I'm almost ready to do my first express for the milk bank but...

[PenguinArmy]

I have a question(s)

There were not any instructions for what to do with filling the bottles. I only plan to express at weekends but will maybe do a couple of pumps each day. Can I stop up the sterile bottles they gave me and then put in freezer at the end of the day or a different bottle for each express?

I assume I pump into my own bottle and then pour into their containers?

It's nice to hear of someone else doing this. I did it when I was feeding DD1. It was few years ago so I'm sorry I can't remember what I did and anyway the advice may have changed.

I'd put them in separate bottles for this weekend and give them a call next week to confirm. I was told that it doesn't matter how little is in a bottle because some really tiny babies can only take very small amounts.

Yes probably best to keep it separate and check with them. In general it's fine to combine milk from different expressing sessions as long as the new milk is chilled before you add it to the old, but the milk bank might have stricter rules.

I'm trying to do this, but keep leaving messages at milk bank and getting no response.

Hi Penguin, I'm expressing for St Thomas' bank in London at the mo, and they advise you can keep a bottle in the fridge and top up through the day, putting into freezer at night.

It's fine to use your own bottles then transfer to their bottles.

If you PM me I can send you the leaflets they gave me, but it;s probably still best to check with your hospital in case they have different rules

sorry, just realised more people replied

I eventually found the part of the instructions that said to top a bottle throughout the day to no more than 3oz, then put in the freezer. My instructions were over two emails with one overwriting half of the previous with updated info.

starlight has taken two months from first enquiry to receiving the batch of bottles. replies take a while and I feel I have already bombarded her enough (my booking bloods were not done in the UK so had to sort out getting another blood test).

I assumed it was fine to use own bottle as figured their bottles wouldn't fit every pump anyway. First 120ml is in the freezer.

joyful I have wondered how they distribute the stock, do they wait for mothers to ask or do MW's routinely ask the parents? seems strange that they can have too much already and a bit :(. I assume our's don't have enough as I didn't get in touch until DS was 6 months. having DD (2.3) as well means I only plan to express at weekends, but figure every bit helps.