Breastmilk Storage - Lake Hiawatha,NJ

hi A.. yes, you can put it in the fridge and then add some the next day and then freeze it. it can be stored in the freezer for 3 months. good luck!

Hi A.,
All of the previous posts have good advice, but I want to suggest one more possibility and that is to change the size of the breast shield. When I used the one that came with the pump I was unable to pump a lot of milk but once I switched to a small shield I was getting about 3-4 oz on each side. It wasn't the easiest to find, but it was well worth the search!
I don't have the web site right now where I found them, but if I find it I will send it to you.
Good luck!

-Taralyn

**Update...The site is: http://www.mothersmilkboutique.com

Never add milk to another stored milk, fresh or frozen unless you are combining two bags you pumped together into one to store.

Storing smaller quantities is better anyway, especially as their demand changes, I always tried to store in 2-4 ounce increment.

If you are getting small amounts it is okay, it may not be anythign wrong with you or the pump. As long as your child is getting enough when nursing, then maybe pumping just isn't right for you.

With my first I called la leche, lactation nurses, adjusted my diet and consistently pumped less and less until NOTHING. I even called Medela and they swapped out my pump thinking maybe it was the motor in the pump. When I got the new one, i used it once. It was just not the same as nursing and my body did not cooperate.

With my second pumping was much more successful, but after a couple months the same thing started happening, pumping less and less.

Do what you can, eat well and often, drink as much as you possibly can and maybe start mixing the pumped with a couple oz of formula to get by for just those feedings.

You don't mention how old your daughter is but if she's a month or two you wont get a lot because she's not eating a lot. Little babies only eat 2-3 ounces at a time (total four to six if eating from both breasts at same time) Also I am not sure if you are consistent about your pumping schedule- do you pump everyday at lets say 10 after her first feeding? If you do that then your body will produce more because its being asked to do so. You need to be consistent b/c your body will only produce what its asked too consistently (that's why as your baby grows there are days where it feels like they are constantly eating-they are getting your body to make more as they need to eat more.) Morning is the best time to pump any extra milk you need.
I dont think there is anything wrong with the pump if you are getting 1/2 ounce-although you may want to play with the settings/strength to see whats the most comfortable-i think it took me a week or so of consistent pumping once I was back at work to find what worked.
For freezing the milk-you really should only add milk the same day-freeze it that day. It can keep for 2-3 months in a regular freezer or longer if you have a deep freezer.
Hope this helps
S.

Hi, A.,
My lactation consultant said it was OK to combine milk that had been pumped in the same 24 hours, but not days apart. I have never heard about not adding warm milk to cold milk, as some have said here. I did that all the time with no problems, but it might be worth checking with your lactation consultant. And I would date everything in the freezer and use it within three months.

Here's a product I recommend for everyone who is pumping, if you don't have one already... It's a bra-bustier type of thing that lets you have your hands free when you pump. I found it helped me to pump a little longer and relax more:

http://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/

Good luck,
A.

Try different settings that feels like your baby's strength in sucking. Take a deep breath, relax. Look at your baby or a photo. I usually massage the breasts to get the let down going. Or I will watch TV or read something and let the pump do it's thing and I'll look down and see several ounces done.

I'm also returning to work in a month. My son's 2 month old and sometimes I get 5 oz (double pump with both breasts) ...that is... IF I pump when I'm due to breastfeed (like if he's sleeping and I feel like I'm about to burst). If I pump after a feeding, I'll get an ounce or so. I use the hospital grade Medela Lactina pump.

Good luck.

Sounds like you are probably not getting a letdown when you use the pump - do you feel them? I used to have to use a manual pump to stimulate my letdown because I could control it and make it mimic the baby. Then I would hook myself up to the electric pump. You want to associate the pump with your baby and other smells, sounds, sensations that you have while nursing.

The only way I was able to pump enough milk is to pump all the time...after every feeding session. My body eventually knew that it had to produce more milk to satisfy both baby and pump. You must remember to drink plenty of water (at least 8 tall glasses a day) and eat small meals throughout the day. Most importantly, you must be relaxed. I know that it's easier said than done. I can't tell you how many times my breasts were so full and yet I couldn't pump anything out because I was overtired or in a hurry. As for storage, I would add milk into the same bottle as long as it was within the same 24-hour period. Then, I would freeze it. Eventually, I didn't have to freeze but I know the body overproduces milk in the first month so the freezing comes in handy. Good luck!

I am also pumping and freezing milk for my baby now that I have gone back to work part time. The other suggestions you got about pumping are good, I just wanted to add that I freeze my milk in 1/2 oz portions in trays that are like ice cube trays with lids. I got them at Target (http://www.target.com/Easy-Baby-Food-Breast-Trays/dp/B000.... Once the tray gets full I just transfer the cubes to a freezer bag and then I can take out what I need when I need it. I can take out one or two cubes to bring what I have pumped up to a full bottle and I can also use them for mixing with cereal and stuff now that he is starting solids. I also took a few cubes to the daycare for them to keep on hand in case he goes through a growth spurt and wants more than what I've brought for him to eat that day. I've found it to be more flexible than storing 4 or 5 oz of milk together. And I plan on making my own baby food and you can also freeze purees in them.

Hi A.,
You can add fresh milk to refrigerated milk, but do not add it to frozen milk.
You didn't mention how long you are pumping to get that half ounce. Many moms let down more effectively for their baby than for the pump. You may also want to see if you need to adjust the settings on your pump for suction, etc. If you are pumping at home to build freezer stash, you might have better luck pumping right AFTER you feed baby, taking advantage of the letdown you've already had. I found that when I returned to work, I was able to get a speedy letdown for the pump by keeping my horns in the fridge.
Goodluck

I was having the same problem with pumping (not getting a lot of milk), and also with clogged milk ducts (ouch), so my friend suggested I try renting a hospital grade pump. It is great. Your hospital lactation consultant can let you try one out (for free) to see if that makes a difference for you. For me it has been worth the money ($80/month). Good luck.

Hi A., yes, you can definitely combine pumpings--make sure they are both cold (never add fresh, warm pumped milk to cold milk in the fridge). It's better to store milk in smaller quantities--like 2-3 oz to waste less. You don't love your pump like you love your baby, so the baby can always get more milk!! Try pumping first thing in the morning (you make the most milk then) or after a shower. Don't sit there watching the pump! Watch tv or talk on the phone while you pump. Sometimes single pumping is better to get more because you can use your other hand to massage and compress the breast during pumping. Pump the breast when it is full--feed baby one side, pump the other. You can also hand express after pumping to get more milk out (check out the Stanford University Medical Center web site for a great video on hand expression!)Good luck! Check out Kellymom.com for more info!

1) Try different size flanges -- most like larger than the one you have to allow for more milk to flow thru

2) Try different pumps. This may be difficult but use your own tubing and connect them up to different one and see which ones work best for you. also don't overlook the hand-held pumps. Those work well for some people.

3) Storage questions: http://ameda.com/milkstorage/

good luck

also one thing to know, always breastfeed then pump, so your baby gets that feeding in. my lactation consultant always said to pump in the morning after first feeding as your supply is the most then. also, keep the time consistent each time you pump, (5am example) and each day, increase the length of pumping time by a min or two to build up that supply... your supply builds as much as you're giving...i'd check your pump also, maybe the tubes or settings arent on correctly.. if you're not happy with your pump i know you can rent one out not too expensive that is hospital grade.. check with the hospital you delivered at, they should have a lactation consultant that is always eager and willing to help out!also for the freezing/storing, you could check out la leche league's website they will def. have info.. good luck and you're doing great!

I breastfed my daughter for 2 1/2 years while working in an emergency room. My son is now 2 1/2 months and I have started freezing milk for when I return to work. Getting started is probably the most difficult, after that it's a matter of keeping your milk supply up. You don't mention which Medela pump you are using. If returning to work, you REALLY need a double, electric pump. I use the Medela Pump In Style. Keep in mind that at work, you may only have 15 minutes at a time to pump, so you have to get it done quickly and efficiently. Here are the things that worked for me:

1) Take 3 tablets of Fenugreek 3 times a day with meals. This is a natural herb that will quickly increase your milk supply. If you're a diabetic, then Fenugreek is not a good idea as it may lower glucose levels. You can buy Fenugreek at any health food store.

2) Pump really early in the mornig. I usually pump around 7 AM. When you first start pumping you may only get about 3 ounces. Once you've taken the Fenugreek for about 3 days you will probably get 5-6 ounces at a time. If your breasts feel full throughout the day, pump and store. This will definitely happen with the Fenugreek.

3) PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.......Get the book, "Nursing Mother, Working Mother" by Gayle Pryor. It was and still is my Bible for breastfeeding/pumping and working. In it you will even find a schedule of breastfeeding and pumping to help you increase and freeze milk before returning to work. She also has great tips for storing and freezing milk. www.Medela.com also has great tips on storing/freezing.

4) Try to hook up with your local La Leche League. The support was wonderful for me. If you want another Mom to bounce ideas off of or just have more questions, please feel free to contact me.

GOOD LUCK!

Hi A.,

Medela has breast milk storage guidelines on their web site. Also check out my website www.breastfeedinghomevisitservices.com for pumping help. D. S.

Well for me getting breastmilk is tough for my 4 month old. So its not easy. At first i'd say about 1/2 oz to 1 oz ounce per side is all I got and it increased over time. Dont know why you then have milk for your girl after pumping. Maybe because babies are more efficiant at getting the milk out? Could be your pump. Keep trying the pump see if it gets better and if you can pump more.
Also I never have added milk to a bottle from the day before but I have added pumped milk to already frozen milk. Just make sure the frozen milk is more than the amount you are adding so it doesnt melt it too much. Thats what they told my friend in the hospital.

My dr. told me not to add warm milk to cold milk, so what I used to do was use the measured freezer bags for each pump, and then once they are all cold, mix them together and freeze them.

Hopefully as you pump more, you will be able to get more out. But if you aren't getting a lot still, you might want to just make sure that the pump is working properly and that you are attached to it properly. I had to use a really high setting that was a little bit uncomfortable in order to express the milk effectively - I had a Madella as well.

Good luck!

Perhaps your pump may not be working for you. I like to think of pumps like bras or shoes - some models work for some of us, not for others. The Medulla pump is actually not a true hospital grade pump even though it may say it is. Most hospitals use Ameda, and they rent real hospital grade pumps. The number is ###-###-#### if you want to try it out. Another option is to try the Avent hand pump, which I have heard a lot of good things about, or hand-express. There are ways to do it detailed online. My favorite breastfeeding resources are LaLeche and kellymom.com. I love, love kellymom.com. As for breastmilk storage, if you google "breast milk storage" and go to the kellymom.com link you'll find a nice table detailing everything about how to store milk. You can print it and place it on your fridge. Just two things to remember - breastmilk from two or more sessions of pumpig should not be mixed together (your milk composition differs from batch to batch) and you should not re-freeze milk after it has been thawed. Finally, a good lactation consultant is a great person to have on hand, even if you feel you know what you are doing. Good luck.

Here is a link from Kellymom about breastmilk storage with lots of great links:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html

General rule of thumb for freezing milk is that it stays 3-6 months in a standard top freezer. Refrigerated milk can stay for up to 8 days in the fridge (keep it towards the back of the fridge and NOT on the door). Once the 8 days are up in your fridge, you can then freeze that milk, as long as it has not been warmed.

Are you pumping both sides and only getting 1/2 oz? If so, like the other women have said, check your pump settings and also make sure you pump after you nurse your LO. Also, early morning is when your supply is at its highest, so try to pump then and then at the same time each day to build up your stash.

Hope this helps!

This happened to me too. I can tell you what was going on for me, don't know if it is the same situation. The pump was fine - I was the problem. Pumping is much harder than I ever realized. It requires relaxation and a well-fed, well-hydrated mom... these goals are often difficult to achieve when you are a new mom, which can be very stressful! I got angry when people kept telling me i needed to relax (it was making me more tense:) My recommendation is talk with or meet with a lactation nurse. There's one on here -"Breastfeeding and Beyond LLC" that I highly recommend. She saved my life. What I learned is that there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to yield at least 2 oz PER BREAST at each session, or more, given you wait at least a few hours after feeding your baby. Don't put it off, I wound up going back to work after 2 months and quickly ran out of frozen milk. Then had to supplement with formula and that eventually leads to your milk supply lowering / giving more formula, etc. I wish I had known more about all this but hey that's the learning experience we all go through! ps. you can add new milk to frozen milk as long as it is thoroughly chilled first, and I wouldn't combine milk that is more than a few days apart in age. Much better to keep it in the fridge until you have enough to freeze a bottles worth (3-5 oz) but dont keep for more than 48 hrs. before freezing. Read about this online, there is lots of info. Good luck