Nursery never dealt with EBM - what to tell them?

[mandymac]

I have just visited DD's nursery (she starts in Jan) and I am hopefully going to give them a weekly (frozen) supply of EBM for 1 to 2 daytime feeds for her. They don't have anyone else doing this, and I would like to give them some information on the storage and heating of the milk. I am going to ask them to initially try her on 6oz per feed, but decrease this amount if she doesn't appear to want it all, so as to avoid wasting my 'liquid gold' . Once they have defrosted and warmed the milk, do they have to chuck it immediately if she doesn't finish a feed?

I'm going to tell them to defrost the milk in warm water and then put in her beaker and warm as they would with formula.

I feel like a bit of a fanatic , I expected that at least one or two other mums might be doing this, apparently someone did 'a few years ago'.

I also decided to wean dd onto organic fruit & veg, but nursery isn't organic - so do I abandon that idea, or send in my own frozen purees each week as well? We are paying for them to do the meals, and I won't be supplying them indefinately, so should I just give up on the organic idea now, or keep at it for the first few months.

I just feel like I am making life more difficult for myself with all of this, on top of going back to work 4 days a week full time. Is my life outside work going to consist of pumping & pureeing, and wouldn't that time be better spent having fun with her, given that she will be at nursery practically all week?

Decisions, decisions - what do you all think????

How old is your DD? I'd keep with the EBM but wouldn't bother about the other food. In a few weeks' time, once you've both settled into the new schedule, you can reassess and see what time you have left.

I'm going back to work in March when DD is 1. I think i'll BF her in the morning and when coming home (short days, so around 3.30 pm) and then evening etc. I'll see how it goes like this.

Can't answer about the ebm as I dropped dd's daythime feeds when she started nursery at 11months.

Have they categorically said they won't provide organic food? Our nursery didn't provide it as standard but when dd started they got 'special' food for her that was organic. IT's all changed now that she's nearly 2 and demands waht everyone else has but it did work for a very long time.
How old is your dd?

I do alot of pureeing for the kids i look after so if you want more advice let me know. Have you thought about just giving her organic at home and not at nursery to make it easier?

An easy way to think of if the milk can be used again is: if her lips ie bacteria could have got into the milk it needs to be thrown out after she has drunk all she needs, so a smaller portion could be better than a lot to be offered if they dont think she will drink it.

Or make a large batch and if she is having 2 drinks or 3 a day then they can split it into a smaller container so therefore keeping it fresh.

From reading other threads that ebm can smell soapy/off when it isnt. - I personally do not know this is just what i have read.

If i can think of anything else will let you know or you can cat me to discuss it further.

Sorry, have no advice on EBM.

wrt the organic diet, I have largely (not always) bought and fed my children organic, but neither the nursery or school does (DD1 has school dinners).

The way I see it is, I am at least feeding them less chemicals, but as they grow and get involved with people outside the home it just becomes more and more difficult to influence what they eat. So I don't stress myself - what they get at home is generally good stuff which hopefully helps balance out the rest.

DD is 6 months. They don't have organic food - but said they would be happy to use what we provide, so doesn't look like they will provide it.

On the EBM front, she currently has milk at 11am and 2.30pm in the daytime. I was hoping that by the time she starts in the new year, her 11am solids feed would be established enough for us to drop the milk then, but who knows?

Oh, she's still very young and will probably be needing the milk then.

When I ran baby room in nursery, we had a few on EBM. used to defrost in warm water and then heat through if required in bottle as per formula. Can be kept for an hour once warmed, but after that due to contact with air, lips etc should be thworn away. Defrosted but not warmed BM will keep in fridge for 24 hours. So could always defrost a batch and then split. As for organic I spose it depends if you are planning on feeding her organic for rest of life ..... if not why make more work for yourself??

Obv not all nurseries are same but mine had v high standard of fresh ingredients, all homecooked meals etc so if not bothered about her always having organic would see this as a good compromise HTH

Have you seen this on Kellymom.com?

I have given ebm, then stored leftovers in the fridge until the next feed, but not more than 4hrs so not overnight.

The health benefits for breastmilk over formula are extremely well documented. The health benefits of organic over non -organic food are marginal. (Though better for environment, farmers etc)
If I were you I would stick with what's the most important (maintaining the BM) and ditch what's less important. Your child has many years ahead of her to eat organic food, and only a few more months when BM is beneficial....