Help with Exclusively Pumping

I used "simple lines milk sticks trays"...they worked great!!! They are like ice cube trays...each tray holds 8 ounces...one ounce per stick. You just fill to the line and freeze, then you take them out of the trays and put them into ziploc freezer bags...then you can date them. THis was pretty simple for me and very cost effective as the breastmilk storage bags are very expensive and cannot be reused. it also was great becasue the sticks will fit through the opening of any bottle without defrosting...just put the bottle in a bottle warmer and drop in a a stick or two at a time till they thaw and you have the right # of ounces. Good luck!

If you dont have a pumping bra, I made one so I could have my hands free to hold my baby or work at my desk. I used an old bra that was tight cut two holes for the back of the pumping shields thru and put sewed it into a halter style so I did not have to put it on everytime.

Good luck, this is an extremely hard undertaking to pump only.

I have a friend who used the Glad storage bags that are green/blue. She says they are the only ones that don't leak and are affordable. Buy whatever size is appropriate for you.

Hi R.!

Yes, pumping is a lot of hard work, I did it for seven months. But you can do it! Some tips that worked for me was that as long as you didn't have a preemie or a baby that requires sterilization of bottles, you don't have to sterilize or even wash the pump parts every time you pump. I would wash the parts once every other day. As long as you have access to a fridge, I would just put the parts in a ziploc type bag and put them in the fridge. That saves on a lot of time! Buy a bustier pumping bra. I LOVED mine, it was a lifesaver. That left my hands free and I spent a lot of my pumping time on the internet! You can pump and feed your baby at the same time - I did this in the middle of the night. You can use your Boppy pillow or a bouncy seat.

Don't let anyone make you feel bad because you aren't nursing. My baby is happy and healthy - he was sleeping through the night 8 hours or more before two months of age. We have a wonderful bond. And if you decide not to pump, don't feel badly either. I know plenty of breastfed babies who are sick more than formula fed babies. And besides, by kindergarten, do people know which kids were breastfed, and which were formula fed - NO!

And it's also great to pump because then your hubby can help out with feedings. What got me through the pumping was that I first told myself if after four weeks it was still too much work for me, I could stop. Then it went to two months, then three...then by seven months I was down to pumping only once a day for an hour, and my supply started to decrease down to where I was only pumping about four ounces total. Then I stopped pumping 'cold turkey' and never had any engorgement issues. It was really nice! If you have any other questions, let me know. I'd be happy to help!

Oh - if you haven't bought a pump yet, you can rent a hospital grade one. That will bring in your milk supply faster, and if you decide it doesn't work for you, you're not out a ton of money. There is a cordless pump now, I would highly recommend that one - it would make pumping even easier! Good luck, and congrats on your baby boy!

I spent the extra money on the Lansinoh - the bags held up really well. I tried other storage bags, and freezer bags, and they would always leak. I stored several bags in a gallon size freezer bag and date them and it was easy to store that way in the freezer. Your milk also changes over time and does become more fatty (mine did anyway). So I would use a bag or two of frozen milk everyday and freeze more fresh milk everyday. If you have way too much frozen milk, there are places where you can donate it.

I have a couple of friends who pumped exclusively. One just couldn't get it to work nursing because of inverted nipples. She works her butt off pumping for 6 weeks or so and gets a 6 month supply stored up. I think her last baby she got a year supply put up.
I don't know what she used, though.

Hi,
my son was born in May at 34 weeks. I had to pump for 5 weeks due to the fact that he wasn't able to nurse until then. I bought quite a few bpa-free Medela bottles and tops that I was able to use for freezing my milk. Then I was able to warm the milk and add a nipple for feeding. Even now, I freeze my milk this way when I have to work.

I hope this helps.
C.

Hi R.,
I had to pump exclusively with both my boys--was able to do it for 6 months with the first, but only 6 weeks with the second. It is time consuming, but we got into a routine/rhythm that worked for us. Here are my suggestions:
-Pump as often as they feed, and then add another pumping whenever you can.
-Sometimes I would pump and feed that "fresh milk," other times I would use something out of the fridge, depending on when and where. For example, if we were running out to the grocery store and I knew he'd need a bottle right when we got there, I'd pump and that bottle would be good 1-2 hours. Otherwise, I'd keep a bottle from the fridge cold with those little storage kits from the hospital (we got a ton free) and then just warm it in a warm mug somewhere or under a faucet. This was great for restaurants, people's houses, etc.
-I used storage bags to freeze extra (the oversupply)--lay them flat until frozen, then "file" them upright in a small basket. Write their freeze date with a sharpie--can keep a few months and this is great to supplement later on. Note: It's not good to use "older" milk as the sole food source for older babies (like three-month milk for a 6 month-old) because the nutrients in your milk change as the babies grow. It's fine for a bottle or two, but not good if you're thinking that you want to "use up all the old stuff at the end when you dry up" like I wanted to. :) Instead, it's great to make your rice cereal with, or a bottle or two.
-For the stuff in the fridge that I was using up, I got those bottles where you could put a cap on them, but then add a nipple later. These ROCKED for me. I just wrote the date on them with a dry erase marker and wiped it off when I used it.
-The dry erase marker is also great for writing the expiration time on bottles on the go. For example, if I knew the bottle would be good until 2pm, I'd write 2pm on the cap or bottom where it wouldn't get smudged off. So easy!

I still have some of those little portable coolers/bags left from the hospital if you're interested in them. Just message me and we can connect. Good luck!!

Congratulations on your baby boy!

And I want to tell you that making the commitment to pump so your son can have your milk is worth every effort! The economic factor alone is enough. I know of a couple who also had issues and she stopped altogether... their girl eats so much one can of formula ($27) barely last a week!

If you have too much milk, you can donate it (at least, here in Lincoln, NE we can at Milkworks).

My situation is a bit different because I have a 2 year old and I feed him some of my milk also. So I don't have to freeze anymore. But you can store milk in the fridge for a few days. I store the milk in the bottles themselves. I make sure that whatever milk I pump first gets put towards the front of the fridge, so you open and grab the first bottle you reach. That way the fresher milk isn't consumed first making the older milk, older. I do use the bags because I have too much milk, but since they don't get frozen, I reuse them. The milk in the fridge gets consumed within 2 days at the most. Use 9 oz bottles (do you know which type do you & baby like best?). Right now you won't put too much in them but you will as he grows older. No need to buy small bottles just to buy bigger ones later.

With my first one I did freeze a lot of milk. When my fridge couldn't hold anymore I would take a bunch to daycare. Those bags though were thrown away after only one use.

I work full time, and pump in the supply room twice a day. I take two sets to work (I own a total of 3 sets) so I only rinse them and they get washed when I get home so it diminishes the amount of time I use for pumping. To pass the time, I read (breastfeeding book, for instance), look at videos or pictures of the kids in my cell phone, text someone. :) Incidentally, looking at their pictures seems to have an effect on how I feel about pumping... almost pleasant! :)

Again, congratulations!

I pumped exclusively with my second baby, and plan to do the same with the one I delivered yesterday.
I bought a couple of the tall Rubbermaid containers/water bottles to keep in the fridge(the ones that hold about 20 oz) and as I pumped throughout the day, I would put the milk in one. (All milk pumped in a day would go into the same container.) Then, I could pour the desired amount into a baby bottle each feeding time, and just warm it in the baby bottle. Does that make sense?
When the milk started piling up in the fridge, I would empty into the milk storage bags, label each one with the date, and lay them down in the freezer so they would freeze somewhat flat. Once they were frozen, the bags of milk could be stacked easily and didn't take up too much space.
Using this method, I was able to get a large amount stored up and quit pumping a month early. I love it!

I also had issues with breastfeeding and decided to exclusively pump and it has been going wonderfully. What I do is I pump today for my baby's milk for tomorrow. I like doing it this way because I feel like her milk is always fresh and I don't have to use a ton of freezer bags. I have a glass pitcher that I keep in the fridge just for my breast milk. After I pump, I put the bottles of milk in the fridge to cool. Once the milk is cool, I add it to the pitcher (as you probably already know you never want to mix milk together that is not the same temperature). Since you can add breast milk together from a 24 hour period of time, it is safe. After my last pumping of the day, I prepare all her bottles for the next day using the milk in the glass pitcher which makes it a snap to pour out her bottles. I then wash all my pump parts and the glass pitcher to get it ready for the next day. I put the extra milk into freezer storage bags. I pump 4 times a day and get between 40-46 ounces and my daughter eats 30 so we have a nice storage of milk in the freezer too. Hope this helps! Congratulations on the birth of your son. : )

I mostly pumped except for one night feeding. Helped keep milk production up. I used the bags to store and found that they were so much easier to warm than a bottle. The Lansinoh are the cheapest but are so long that they are a little clumsy. I think I used the Medela bags which were a little more expensive but they had a tab on top that held it on the pump and was easy to use. I had a friend that used the ice cube trays like mentioned below but not sure how she warmed them.

I freeze my milk in ice cube trays and then put the cubes into quart sized ziploc (or generic brand) freezer bags. It works great! Its much cheaper than breast milk storage bags. I use a warm water bath to thaw the cubes as I need them.

I have little 'ice cube' containers that I used. They are little plastic squares, each individual with a cover and they hold one once of breastmilk. You stick them in the freezer, then I would stick the container in a warm cup of water to loosen it from the container and then put the breastmilk cube in a freezer bag. I filled the bag up and then put the bag back in the freezer. This way I have something that stores quite a bit of breastmilk and you can label the bags, so you know when it was pumped. Then when you need it, you stick it in the bottle to thaw it or if the cube is too big for your bottle opening (depending on what kind of bottle you are using), you can stick it in another clean container to thaw it out. You just wash the containers and use again. My sisters also used this process, which is where I learned about it. I'm not sure where you can get the lil cube containers, as my sisters gave me the ones they had. I would check out Medela as that is what all my breastpumping bottles are. Ok, I just checked out Medela's website and they don't have the little ice cube containers, but they have bottles for storage - I would think you could do something very similar with those as what I did with the 'ice cubes'. That way you won't have to buy a ton of the bottles, but a decent supply to get you through, so you aren't constantly having to wash them the same day you filled them up. If you are more interested in the little 'cubes' let me know and I can see if my sisters remember where they got them from.

Congrats on the new baby! So glad to hear you want to stick with breastmilk even though you have troubles with breastfeeding... that's AWESOME!

When I had to pump (once I started back to work, was a single mom at the time) I bought this system and it was AMAZING! The bottles attached right to the Medela pump I used so I didn't have to transfer the milk or anything... just label and place at the top of the rack and then the "oldest" milk would be at the front to use first. It was a really great thing that was able to be reused.
http://breakoutbras.stores.yahoo.net/milbreasstor.html

Good luck with everything! Let us know what you decided to go with :)

I never got our daughter to latch on so i exclusively pumped for four months. I had a medela breast pump and just reused those bottles that it came with or pre-fill bottles you use to feed your son with . i would store those in the fridge but to freeze i used the bags. if you only use the bags to freeze it'll cut down on the cost.

I exclusively pumped for 3 months with my oldest son, and I wouldn't recommend it. It's a pain in the butt, takes way too much time and I'm also convinced that the pressure from the pump shrank my breasts 2 sizes. Before ever being pregnant I was a D cup, after pumping I shrank to a B cup. It's fine if you need to pump for a just a couple of meals a day, but doing it full time is not worth it.

I exclusively pump for my 12 week old right now. It was a lot easier when he just breasfed the "old fashioned way", but I'm doing whatever I can to help him get the benefits of breastmilk. Sounds like you're doing the same for your little one! Good for you!
I use a Medela Pump n Style, which came with the reusable plastic bottles, and a few of the disposable bags. I've never used the bags, and I've found that the bottles are easy to work with.
Because I stopped feeding on demand, I've gotten behind my son's needs. I know you can try things to increase even while pumping, but I'm a happier Mommy when I'm not stressing over that.
So, my system is: Pump when we get up in the morning.
Pump twice at work. Pump when we get home in the evening. Pump once more before I go to bed. This works out to about every 3 or 4 hours for me. I don't pump during the night because my son is only waking to eat once now, and we just give him formula. I end up pumping for future feedings. Like, the stuff I pump at work, I save either in the fridge or freezer to be fed to him at daycare the next day. I also add whatever I pump in the morning to the daycare supply before we leave.
What usually ends up happening is that my son gets 3 bottles a day of my breastmilk at daycare, and we feed formula for the rest.
I hope this makes sense and isn't just more confusion for you!
I have about 8 bottles that I use. 2 I'm currently pumping into, 3 at daycare and three extras.

I realize you have gotten a ton of advice. I highly recommend using the storage bags. The Lansinoh brand were the cheapest.

Also, I saw a Lactation nurse when my daughter was having trouble. My insurance paid for it. It was a program through Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

Here is the information:

Infant Feeding Program

Looking for a lactation consultant? Abbott Northwestern Hospital offers lactation consultation through the:

Infant Feeding Program
Rooms W5321 & W5319
800 E. 28th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55407-3799
Mail Route 11511
Phone: ###-###-####

http://www.allina.com/ahs/anw.nsf/page/infdgctr

Good luck!
Brenda

Hi R.,

The bags are what I used.....

But my friend got a bunch of (tall plastic) bottles on garage sales. She sanitised them and froze milk in the bottles. It worked for her but their entire freezer was full of bottles! She breastfed and used the stored milk for sitters when they went out on weekends. When she quit bf, the milk would last through the childs 1st birthday. She did this for all 4 of her kids.

I don't have any real advise but wanted to say before you run out spend a fortune on pumping materials make sure you can commit to this. Pumping is not fun to most, we do it because we want what's best for our babies but I have never met anyone who enjoyed pumping. I just know I had 2 preemies and I tried so hard to breastfeed and it just wasn't happening so I pumped. With my second child I went out and spent a fortune on things to make it easier and couldn't handle pumping after 2mos. I feel like I've thrown so much money down the drain since pumping didn't work out. I also know when you pump your supply isn't the greatest or sometimes your supply diminishes all together. I'm not trying to sound negative I hope I just was really dissapointed with my own personal breastfeeding and pumping situations. I have a $300 dollar breast pump sitting on my bedroom floor right now I hardly used. I'm not having more children so it's a real kicker.
I bought a breast pump, breast feeding pillow, bottle warmer bag to transport breastmilk in diaperbag when out, bottles, freezer containers you name it I bought it. I spent a fortune my child wouldn't breastfeed then I found out she wasn't tolerating my breastmilk anyways so she went on a special formula. So all I'm saying is before you rush out and buy things make sure this is gonna work for you.

Hi! I just wanted to add one little thing to everyone else's advice. If your problem is inverted or flat nipples (and believe me this is NOT fun nor easy to determine by just the name) you may be helped by using breast shells. I have flat/inverted nipples and the first month or more was always the worst with pain and such till I stumbled upon these helpful little contraptions, they are easy to use and comfortable, but they can look a little odd under your shirt so be careful what you wear!! I just thought this might help!! hope you get some answers and good luck!!
K. E

I had a lot of nursing issues as well and e-pumped. I used Medela breast milk storage containers (which if you have a medela pump are nice since they attach to it). I used milk storage bags for the excess. I have read in places if you use glass some of the antibodies stick to the sides of the glass and do not go into the milk. I initially tried milk storage trays, but found the storage containers and bags to be easier. Good luck.

Hi R.,

Congrats on your new bundle of joy! I used a Medela's electric breast pump for pumping. The good thing which no one tells about this pump is you don't have to buy the expensive Medela bottles for storage. I used Evenflo bottles for storage which are adaptable and are cheaper to buy. Initially I used the bags too but they are clumsy. The Evenflo bottles store milk perfect and for reheating I would always have a small crockpot with water in it and would put the bottle in it for 3-5 mins and the milk would be ready. You can wash and reuse the containers.
Just another piece of advice if you are planning to exclusively pump its always good make it a habit to fill a glass of water and to drink it whenever you are pumping. Also, avoid foods like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower since these foods tend to decrease milk formation. Not a lot of people tell you this. Hope all goes well and enjoy your little one:0) CS

Hi R.,

I had issues with painful breastfeeding and used a pump fairly regularly. Just so you know, you can supplement with formula if you need to. I didn't know that when I started, and it helped greatly when/if my supply was low, or if didn't pump enough times in a day. My babies took bottles of either one (after rejecting the bottle a few times), and never really cared which one they were given. I think I started with a mix of both just to get them used to it.

I am on the 8th month of exclusively pumping after fighting as if for my life for the nursing to work. It just didn't and I can tell you that there isn't a single day that I don't hate the pumping and yearn for the nursing. That could certainly be a personal thing, but I just want to caution you to be very sure before choosing this. The first 4 weeks are the days that present the most issues with breastfeeding and they can be hell. But if you make it through the first month or so and are on track you have months of reward to look forward to. If you do choose this, I would be happy to share at any time the details that are working best for us.

A friend of mine was using a 25 count box of Lansinoh storage bags about every 3 days (exspensive!) and decided to try the Ziploc quart size freezer bags and she says they work just as good and are way more cost effective. Good Luck!

R.-

Congrats to you on your new addition. I'm sorry breastfeeding hasn't been going well for you. As a previous poster has mentioned, pumping can be a lot of work and a big commitement (but TOTALLY worth if it if you decide not to breastfeed anymore as your baby will still be getting your milk). However, it may be helpful to you to check out your local La Leche League. They may be able to figure out what is going on that is causing the issues with breastfeeding. The first 6 weeks are so tough, but once you get past those (and if your problems and questions are answered), breastfeeding can be such a breeze! If you still decide that you would rather exclusively pump, I think the freezer bags are what is most convenient for storage and easy thawing. I wonder if you will be returning to work, or if you are a stay at home, but either way you will probably want easy thawing. With the freezer bags all you have to do is run it under warm water for a few minutes and it is usually ready to go.

If you want to check out La Leche League and give feeding at the breast another shot, check out www.llli.org and find your local group.

Good luck,
E.

HI I breastfed for the first 12 weeks then had to go back to work. My son started to refuse the breast because at daycare he got a bottle of breast milk (he liked the bottle better) I then pumped exclusively for about 6 months which lasted to his 11th month. Some days were harder than others, I really hated the last pumping of the day I was tierd and just wanted to go to bed. I pumped into a medela plastic bottle and then transferd the milk to a glass bottle that way all the milk from that day was all mixed together, then I would take out what he would need for the next day and freeze the rest in gerber storage bags. Lay them flat so it is easier to store they also are way faster to dethaw only a couple of minutes in luke warm water. It maybe a bit more work in the begining but when it comes down to using the frozen milk its much faster than trying to thaw out a bottle.

Congratulations! He shares my four-year old grandson's birthday! Have you tried contacting the LaLeche League inh your area? Check with the hospital or in the phone book. La Leche League translates to the Milk League. It is a volunteer group of women interested in helping other women with breastfeeding issues. They might help you re-lactate your kid and you might enjoy a wonderfully enriching relationship with your son if you have some like minded women to help support you. I breastfed both of my children and wouldn't have traded it for the world.

I admire your desire to use re-useable containers for your breast milk, but nutritionally speaking and hygienically speaking, I think freezing breast milk in disposable bags is probably the safest way to deliver clean milk to your son. My daughter pumped when she went back to work and she kept all of her milk in the freezer. When I babysat, I would run the bags under warm (not hot!) water to a palatable temperature. You are doing your son a great service by providing him with your milk which is genetically designed to be the right nutrient for him!

Good Luck!

First of all, I'm wondering what kind of problems with breastfeeding you've been having and if you have gotten any help from a lactation consultant. You have made the right choice to feed your baby the healthiest food that was intended for him.
Did you get a good supply from the start? That can be key for people who want to exclusively pump. #1 important rule is to pump as often as the baby eats- every 2-3 hours. It's our hormone levels rising over and over again that maintains and increases our supply. If you take two people, one pumps every 2 hours for 10 minutes and the other pumps every 6 hours for 30 minutes. They spend the same amount of time pumping, but the more frequent will maintain the supply. This is because the hormone levels increase frequently telling the body the milk is needed.
Another important piece is to relax. Stress can really take a toll on milk supply. There are meds that can be taken to increase supply, but pumping frequently should be used first. There are also meds that can reduce supply like cold medicines and benadryl, so be careful what you take.
There's a method to feeding by bottle that helps. It's called paced feeding. At the breast, an infant controls the milk coming out. If you watch an infant nurse, they suck suck pause (and breathe). By bottle, it's sorta like having someone pour something down your throat while you try to chug to keep up. They swallow a lot of air. Also, it's like eating really fast... before you know it, you feel full and you figure out that you've eaten too much and it takes your body a while to catch up to that feeling... you overeat and feel junky. The same happens to a bottle fed baby. So, paced feeding helps them eat healthier and not over eat- keeps them taking what they need and helps so your milk supply keeps up with what he's taking.
With paced feeding, you let them suck a few times and remove the bottle so they can catch their breath. This also helps their body keep up with what they're drinking and feel full when they are full rather than after they've taken too much. There is also no reason to use more than a slow-flow nipple- this is to help daycare providers get done quick to tend to the other children.
A breastfed baby almost never takes more than 5-6oz per feeding- even at 1 year of age. Formula is always x amount of calories per oz. Our bodies change what is in our breastmilk and how many calories based on our babies age and provides that in a healthy amount.
Another very important piece to exclusive pumping is a GOOD quality dual electric pump. It needs to be effective in removing you milk well so your body knows how much milk you need. You can justify this by how much money you are saving by not buying formula. Medela is my favorite and I am most familiar with it, but there are other good pumps.
As far as storing milk, you can use the bottles that you pump into to store your milk. Yes, you will have to get more. You can also get glass ones which are even better. Otherwise, even if you use the plastic bags, it's still cheaper and healthier than formula.
There's also holders for the pump phalanges that keep your hands free while pumping. This helps if you go back to work or need/want to hold your baby while pumping.
My daughter is awake now, so I must go get her. If you have more questions or want to talk more or if I think of more to say, I can write later. Hop all this helps!
K.
(I have 2 kids- one nursed till he was 13 months and the other is nursing at 21 months. I am also a nurse in a pediatric clinic and a lactation counselor.)

I can see how that would be appealing but one thing to keep in mind is that many women that attempt to do that end up quitting because they cannot produce enough milk and here is why:

Your babies suckling stimulates a response in your brain to tell your body to produce more milk..the more they nurse, the more milk you will produce. Also your baby gets more milk from you than you can get from the pump. Many women have a healthy milk supply and can pump quite a bit of milk, but it is your baby, and not the plastic cup that helps you to produce a nice milk supply.

Hope that helps! I breastfed three children, my last one (now six) refused the bottle and was exclusively breastfed for a year!!

B.

Hi R.,

I'm a single working full-time mom so I had to pump so my daughter could get breast milk while I was off working. I used Avent's bottles and storage cups. They had a screw on lid and were reusable so they were a great option for me. I would refrigerate what would be used the next day and the rest went into the freezer and I would thaw out a day ahead of time. Hope this helps!

R.,

In the twins and more group that I was in, they suggested pouring the milk in ice cubes trays. After they were frozen you put them in plastic bags. They should all end up being one ounce (or close to it).

Good luck!
J.

First of all, good for you and congratulation!! I too struggled to feed my first baby. I nursed her for 4 weeks and then started exclusively pumping her after that (for 4 months). I exclusively pumped for my second child as well (for 9+ months, although there was plenty of milk for nearly a year).
I used the Medela pump and the plastic storage system. However, my freezer wasn't big enough for my supply, so the bags were really handy and stacked VERY well. Keep up the good work and know that no matter what your decision is, it's the right one!!!!
~TJ

I would suggest using bottles to store the milk, you can freeze the milk and thaw it out and then reuse the bottle again. Whatever you choose to use,please and make sure to sterilize in between uses because bacteria can build up and cause thrush for your little one.

When we got around to freezing milk, we made "ice" cubes. I got some special trays, but maybe regular ice cube trays work too. I think my trays gave cubes that were 1/2 or 1 ounce. We would store in large freezer bags in our NON-DEFROSTING freezer and label by month. I wouldn't recommend storing breast milk for in a self defrosting freezer for too long.

I have been exclusively pumping for 7.5 months, it works GREAT! The storage bags are excellent, they don't take up as much room in the freezer as anything else that I have tried. I had to buy a freezer specifically for my milk - so I had a lot, I am now only pumping twice a day and using a couple from the freezer , the only thing I can suggest is to make sure there is not any air in the bags before you freeze them. Good Luck!!

I used the storage bags as well. I bought the ones that go with the playtex nursing system though and then would just place the bags in the bottle. This way I felt like it was being used twice. They do take up a lot of space, but just make sure that you take all of the air out of the bags. It really worked slick for when my husband would feed the baby. I know that pumping exclusively is a pain and sometimes hard to think that you are not nursing the baby, but hang in there. Good luck.

I have never pumped exclusively but have pumped and breastfed at the same time since returning to work with all three of my children (and soon the be the fourth.) I really liked the Advent reusable plastic storage cups. I thought they were less clumsy than the bags. One package will probably be more than enough - they are clear containers with screw on blue lids. You can also screw an advent bottle top right to the container and use it as a bottle as well if needed - a definite plus! I would usually not get too much by pumping in the beginning (while waiting for my supply to level out) so I would keep a container in the fridge and just add to it throughout the day until I got about 4 ounces. Then I would freeze them. There is a spot on the container where you can label in pencil and then wipe it off later - so I would date them.

The containers are easily stackable in the freezer and I think take up less space and are neater than bags falling all over the place! Good luck! :)

I see you already got a lot of great advice in the few I read and wanted to add a bit. I had issues with my 1st child where she ended up just liking the bottle more at 4 weeks and wouldn't latch on anymore. I freaked out and kept giving beeastmilk a bottle. Eventually I gave up nursing and just pumped at all times. This worked for a long time (pumping instead). It got old, but I really wanted to keep going. Well, when my daughter was around 4 months I tried again with the nursing and she latched right on. My advice is to keep pumping, but every once in awhile try to nurse. I wish I would have tried a littel sooner! Also, for storage I used the 4 oz evenflo storage bottles. They were much cheaper then the Medela brand and came with 6. That was 3 years ago so I am not sure what is out there. It worked great since milk can stay in the fridge for a few days. I never really froze my milk, honestly I never had enough to freeze. We had 10 bottles in the fridge at all times! It took up a lot of space, but what are you going to do! I nursed for a little over 9 months using this method! The best advice my Dr gave me regarding breastfeeding was when you feel like quiting just give it one more week if you are feeling the same go ahead and quit. Most people are annoyed one day and by the following week they are better about it. I cannot tell you how many times I told myself ONE MORE WEEK!!!! It kept me going. I wish you luck and congrats on your little one!

I personally use glass jars that I have washed thoroughly and boiled. I had read that glass is good to store in because it is less porous than other materials, you just want to make sure you get them good and clean first. Other than that I heard the suggestion of freezing it in ice cube trays with a plastic freezer bag over and then when it is frozen you can empty and store the milk in a bigger plastic freezer bag, so that you can use the ice cube trays over.