Storing breastmilk

[Kelly87]

So we are going shopping this weekend for bottles and a breast pump. I want to breastfeed as much as i can but I wanted to pump and put it in bottles so my boyfriend can feed our son also and I think it would be easier like shopping and stuff for it to be in bottles. My question is how would I store it and what is the best way to heat it up? I know how to do formula just from taking care of my little brothers but I never had to deal with breast milk and I heard that you have to store it differently. Any advice would be great. Thanks ladies!!!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

What everyone has said is the same thing that I have been told and experienced.  I breastfeed all my kids.  The milk in the fridge is good for 2-3 days.  And you can store it up to 6 months in the freezer (but I doubt that you will have any last that long) LOL!  As far as warming it up....I did the same as 110279hld said.  I would put it in a cup or bowl with hot water.  It's not good to do it in the microwave.  I forgot the exact terminology, but it does something to the milk and takes away nutrients.  I used the Lansinoh (sp??) storage bags.  They are the thickest that I have found and they have 2 zippers on them.  I love them.  I used others like Gerber but really like the Lansinoh.  You can find these at Target, Walgreens and probably Walmart.  There may be other places too, but those are the places that I shop.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy this experience!!!

[110279hld]

oh, we would just stick frozen bag of milk in a coffee mug with hot water and it would warm sooo quickly - it was just sooo easy!!

[110279hld]

I LOVED the storage bags.  I made so much milk that we were able to stock pile in the freezer and all she got was breastmilk from me.  It was great - just takes a lot of time (with all the nursing and pumping- but I wouldn't change anything.

[mary345]

you can store it in the fridge for 2-3 days just make sure you date the milk also it can go in the freezer i think for upto 6 months and it is good to use the breast milk storage bags so you can date them also and then you can take them straight from the freezer and put the bag in the baby bottle warmer. when you buy the breast pump there should be a little book about breast feeding and everything that comes with it. and another way you can defrost the milk is to just put the bag in a cup or bowl or warm water.

[casandbaby]

Hello, everyone will tell you different and it varies but what i did was if i was putting it in the fridge i just kept it in the medela pump bottles and it's good 2-3 days in the fridge but never lasted that long with my baby lol. and if you want to freeze it i would get the breastmilk storage bags and breastmilk is good up to three months but thats just what i've been told. i would nurse your child more often than pumping, i feel so bad because i was an exclusive pumper and my supply has pretty much diminished. your supply keeps up if your baby is breastfed.