EBM - tips needed.

[munz]

Does anyone know - my m/w recons when I feed and leak to collect the leakage in a shell (am leaking approx 1oz per feed) and put into a bottle then top it up as the day gose putting it in the freezer as needed - now do I freeze at the end of the day or freeze each 1 oz seperatly or what??

Sounds like a lot of hassle to me!

But would freeze at end of day if you're going to do it. As long as you date them aswell.

Why not just use a breast pump before feeding time or when you feel quite full?

breast shells are way easier than a pump. Only 2 pieces to sterilise and you're feeding the baby anyway so you might as well collect the drips. I would put it all in one bottle and freeze at the end of the day. The only thing to remember is that drip-milk is usually foremilk, not hindmilk so is not so rich in calories.

I don't tend to leak very much when bf so didn't/don't use shells. I think you need to find what suits without upsetting the balance too much IYKWIM

so it's safe to store the milk daily in a bottle and store at the end of each day in the freezer? - that's good as we currently have 4 bottles with 1 oz in each - I was worried aboutt he hind milk thing althou I guess it would tide DS over if we were out/about till I could get home?

MP - my M/W said not to use the pump as i'm leaking so much and have so much milk at the mo, so to wait till approx 3 weeks then see what happens once it settles down.

collect for 48 hours then freeze

Don't use a pump unless you want to increase your supply!

Collecting the drips is a great idea, and as long as your baby is happily feeding then introducing a bottle is no prob (if she ever needs it!)

I have done a lot of milk storage and I've found no problem with topping up a bottle and putting in the freezer within 24 hours. My milk has happily kept in the freezer for 6 months. It's obvious when it's off as after a good shake it still looks bitty and smells like gone off milk or very sweaty feet :)

I find that storing milk in 100-200ml containers works best for me, although I have also frozen straight off in ice cube trays (washed in boiled water) which are much easier to defrost and store if you're only going to keep a bit.

\link{http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html#storage\breastmilk storage and handling}

i freeze in small boots own make bottles - I found freezer bags expolded when thawing

You'll also know whether your collected milk is foremilk or a mixture of both because if it's just foremilk it will take on a thin 'blueish' tinge whereas an even(ish) mixture can be anything from thin and white to thick and creamy... I would check after a feed by squeezing a nipple that your hindmilk is a creamyish colour (because sometimes milk can be blueish all the time, just because!)

Don't use freezer bags - crap.

ph yes - when I said 48 hours what I meant was 48 hours from the first lot you collect.
so for example, the milk I start to express on a friday morning, I collect and add to then freeze it all on saturday night (if I am not going to use it)
does that make sense?

ooho thanks girls, so far all i've collected has been a creamy colour so hopeflly it's a bit of both.

the Boots brand narrow necked bottles fit Ameda Lacaline pumps. I also use them to freeze ebm. better investment than freezer bags.