Freezing breast milk, can it be done????

[GoodGollyMissMolly]

I know it is a little early for me to be thinking about this as I am 21 weeks pregnant with my first child. I will be breast feeding (Hopefully, if all goes well, )

But I have just spoken to my mum who has told me that she has booked for me and her to go away on a spa weekend in January 08 , baby will be approx 8-10 weeks old.
DH will be looking after the baby while I am away.

I will be away from a friday to a sunday, so the question I am asking is there any way I can 'stockpile' breastmilk and freeze it so that DH can still feed DC breastmilk while I am away.

Please feel free to tell me to stop being so stupid and didn't I know it cant be done!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Foxy,
what a lovely little (or not so) family you have 2 of each, how wonderful.

I have been on boots website and they look alright the boots bags. Think I might give them a go anyway to see what happens. I might be able to get enough up to go!!!! but maybe not!!!

I'm glad your mum is so supportive GGMM. I personally would think it interfering if my mother organised something like this for so soon after my baby was born (or any time for that matter) without first asking me but this is a breastfeeding thread so that's irrelevant really.

Hi Mawbroon, I can see where your comming from, but my mum does things like this quite often and I love it, like lots of little suprises for me (I'm a big child at heart, LOL)

The only interfering one in my life is my MIL, but as you said thats a totaly different topic

I think you've made the right decision and it's brought up a few more issues too, like doing what you want with your baby when you're ready and not feeling pressured to do anything you don't want to. I wish I had thought that out before I had DS!

NineUnlikelyTales (Love the name BTW)I bet there is loads that I haven't thought about, and I'm not gonna, LOL
I cant wait for my baby to get here.

Thank You all for all of your advice and help.

xx

Hi GGMM, I didn't really have a choice with leaving her, I had to go so that helped!
I had been leaving her with DH and a bottle of EBM for a few hours at a time since she was 3 weeks old, I would tank her up with breastmilk and then go out to prepare myself to leave her for so long, but was never more than 10 minutes away. I did it about 2 or 3 times and just sat in a coffee shop with my mum or a friend and DH really liked it as at that age they don't really want anyone else, he had some crying but he said he bonded more with her being alone with her than any other time.

I did feel really crappy the first time and rang every 10 minutes to check she was okay but it did make it easier that the course I was on was full of mums so they totally understood when I ran off to make a call or express.

My mw was no help, or the HV, they all said that it shouldn't be done as it will effect supply, but TBH my only other option was to formula feed her and I was more uncomfortable about that than I was leaving her so I just did it myself. It is hard work at first, and you are so exhausted it takes dedication to get everything ready as well (sterilising and stuff)
I woudl say to go to your christmas party and see how you feel as you may not be able to stay there for long but you also may find you cope okay, everyone is different!

Sorry I rambled a bit! I hope I was some use whatever you decide!

Hi Chirpygril, Thank you for all of your advice and help.
Sounds like it's gonna be hard, I think I'm gonna give expressing a go as soon as I feel comfotable with it and see how how getb on and take it from there.

I would also like to leave my baby solely with my DH for the purpose that you mentioned, so that he can bond with the baby and have some one on one time with him. (I say him, but we dont know what the sex of the baby is )

I think I might take small steps at first and go for a walk in to town for an hour or so and build myself up to leaving, and DH up to being the sole carer for that hour.

What breastpump do you use, if you dont mind me asking, I've bought a second hand avent manual pump, but I was thinking of getting an electric one.

Thank you again Chirpygirl, you have been ever so helpful.

xx

oh gawd I must be a freak - even with DS1 (my first baby) I would have happily gone away for a relaxing weekend when he was 8-10 weeks old.

I think if you can get to grips with the expressing - and are prepared to express several times a day when you're away you should go - I certainly would

You're welcome! I used an avent isis, I think, I actually tried a tommee tippe, but it leaked everywhere, and a MAM one, but that hurt..
I didn't like the electric ones as they are really noisy and I used to pump while feeding DD off the other breast.

The first time I left them together was when she was only a couple of weeks old and my mum took me to tesco (5 minutes away) to buy me new pj's and some nice snack food, I lasted half an hour!

If I were you I wouldn't buy another pump, wait and see how you get on with that one as you would only have to wait a few days for one to arrive from an internet site if you don't like it.
And now relax and forget about it for 20ish weeks!

Thanks fannyannie I must admit I would love to be able to go and I am certainly gonna give the expressing a go before I further dismiss the idea. I dont think your a freak BTW.

Chirpygirl, I am gonna try and put it to the back of my mind till the baby is actually here. Think your right I'll wait and see how I get on with the avent BP that I have.

Thank you.

xx