Pumping milk??

[Karlaadriana]

With my first child I did breast feeding for a year, but when I tried transitioning her from breast to bottle, it was A PAIN! She refused to take the bottle, so now I want to try to do both.. I bought a breast pump, so I'm wondering how does the whole freezing your milk process work? How long is it good for? How do you unfreeze it? Or boil it? Thank you for your time!

[GeekMom1213]

Talk to a lactation consultant. Mine suggested starting to pump and use bottles occasionally at 4-6 weeks of age since for some reason that's when they're most likely to be able to learn how. Don't worry about "nipple confusion" that's all a myth. But if they learn how to use a bottle early you don't have so much trouble later on. We actually started earlier than that with my son probably about 2 weeks old and he figured it out no problem and would happily eat from either source as long as it was Mama's milk. Nursed him for two years.
Milk stays good for -
4-6 hours in a warm room
10 hours in a cool room
24 hours in an insulated cooler with an icepack
8 days in the refrigerator
2 weeks in the freezer section of a one-door fridge
3 months in the freezer section of a two-door fridge
6-12 months in a 0-degree deep freeze

Milk that has been frozen is good for 24 hours after thawing if kept in the fridge.
Thaw milk in the fridge and never refreeze.
Heat milk under running warm water.

We liked Lansinoh freezer bags. Lay them flat in the freezer to take up less space.

[abbb01]

Just like formula never ever microwave milk just let it thaw in fridge overnight or put in bowl of warm water. I made sure I had at least 2 bags in fridge ready to go in a bowl cuz sometimes the bags get knocked whatever spring a leak ugh. Otherwise go in the deep freeze always used the oldest milk first otherwise ull end up throwing out a bunch and as soon as I pumped I used a big permanent marker tomark the date for easy reading. I dedefinitely plan on starting baby on the bottle at 6 weeks this time cuz I had a horrible time trying to get my 1st to take the bottle when I went back to work. Best of luck to u!

[KristiGG]

If you buy freezer bags they will tell you on them.  This is what I was told by my lactation special tho.

[KristiGG]

Yes great idea.  I did this with my son and it was no problem cutting him off breast, my sister didnt do it and cannot get her son off the breast.  Once you pump it it is good in the fridge 6-7 days and in the freezer 6-12 months.  I just let my husband do one feeding a day and it was a great bonding time for the two of them.  At first he didnt want the bottle if I was there but he stopped caring by like 3 months.

[lasilk]

I was told 3 weeks

[bell617]

That's the same question I have lol. I had to pump with my first baby. I'm due May and I plan on breastfeeding this baby as well. But I never froze my milk and didn't know how long the milk is good for. I know to defrost the milk you need to have it in some hot water. Never microwave.