Pumping at work

[libertytyranny]

Any tips from people who did this?

Mostly, I need a little advice on the best storage system..I found a place to go, and will likely have a medela pump. But I am doing a little research as to the best way to store the milk and am coming on conflicting advice. The bottles seem nice, but frankly I don't have a whole lot of room in my freezer, and they seem like it would take up a lot of space..the bags are more affordable and take up less space, but I see complaints of them leaking and such...

bags, bottles? what brand?


And what bottles are the best for bottle feeding? I found some that purport to "mimic" the action of breastfeeding to make it easier to switch betweent he two..but I hate to get caught up in advertising and end up with something not practical or useful.

I am doing a registry and wanted to make a choice...so i don't end up with a bunch of crap I won't use...

 

[kwillia]

Any tips from people who did this?

Mostly, I need a little advice on the best storage system..I found a place to go, and will likely have a medela pump. But I am doing a little research as to the best way to store the milk and am coming on conflicting advice. The bottles seem nice, but frankly I don't have a whole lot of room in my freezer, and they seem like it would take up a lot of space..the bags are more affordable and take up less space, but I see complaints of them leaking and such...

bags, bottles? what brand?


And what bottles are the best for bottle feeding? I found some that purport to "mimic" the action of breastfeeding to make it easier to switch betweent he two..but I hate to get caught up in advertising and end up with something not practical or useful.

I am doing a registry and wanted to make a choice...so i don't end up with a bunch of crap I won't use...

I pumped at work and stored the milk in bottles. As for what 'type' of bottle/nipple is best... I found that the baby will let you know his preference. It didn't matter which one I wanted him/her prefer...

 

[huntr1]

Any tips from people who did this?

Mostly, I need a little advice on the best storage system..I found a place to go, and will likely have a medela pump. But I am doing a little research as to the best way to store the milk and am coming on conflicting advice. The bottles seem nice, but frankly I don't have a whole lot of room in my freezer, and they seem like it would take up a lot of space..the bags are more affordable and take up less space, but I see complaints of them leaking and such...

bags, bottles? what brand?

We stored milk in regular freezer ziplocks. Pump to bottle then pour into small freezer ziplock, label with date then lay flat in freezer to freeze. Takes up less room, quicker to thaw when needed and easier to store as they are real skinny when frozen.

 

[TLS]

I always stored the milk in the bottles and kept them in the bag that came with the pump with a freezer pack. Then when I got home I would make bottles with it for the next day or put it in the medela freezer bags.

 

[kwillia]

We stored milk in regular freezer ziplocks. Pump to bottle then pour into small freezer ziplock, label with date then lay flat in freezer to freeze. Takes up less room, quicker to thaw when needed and easier to store as they are real skinny when frozen.

I like this idea alot.

 

[DQ2B]

Stored in the bottles in the freezer. Sometimes in the ones that came with the pump and sometimes in regular bottles.

I used Avent bottles.

 

[baileydog]

We stored milk in regular freezer ziplocks. Pump to bottle then pour into small freezer ziplock, label with date then lay flat in freezer to freeze. Takes up less room, quicker to thaw when needed and easier to store as they are real skinny when frozen.

dont forget to push out as much air in the bag as you can while sealing it.

 

[atrusomder]

We stored milk in regular freezer ziplocks. Pump to bottle then pour into small freezer ziplock, label with date then lay flat in freezer to freeze. Takes up less room, quicker to thaw when needed and easier to store as they are real skinny when frozen.

I stored my milk in ziplock bags too, laid flat in the freezer. At first I used Medela's bags- but soon switched to ziplock. Between 1-4 months, I would normally pump first morning-noon and late at night getting ample amounts of breastmilk. After 6 months- the demand wasn't as much and supply went down a lot-so I only pumped twice a day and could still get at least 4-6oz per breast after she nursed.

It's cheaper to use ziplock bags- just keep a Sharpie close and always use your oldest frozen supply first.

 

[DosGattos]

The ziploc bag idea is great I will have to keep that in mind. As for bottles my sister used The First Years Breastflow Bottles. She said they worked great and her son had no issues with the bottles. He seemed to like them just as much as the real thing.

 

[Dymphna]

We stored milk in regular freezer ziplocks. Pump to bottle then pour into small freezer ziplock, label with date then lay flat in freezer to freeze. Takes up less room, quicker to thaw when needed and easier to store as they are real skinny when frozen.

but I'm wondering if I should be disturbed that the hubby responded to this thread so quickly...

I stored my milk in ziplock bags too, laid flat in the freezer. At first I used Medela's bags- but soon switched to ziplock. Between 1-4 months, I would normally pump first morning-noon and late at night getting ample amounts of breastmilk. After 6 months- the demand wasn't as much and supply went down a lot-so I only pumped twice a day and could still get at least 4-6oz per breast after she nursed.

It's cheaper to use ziplock bags- just keep a Sharpie close and always use your oldest frozen supply first.

Always use the oldest first. Also, pump early and often....With my first, I thought I had enough stored, but when you are relying on a pump instead of a baby and you are in a job where you can't just drop everything and pump whenever you have the need, you will quickly find the supply dropping off. So have lots of extra on hand.

 

[MMDad]

I like this idea alot.

You just want to juggle those milk bags.

 

[vraiblonde]

Any tips from people who did this?

I was a Lenny's waitress and had no problem. At break I'd go in and pump, then stick the baggies in the freezer until it was time to go home. Pick up kid, drop off baggies. No sweat.

 

[mamissa3]

Your supply does not have to go down even though you are at work Always have bbay feed whenever you can at home The more you pump and bfeed the more milk you will have its supply and demand Also I have used the Medela electric pump and the storeage bags. You body will work with and make as much or as little as you need. Enjoy your little one!

 

[DQ2B]

Your supply does not have to go down even though you are at work Always have bbay feed whenever you can at home The more you pump and bfeed the more milk you will have its supply and demand Also I have used the Medela electric pump and the storeage bags. You body will work with and make as much or as little as you need. Enjoy your little one!

Don't count on this as the gospel. I pumped more than baby would have fed, fed every chance I got, etc. and still was not able to pump enough milk to get through each day. Had to supplement with formula despite my best efforts.

 

[mamissa3]

generally speaking that is the case., There is also a natural supplement called fenugreek that usually helps boost milk supply.

 

[Baja28]

I thought this was the workout thread.

 

[kwillia]

I thought this was the workout thread.

I keep thinking "Body Pump" too...

 

[pelers]

If you need to increase your supply and pumping more often, etc isn't working you can take fenugreek or there is also a tea called Mother's Milk (it has fenugreek in it as well as some other herbs) that allegedly works. I just ordered some of both from Amazon and will let you know how it goes.

Right now we're using the Playtex VentAire bottles and have no issues with them. Only thing I've noticed is that you can't use the nipples from those bottles with other types (like the Medela bottles) because they just collapse.

 

[RoseRed]

IRS says breast pumps tax deductible expense - Yahoo! News

 

[libertytyranny]

IRS says breast pumps tax deductible expense - Yahoo! News

I can use my fsa