are the medela freezer bags worth it??

[sleepdodger]

I ahve a swing pump and am going to start freezing some milk, but wondered if the medela bags are worth it - I know you can pump straight into them but they are more expensive than generic freeze bags, so is it worth it, or just buy the cheaper ones and pour from bottle into bag?
if it is worth it is there anywhere you can buy more than 20 at a bulk discount, I've had a google but couldnt see anything...
thanks

I'm not sure they are worth it. What I used was just ice cube bags from supermarkets. Really handy as they make small little cubes which you pop out as and when. Only thing is they are fragile bags and sometimes they burst!

I've got the medela ones, not worth it IMO, I'll buy the boots ones next. yes you can express straight into them, but then cant put the thing down when the baby cries!

Tesco ones are good.

Lansinoh ones are the best IMO. I don't have a Medela pump so couldn't pump directly into the Medela ones anyway but I really thought they were seriously overpriced. and it's not that hard to pour from a bottle to a bag.

I don't know if I'm getting it wrong, but I have always had to hold the pump around about the place where the bag is attached to it, so I just hold a Boots or Lansinoh bag on to the pump using my hand and pump into that. I've never had an accident, and that extra stip of yellow paper provided by Medela does cost you.

Personally I hated them - like pjyamalover says, once you start pumping, you can't put them down (as they can't stand really up on their own). Also, harder to measure exact quantities using the markers on the bag. I found it much easier to use bottles and then pour into freezer bags. As for the strap, it ended up bathed in milk - couldn't work out how to use it either !

i used the boots ones, fab at a fraction of the price. No great convenience to pump straight into the bag.

I used the ones from Home Bargains, which are £1.49 for 20. I have a Swing pump too and just poured from bottle to bag. Never had any problems with them.

I never pumped straight into them, so waste of money if you ask me. Get the cheapest!

Also if you're like me you might not fill a bag from one pumping session so easier to just stick a bottle in the fridge until you're ready to bag it.

Great thanks ladies just as I suspected ... I'm off to seek out those home bargain ones at that price, failing that boots it is.
Why do companies (cough medela looking at you) not realise they'd sell so may more 'add ons' if they were well priced!
Thank you for saving me money and more importantly lost milk!
X

Sorry to ask a dumb question here (newbie mom to be planning on BF) but why would you express into a bag and then pour into a bottle?
Is it incase baby doesnt like the mandela bottles so you can use others?
I am hoping to BF but would like to use medala swing pump i have bought to allow DH to do a feed late evening so all hints gratefully received!

Hi oompaloompa
bag into bottle - incase you need to stand it up
bottle into bag - to freeze to use later
hth