Freezing Breastmilk - Tulsa,OK

Updated on June 17, 2014
A.A. asks from Tulsa, OK
8 answers

I normally use the Lansinoh or NUK freezer bags for breastmilk, but they only hold 6 oz. With this baby, I am a full time SAHM and don't need much pumped milk for him (just the occasional evening out or appointment when he stays with grandma). With my last, I worked part time so he had several bottles a week. With both, I have too much. My 2 month old sleeps 10-7, so I wake up VERY full. He'll empty one side, but I have to pump the other to be able to be remotely comfortable (please no lectures on waking him up to eat in the middle of the night, he's almost doubled his birthweight in 8 weeks so he's getting plenty in the daytime). I"m donating the extra milk to a milk bank, so I don't need to freeze it in 4 oz increments like I do for DS's bottle use. Is there any bags that hold a lot more? I'm getting about 8-9 oz a day, and am going through the bags like crazy. The milk bank will pasteurize it, so it gets all dumped out of whatever I send it in anyways. All I could find at the store were the smaller bags. Ideas?

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C.P.

answers from Albuquerque on

I've also put 8-9oz in the Lanosinoh bags. Just be careful thawing (that much can split the bag). I also suggest asking the milk bank. When I donated, they sent me a bunch of plastic cylinder containers that could hold up to 10oz. I ended up not using them, though, because all of my milk was already in the bags.

Awesome job, mama! I was so proud to produce enough for my girl and ended up donating about 800oz to a milk bank for NICU babies!!

2 moms found this helpful

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M.F.

answers from Phoenix on

I use Lansinoh bags and have frozen about 9 oz. in a bag. I never used the markings on the bag, just the measurements on my pump bottles.
If your baby is sleeping soundly through the night, I suggest pumping right before you go to bed so you're more comfortable in the morning and don't wake up in a puddle. That's what I did with my three who all slept 9-6:30 at 8 weeks. More milk to freeze, but that just means you have a nice supply for nights out or a drink or three and still have lots to donate.

2 moms found this helpful
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I.O.

answers from McAllen on

I would ask the bank how they prefer to receive it. They might prefer smaller increments in order to avoid waste, for the reasons we do it that way at home. Thawing out 10-12 ounces at a time might not be ideal for them. If they want them in larger doses, then they might be able to tell you which bags they've found to work best.

1 mom found this helpful

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

This is a good problem to have! How about using a Ziploc freezer bag, maybe the sandwich size? I never could get more than a few ounces at a time, so I never needed anything bigger than those small bags that came with the pump!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.R.

answers from Kansas City on

good for you! I am jealous you are a milk making machine! I barely had enough to feed my kids at meal times. I had to substitute because they were not getting enough milk. I would call and see who carries larger bags to store the milk. Surely there has to be someplace that carries them! good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Kansas City on

My only suggestion is to make sure when preparing the milk to freeze, no matter what bag you are using, don't squeeze all of the air out of the bag. Liquids expand when they freeze and that can cause a small tear in the bag. I know, I'm a childcare provider. I can't tell you how many bags I've set out to begin thawing and return to find milk everywhere from a leak in the bag.

M

1 mom found this helpful
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D.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I think you should ask the milk bank this question. While a freezer ziplock sounds good, I don't know if there are any issues with the kind of plastic in one type of bag versus another. They should know if you can use a regular old freezer ziplock, or if there is something special about the milk bags.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Chattanooga on

I also stored more in the Lansinoh bags.

Maybe check Amazon.com for larger size bags.

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