bottles and I take four of them every day in the cooler that goes with my pump. Once I get home, I make bottles for the next day and freeze any leftovers in bags (I have Medela and Lansinoh, and both seem to work about the same).

[Anonymous]

I used the Medela storage containers. While at work I would just store the milk in the fridge, and then used a regular small cooler to transport it home.

[Anonymous]

I use the medela bottles, and I don't refrigerate the milk until I get home. I think that it's better for the milk to stay at a constant temperature, and BM can be stored at room temp for 24 hours.

[Anonymous]

If you're not storing long-term, buy about a dozen Medela bottles (you'll use ~4/day). Once you get home, put them in the fridge for use the next day.

If you want longer-term storage, the Lansinoh bags are great.

And I always kept some of the Medela CSF bags at work that you can pump directly into. There will definitely be a day when you totally forget to put some clean bottles in your bag, and you'll be desperate without the bags!

[Anonymous]

It's now been a few months since I stopped breastfeeding so maybe I am not recalling things right, but I thought it was 8 hours for unrefrigerated BM, and up to 24 hours in the fridge.

[Anonymous]

I kept a minifridge in my office to store breastmilk. I usually pumped and poured it into storage bags. I used the Gerber bags -- they were easy to pick up at the CVS near the office if I ran out! Just remember to write the date on your bags BEFORE you pour the milk it. (Writing on them afterward was a messy challenge). I'd bring the bags home each night and put them into the freezer, then save my nightime pumping for a "fresh feed" for DS the next day. My rented pump came with a carrier bag that had a cooler chamber, so I'd just put the pump into its compartment and toss a cold pack into the cooler side with the milk. After leaving a breast flange at the office one weekend, I did buy a separate set of pumping equipment for home and work so I didn't have to lug that stuff back & forth.

[Anonymous]

I used to pump into medela bottles then transfer to freezer bags. But then I just started pumping straight into the freezer bags. It was easier for me. And milk goes straight into the fridge after pumping and comes home with me in a smaller cooler with ice pack. I would never let bm sit out for 24 hours. And if you're going to freeze it, I wouldn't let it sit out for 8 hours either.

[Anonymous]

Here's what I did:

In the beginning when I had tons of milk I would pump into Medela bottles & then pour into Gerber freezer storage backs (I agree with PP - make sure to write the date on b/f you pour milk in & make sure you freeze bags on their side, not standing up - it saves tons of space).

Now, I pump into Medela bottles at work and bring them home for DD to drink the next day. I tend to let them sit out while I'm at work - I've heard that you can have fresh EBM out for 8-10 hrs b/f needing to refrigerate (I agree with PP that 24 hrs sounds WAY too long to leave milk out).

Hope this helps & good luck!

[Anonymous]

kellymom.com has great references for handling and storing breastmilk!