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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Expressing in advance for rice later?

28 replies

bramblina · 06/01/2006 23:10

We began weaning on Wednesday;so for the lunchtime feed ds has one boob, while I express the other side to make up the rice that follows. Yesterday I expressed more than turned out was needed, so kept it in the fridge, but thismorning it had separated and smelled almost sour. I poured it away but now have a concern- how can we even so much as leave the house for the day if I have to express fresh every day? Or, if I were to express at the first feed and keep it for going out with later, do I have to carry it in a thermal container? Now I'm worried about being housebound forever! Am I sounding a bit looney-like or is this making sense to anyone?

OP posts:
Original poster
bramblina · 06/01/2006 23:18

Bump

OP posts:
notasheep · 06/01/2006 23:51

I went mad on the expressing so dd could have breast milk on breakfast when weaning.
Sometimes after his 3am feed i would express other boob.
Milk should keep in fridge for 24 hours-but it does seperate(that is the hind milk and fore milk)
I had so much milk i got bags from Boots and froze loads-great if you can do it
Hope this helps

dinny · 06/01/2006 23:55

can't you just use organic cows milk for cereal etc?

notasheep · 07/01/2006 00:02

didnt give ds cows milk until he was 1

dinny · 07/01/2006 00:07

ah, sorry, didn't ask how old.

but is cm ok in food from earlier?

hunkermunker · 07/01/2006 00:09

Yes, from six months.

Pixiefish · 07/01/2006 00:10

I gave dd cows milk on her cereal and in food from about 7 months. The reason they tell you not to give it as the main drink for under 1's is that it doesn't have the necessary nutrients in it.

Regarding the ebm- freeze it in ice cube trays and then decant into freezer bags and you'll have loads stored up nd handy to take out as many cubes as you want.

Original poster
bramblina · 07/01/2006 10:44

I had thought I could keep it in fridge for at least one day (HV says up to 5 days but that's just rediculous) and use the next to save on the palava of freezing, defrosting etc but not so sure if it's going to separate so quickly. Is it still ok if I mix it well? Quite unsure...

OP posts:
popsycalindisguise · 07/01/2006 10:46

you can keep it much longer than that
let me find you a link

Original poster
bramblina · 07/01/2006 10:48

TIA have to go but will check in later

OP posts:
Original poster
bramblina · 07/01/2006 10:48

TIA have to go but will check in later

OP posts:
popsycalindisguise · 07/01/2006 10:48

here

hunkermunker · 07/01/2006 10:49

You can keep it in the main body of the fridge (not the door) for eight days.

Roobie · 07/01/2006 10:52

I frequently express ds's morning bottle last thing the night before and leave it out of the fridge all night - I don't have time for warming bottles first thing in the morning before work. It actually takes quite a long time for breast milk to 'turn'.

Original poster
bramblina · 07/01/2006 20:29

Popsy- thank you so much, that's really interesting. Hunker- crikey! 8 days!! I left a little of thursday's in the fridge to see how it went and today it really was not good. Not really bad but I just wouldn't have used it. I must be doing something wrong, though am careful to sterilise well etc. Roobie, I'm glad you have said that. Tomorrow we are going away for the day and was wondering how to get round this. Will express a.m. and not stress. Think I'm being OTT again!!! Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
hercules · 07/01/2006 20:29

It all separates and looks dodgy but is okay. Just give a good shake!

NotQuiteCockney · 07/01/2006 20:32

It separates, because it's not homogenised. Cow's milk would do that, too, only it gets homogenised to stop it separating.

As hercules says, give it a good shake. It also comes back together better when warm, I find.

It does look seriously gross, though.

Original poster
bramblina · 07/01/2006 20:33

So can you really only be sure by the smell? Like cow's milk? I suppose I could taste it but wouldn't know what to compare it to! And have no desire to get a comparison beforehand!!!

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 07/01/2006 20:35

I always went by a) the dates/timings and b) whether the baby took it. Hmm, I think I used to taste it too. If something's off, it will taste gross, surely?

popsycalindisguise · 07/01/2006 20:36

I am tetchy with it too.....but that link I gave you is a really well respectec website - so try to believe it
I still feel dodgy witht he 8 day thing though

Original poster
bramblina · 07/01/2006 20:39

Yes, a bit extreme! Thanks again, will stick with that.

OP posts:
beansprout · 07/01/2006 20:41

My milk never kept either, it would smell "off" by the next day. Defrosted milk was the same as well. Apparently I have too much of an enzyme that makes it break down quickly (or something). So the "five days in the fridge" stuff never worked for me. Bm doesn't really have a smell, but you know when it smells funny!!

suzi2 · 07/01/2006 23:29

Mine separates in the fridge overnight. I heat it and swirl it to bring it back together. if I shake it, it gets all foamy and goes bitty and looks off - all thick and gungy and curdled - so I just swirl it. i also have to be sure to heat it thoroughly otherwise it doesn't come back together properly and looks curdled. I think hunker cracked that one for me... I had no idea why it was curdling (except it wasn't!).

It never smells off though. Is your fridge cool enough? Do you store it in the main body of the fridge nearer the bottom?

suzi2 · 07/01/2006 23:30

Sorry - I think it was NQC who solved it... it was ages ago... and you know who you are... - thanks!

suzi2 · 07/01/2006 23:31

I never keep it longer than 36 hours either. Not sure why as I'm sure it will be OK but I prefer to freeze it otherwise.