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teaforthree
My Handsome Boy!
Member since 12/10 2549 total posts
Name:
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BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
I don't know if I just still haven't gotten to the correct chapters yet, but all the baby books I have been reading haven't yet gone into "expressing" milk. They talk about combining breast milk and formula, but I'm still in the dark with breast feeding and pumping.
Do you have to STRICTLY breast feed from the breast for a certain amount of time?
Can you pump at all in the beginning - or should it all be from the breast? If there's a "waiting period" for pumping, what is it?
How long is breast milk "good" for and how do you store it? Freezer? Fridge?
How do you "prepare" stored breast milk? I can't find any directions on my boobs! lol
When can you start feeding baby breast milk from a bottle so it doesn't mess him up (nipple confusion or whatever).
Is it practical to think that I will be able to pump enough milk to be able to go back to work after just 6 weeks so my parents can feed him the expressed milk?
And please let me know whatever else you think might help! THANK YOU!
ETA:
What kind of pump did you use?
Did you rent it or buy it?
Message edited 7/18/2011 4:09:29 PM.
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Posted 7/18/11 4:08 PM  |
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snowprincess
My happy babies
Member since 3/06 3428 total posts
Name:
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
I started bfing in the beginnning but by the time my son was few days old we realized he was not latching well so i went to sompletly pumping and did that for a few weeks - i had to supplement with a little formula at that time - i then went to bfing almost execluively for 6 months
at 5 months i went back to work - i only had about a weeks notice before i started so i did not prepare a freezer supply - i got just enough to make it the first day or so of daycare - i would nurse at 7 in the mornign and while he napped i would pump at 9 am just after i got out of the shower - i had the freestyle pump - so easy to bring to and from work
then when i started work - i would nurse from one side and pump the other side or pump for 10 minutes from both sides then let him nurse at 7 am before work
then i pumped twice a day at work which equaled the two feedings at daycare
because of the extra nursing session i was able to slowly build up a freezer supply - my son had almost all bm until 10 months when i cut out pumping at work
just take it as it goes and not to stress out for some it is easier to pump then others - and there is nothing wrong with using formula when you need to
i liked the freestyle because the parts are pretty inexpensive so i neer washed anything at work
bm last 4-7 day in the fridge - always smell before throwing out- you can tell when it goes - it lasts about 3 months in a standard freezer and 6 months in a non-deforsting freezer
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| Posted 7/18/11 4:29 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Do you have to STRICTLY breast feed from the breast for a certain amount of time?
Can you pump at all in the beginning - or should it all be from the breast? If there's a "waiting period" for pumping, what is it?
For DS#2, I started hand pumping as soon as my milk came in (at the hospital), b/c I was so engorged! I have never pumped colostrum (the first 2-3 day milk)
How long is breast milk "good" for and how do you store it? Freezer? Fridge?
the rule of 4 is conservative
4 hours -room temp
4 days - refrigerator
4 months - freezer
LLL extend some of those numbers (frige to 7 days (I never went that long - I would freeze every 2 days) and freezer to 6-9 months - longer end if in a deep freezer)
How do you "prepare" stored breast milk? I can't find any directions on my boobs! lol
just like formula...some kids take it cold...some kids like it warmed. When we dipped into the freezer supply, we would let it defrost in the fridge. If we wanted to warm the defrosted milk, we would put it into the bottle and then put the bottle into a mug of hot water.
When can you start feeding baby breast milk from a bottle so it doesn't mess him up (nipple confusion or whatever).
neither of my kids had nipple confusion
Is it practical to think that I will be able to pump enough milk to be able to go back to work after just 6 weeks so my parents can feed him the expressed milk?
absolutely! but some people don't have a great supply and cannot do this.
What kind of pump did you use?
Did you rent it or buy it?
I have the avent hand pump and then Medela Pump in Style double electric. bought both.
And please let me know whatever else you think might help!
you can figure this out after the baby comes, but you will need storage bags. I found the ones with the ziplock top to be the easiest to store, since they could lie flat.
You also want to write the date on the storage bag, so that you can use the earliest ones first.
just to show you - it's possible:
Message edited 7/18/2011 4:52:59 PM.
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| Posted 7/18/11 4:47 PM |
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Kelly9904
Mommy to 2 amazing little boys
Member since 5/05 9306 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Do you have to STRICTLY breast feed from the breast for a certain amount of time?
I started Pumping the day I came home from the hospital. Actually in the beginning I thought I was going to do pumped BM and formula only. But then decided to give BF a try and since then I have done a combo of the 3, EBM (expressed breast milk), BF and FF.
How do you "prepare" stored breast milk? I can't find any directions on my boobs! lol
When in a bottle I just warm it using warm water. You never want to microwave BM.
When can you start feeding baby breast milk from a bottle so it doesn't mess him up (nipple confusion or whatever).
DS has been getting bottle since the first day of life (he was formula fed 99% of the time in the hospital, then Bottle fed BF & F at home until about 10 days old) and he has no nipple confusion. There are some feedings during hte day where he prefers one over the other...for example because I do both BF and Bottle feeding DS hates taking a bottle for his first feeding of hte day. He prefers to be BF. If I try to bottle feed he fusses, he will eat it but his not his normal amount. But there is no confusion.
Is it practical to think that I will be able to pump enough milk to be able to go back to work after just 6 weeks so my parents can feed him the expressed milk?
I cant say. First I am a SAHM, second I never wanted to EBF my child, it just wasnt for me. So I have reached a happy place where DS is getting about 50% of his feeding with BM and 50% with FF. But I am sure you can do it if you are really strict about pumping every day after you feed DS.
What kind of pump did you use? My insurance covered 80% of my Pump in Style.
Other: Expect it to be hard work in the beginning. For me the first MONTH was rough. I think I mentally quit about 10 times in that period.
Set goals for yourself. My end all goal was/is 6 months. I plan on weaning at 6 months regardless. But when I started I said I just want to make it to 4 weeks, then 6 weeks, then 12 weeks (where we are now), now I just want to get to 4 months, etc. I like having my big goal but my smaller goals make me feel like I am achieving something each day.
Know that formula isnt the enemy. Its okay if you need to supplement, its okay if BF doesnt work for you. IMO the best thing for everyone is a happy home! I didnt BF DS#1 (well I gave up really quickly) and he is happy, healthy, intelligent, amazing 3.5yo. I put so much pressure on myself in the beginning with DS#2 I wasnt enjoying him. I was stressed about making BF work. It wasnt until I started with small goals and became okay with the idea of him being 100% forumla fed if need be, that the cloud lifted from me and I wasnt stressed all the time. Once I wasnt stressed BF became easier.
GL!
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| Posted 7/18/11 5:26 PM |
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MrsKR88
LIF Adult
Member since 2/10 979 total posts
Name:
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Posted by Erica
just to show you - it's possible:
IMAGE
That's a whole lot of breast milk! 
Message edited 7/18/2011 6:04:41 PM.
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| Posted 7/18/11 6:04 PM |
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4PsInaPod
My Loves <3
Member since 7/07 10079 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Posted by Erica
just to show you - it's possible:
IMAGE
holy S h i t 
ETA- I see TJs waffles and meatballs in there too 
Message edited 7/18/2011 7:25:13 PM.
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| Posted 7/18/11 7:12 PM |
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MrsG72907
Mommy of 2 girls!
Member since 5/10 2046 total posts
Name:
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
just to show you - it's possible:
you are my hero! i only pray my body is this good!!
ETA: Are you a SAHM or were you working and doing this??
Message edited 7/18/2011 7:21:41 PM.
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| Posted 7/18/11 7:20 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Posted by MrsG72907
ETA: Are you a SAHM or were you working and doing this??
I was off for about 13 weeks and then went back to work FT (locally). I am very lucky with my supply, but I worked hard. I didn't pump at work  In the beginning, I made sure I fed or pumped 7-8 times a day and one had to be in the middle of the night. By 8 weeks it was probably 5 times a day and I dropped the overnight (DH took the overnight feeding after 8 weeks ). I would do a nighttime feeding at 11ish (pump after) and then at 5-5:30. When I went back to work, I went from morning feeding (pump after) to about 4 PM. When I pumped, I kept the pump on, even though I thought I was finished. A second let down comes and triggers your body that you need to produce more milk - my body probably thought I had twins.
I got a bad case of mastitis with DS#1 and I vowed never to get it again, so with DS#2 I pumped until I was dry and I built a very big supply. At my peak, I froze about 30 ounces a day. I also wanted to stop BFing earlier than DS#1, so I wanted the freezer supply. I just wanted my body back. The picture was about 6 months pp when I started to wean.
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| Posted 7/18/11 8:27 PM |
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JChia
Mom of 2 Princesses
Member since 9/07 2540 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Most of the other answers are fine, but wanted to tell you I pumped as soon as my milk came in because I was very engorged and had sore nipples. I didn't have any issue with supply or with dd not nursing - breastfed for 7 months or so...
I borrowed a friends pump in style and got new tubes from a lactation consultant. I got the medela freestyle for this baby as a gift.
Also, this was a great link to have on hand:
kelly mom
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| Posted 7/18/11 8:44 PM |
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waterspout4
My loves
Member since 5/06 19150 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
I agree with the above post in saying kelly mom is an AWESOME resource to have.
As for nipple confusion: I had a plan. My plan was to NOT give my son any bottles til he was 6 weeks old. I was smart, confident and could take on the world. Well, I didn't realize plans don't always work out. I hadn't even WASHED any bottles because I was so confident in my plan.
At 6 days old, my son was home and I was in the hospital. Hard to breastfeed that far. I began pumping that day. I felt like a failure. Even before that, he had a bottle of formula while recovering in NICU. I felt like a failure. He was born at 11 1/2 pounds and I was told he was so big he needed to supplement while I 'recovered'. I felt like a failure. Those first two weeks my nipples hurt so bad that I wanted to give up. I felt like a failure.
I breastfed my son til 1 year. I no longer felt like a failure. 
As for storage: kelly mom helped me out on all the time tables. But I can give some advice on freezing: I would put about 6-8 pump bags in a ziploc freezer bag and store them that way. I lost a few bags before that idea to freezing to the freezer wall. You don't know they got stuck on the wall and tore a small hole in the bag til you go to defrost. And believe me, you cry over split milk. 
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| Posted 7/18/11 10:02 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Posted by waterspout4
As for storage: kelly mom helped me out on all the time tables. But I can give some advice on freezing: I would put about 6-8 pump bags in a ziploc freezer bag and store them that way. I lost a few bags before that idea to freezing to the freezer wall. You don't know they got stuck on the wall and tore a small hole in the bag til you go to defrost. And believe me, you cry over split milk.
That's a good idea...I put my freezer bags in paper boxes in the freezer.
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| Posted 7/19/11 10:03 AM |
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teaforthree
My Handsome Boy!
Member since 12/10 2549 total posts
Name:
|
Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Posted by Erica
Do you have to STRICTLY breast feed from the breast for a certain amount of time?
Can you pump at all in the beginning - or should it all be from the breast? If there's a "waiting period" for pumping, what is it?
For DS#2, I started hand pumping as soon as my milk came in (at the hospital), b/c I was so engorged! I have never pumped colostrum (the first 2-3 day milk)
How long is breast milk "good" for and how do you store it? Freezer? Fridge?
the rule of 4 is conservative
4 hours -room temp
4 days - refrigerator
4 months - freezer
LLL extend some of those numbers (frige to 7 days (I never went that long - I would freeze every 2 days) and freezer to 6-9 months - longer end if in a deep freezer)
How do you "prepare" stored breast milk? I can't find any directions on my boobs! lol
just like formula...some kids take it cold...some kids like it warmed. When we dipped into the freezer supply, we would let it defrost in the fridge. If we wanted to warm the defrosted milk, we would put it into the bottle and then put the bottle into a mug of hot water.
When can you start feeding baby breast milk from a bottle so it doesn't mess him up (nipple confusion or whatever).
neither of my kids had nipple confusion
Is it practical to think that I will be able to pump enough milk to be able to go back to work after just 6 weeks so my parents can feed him the expressed milk?
absolutely! but some people don't have a great supply and cannot do this.
What kind of pump did you use?
Did you rent it or buy it?
I have the avent hand pump and then Medela Pump in Style double electric. bought both.
And please let me know whatever else you think might help!
you can figure this out after the baby comes, but you will need storage bags. I found the ones with the ziplock top to be the easiest to store, since they could lie flat.
You also want to write the date on the storage bag, so that you can use the earliest ones first.
just to show you - it's possible:
IMAGE
OMG... you're a GODDESS!!! Look at that freezer! You're totally my idol! I think I'm printing that picture and putting it on my fridge for inspiration! 
Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for all this information!! This thread is totally being saved to my notebook! All this information is SO invaluable and better than any book I've read on the subject!
Questions... what "storage bags" do you use? Are they special ones that attach to the pumps? If so, where you you buy them? Or are they just regular ziploc, freezer safe, storage bags?
Also, is there a reason you have both a manual and electric pump? Which of the two do you recommend?
Thank you, again, for all this GREAT information! 
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| Posted 7/19/11 11:38 AM |
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teaforthree
My Handsome Boy!
Member since 12/10 2549 total posts
Name:
|
Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Posted by waterspout4
I agree with the above post in saying kelly mom is an AWESOME resource to have.
As for nipple confusion: I had a plan. My plan was to NOT give my son any bottles til he was 6 weeks old. I was smart, confident and could take on the world. Well, I didn't realize plans don't always work out. I hadn't even WASHED any bottles because I was so confident in my plan.
At 6 days old, my son was home and I was in the hospital. Hard to breastfeed that far. I began pumping that day. I felt like a failure. Even before that, he had a bottle of formula while recovering in NICU. I felt like a failure. He was born at 11 1/2 pounds and I was told he was so big he needed to supplement while I 'recovered'. I felt like a failure. Those first two weeks my nipples hurt so bad that I wanted to give up. I felt like a failure.
I breastfed my son til 1 year. I no longer felt like a failure.
As for storage: kelly mom helped me out on all the time tables. But I can give some advice on freezing: I would put about 6-8 pump bags in a ziploc freezer bag and store them that way. I lost a few bags before that idea to freezing to the freezer wall. You don't know they got stuck on the wall and tore a small hole in the bag til you go to defrost. And believe me, you cry over split milk.
More great advice! Thank you so much! I definitely see how one would cry over THIS spilt milk!
I'm saving that site to my favorites. Thank you!
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| Posted 7/19/11 11:41 AM |
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teaforthree
My Handsome Boy!
Member since 12/10 2549 total posts
Name:
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Posted by JChia
Most of the other answers are fine, but wanted to tell you I pumped as soon as my milk came in because I was very engorged and had sore nipples. I didn't have any issue with supply or with dd not nursing - breastfed for 7 months or so...
I borrowed a friends pump in style and got new tubes from a lactation consultant. I got the medela freestyle for this baby as a gift.
Also, this was a great link to have on hand:
kelly mom
Thank you! I'm saving this link!
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| Posted 7/19/11 11:42 AM |
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teaforthree
My Handsome Boy!
Member since 12/10 2549 total posts
Name:
|
Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Posted by snowprincess
I started bfing in the beginnning but by the time my son was few days old we realized he was not latching well so i went to sompletly pumping and did that for a few weeks - i had to supplement with a little formula at that time - i then went to bfing almost execluively for 6 months
at 5 months i went back to work - i only had about a weeks notice before i started so i did not prepare a freezer supply - i got just enough to make it the first day or so of daycare - i would nurse at 7 in the mornign and while he napped i would pump at 9 am just after i got out of the shower - i had the freestyle pump - so easy to bring to and from work
then when i started work - i would nurse from one side and pump the other side or pump for 10 minutes from both sides then let him nurse at 7 am before work
then i pumped twice a day at work which equaled the two feedings at daycare
because of the extra nursing session i was able to slowly build up a freezer supply - my son had almost all bm until 10 months when i cut out pumping at work
just take it as it goes and not to stress out for some it is easier to pump then others - and there is nothing wrong with using formula when you need to
i liked the freestyle because the parts are pretty inexpensive so i neer washed anything at work
bm last 4-7 day in the fridge - always smell before throwing out- you can tell when it goes - it lasts about 3 months in a standard freezer and 6 months in a non-deforsting freezer
Thank you so much for your help! Great info!
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| Posted 7/19/11 11:43 AM |
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teaforthree
My Handsome Boy!
Member since 12/10 2549 total posts
Name:
|
Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Posted by Kelly9904
Do you have to STRICTLY breast feed from the breast for a certain amount of time?
I started Pumping the day I came home from the hospital. Actually in the beginning I thought I was going to do pumped BM and formula only. But then decided to give BF a try and since then I have done a combo of the 3, EBM (expressed breast milk), BF and FF.
How do you "prepare" stored breast milk? I can't find any directions on my boobs! lol
When in a bottle I just warm it using warm water. You never want to microwave BM.
When can you start feeding baby breast milk from a bottle so it doesn't mess him up (nipple confusion or whatever).
DS has been getting bottle since the first day of life (he was formula fed 99% of the time in the hospital, then Bottle fed BF & F at home until about 10 days old) and he has no nipple confusion. There are some feedings during hte day where he prefers one over the other...for example because I do both BF and Bottle feeding DS hates taking a bottle for his first feeding of hte day. He prefers to be BF. If I try to bottle feed he fusses, he will eat it but his not his normal amount. But there is no confusion.
Is it practical to think that I will be able to pump enough milk to be able to go back to work after just 6 weeks so my parents can feed him the expressed milk?
I cant say. First I am a SAHM, second I never wanted to EBF my child, it just wasnt for me. So I have reached a happy place where DS is getting about 50% of his feeding with BM and 50% with FF. But I am sure you can do it if you are really strict about pumping every day after you feed DS.
What kind of pump did you use? My insurance covered 80% of my Pump in Style.
Other: Expect it to be hard work in the beginning. For me the first MONTH was rough. I think I mentally quit about 10 times in that period.
Set goals for yourself. My end all goal was/is 6 months. I plan on weaning at 6 months regardless. But when I started I said I just want to make it to 4 weeks, then 6 weeks, then 12 weeks (where we are now), now I just want to get to 4 months, etc. I like having my big goal but my smaller goals make me feel like I am achieving something each day.
Know that formula isnt the enemy. Its okay if you need to supplement, its okay if BF doesnt work for you. IMO the best thing for everyone is a happy home! I didnt BF DS#1 (well I gave up really quickly) and he is happy, healthy, intelligent, amazing 3.5yo. I put so much pressure on myself in the beginning with DS#2 I wasnt enjoying him. I was stressed about making BF work. It wasnt until I started with small goals and became okay with the idea of him being 100% forumla fed if need be, that the cloud lifted from me and I wasnt stressed all the time. Once I wasnt stressed BF became easier.
GL!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this! So helpful!!
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| Posted 7/19/11 11:44 AM |
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dlj97
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 4399 total posts
Name:
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Questions... what "storage bags" do you use? Are they special ones that attach to the pumps? If so, where you you buy them? Or are they just regular ziploc, freezer safe, storage bags?
There are storage bags that you pump right into - you buy them at BBB or BRU. I just bought them - about to start storing!
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| Posted 7/19/11 11:59 AM |
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dianadrw
LIF Adult
Member since 5/06 2092 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
I just notebooked this post. It's very helpful! When it comes to BF I feel so clueless.
Thanks for all the info.
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| Posted 7/19/11 12:05 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: BTDT BF Moms: Please talk to me about breast feeding and pumping logistics!
Posted by teaforthree
Questions... what "storage bags" do you use? Are they special ones that attach to the pumps? If so, where you you buy them? Or are they just regular ziploc, freezer safe, storage bags?
Also, is there a reason you have both a manual and electric pump? Which of the two do you recommend?
Thank you, again, for all this GREAT information!
My first DS I used the medela bags, but they were just twist tie and a PITA - they have since changed them. I think the ones in the picture are gerber b/c I got them at a good price. You need specific ones for BM...not regular ziploc. I definitely spent some money on bags...but I would constantly do the math in my head while pumping (I guess to give me something to do) that even with all the bags and pump equipment it was cost effective for one child...with #2 I started "making" money and same now with #3.
I didn't like to pump into the bags though. I had sessions that would exceed the bag limit. It was easier for me to unscrew and switch to an empty bottle. Also, I needed to maximize my ounces in the bags - to use less bags. Some people like to have different amounts in the bags, but I just maxed out. So I pumped into the medela bottle and put them right into the fridge. Once every other day I would transfer them into freezer bags.
I got the hand pump before I had DS#1 until I figured out what I was going do. When i was sure BFing and pumping were right for me, I bought the electric pump. But I brought the hand pump into the hospital with me for #2 and I was happy to have it! I was so engorged when my milk came in that I needed that small relief. Most electrics come with a manual option, so you don't need both...it just worked out that way for me.
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| Posted 7/19/11 12:41 PM |
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