breast???going back to work!?

Question

what day or
how many days before going back to work should i start storing my breast milk? im going to refrigerate it, i dont want to freeze it. i will be gone for 10hours a day m-f.i have sat and sun off.

Answer 1

Breast milk can be stored in the back of the refrigerator for 3-8 days.

Kudos to you that you're going to continue nursing/pumping as you return to work! That takes commitment and you should applaud yourself.

I'll attach a few links to some sites below that might provide you with more answers to any questions you will be having...

Best wishes!


http://familydoctor.org/828.xml

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T026900.asp

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/breastfeedingtips/a/04_pumping.htm

http://www.hmhbwa.org/forfamilies/breastfeeding/storing.htm

Answer 2

You may want to rethink freezing it. It only stays fresh a few days in the fridge. If you dont use it all it will end up down the drain. It can be kept frozen for quite a while, at least a month. And when you do realize freezing is the best option, start freezing it now for your back up supply. And refrigerate only what you can use in 48 hours.

Answer 3

I always froze mine. Even if I was sure I'd be using it the next day, I froze it.

I pumped as much as I could as early as I could, so I could build up a little stockpile. Every time my baby fell asleep nursing, or only took one breast, I pumped the other one.

When I went back to work, I pumped twice a day for a few months, then once a day. My daycare provider had a nice little stash of milk, so I never had to worry when my daughters had growth spurts and wanted extra, or were running fevers and so stayed home and nursed. The milk was always there, frozen and ready.

I nursed both of my kids until they were 14 months old.

Anyway, if you are going to store in the fridge, you can't get more than 2 days ahead. Which means you'll have to dump all you pump on Friday, or give your kid bottles one weekend day so you can use what you pumped on Friday and store some up for Monday.

Answer 4

Refrigerated milk lasts up to 8 days before it needs to be thrown out, so if you're not going to freeze your milk, only start pumping a week before you go back. Keep it in the coldest part of the fridge (i.e. not the door or top shelf).

Answer 5

You'll need to freeze it if you want enough milk for when you're gone as you won't produce as much milk during the work week by pumping. It will pickup after the weekend but dwindle at the end. You may end up supplementing with formula if you don't store extra. Refridgerating will not keep it fresh long enough.

Answer 6

well u can only refrigerate for a week i think, so slowly start to store it a week in advance.