Using frozen breastmilk stash while I'm still pumping fresh milk?

I have no clue what I should be doing. DD is 12 weeks. I have a really good freezer stash, and I continue to pump 40+ ounces per day so I can obviously freeze more each day since she's not eating that much per day.

What should I be doing? Should I start using some frozen stuff and freeze more of my fresh stuff? I've been pumping since she was 2 weeks old (exclusively pumping, I don't nurse her anymore), so the oldest stuff in the freezer is only 2 months old. We have a separate deep freezer.

But I know I've read that freezing can/does affect the milk a tiny bit, making it a little less beneficial than fresh. But then I also hear that milk changes along the months to adapt to growing baby....so I don't want to wait too long to use it.

What did you all do?

Thanks!

Message edited 9/23/2010 1:30:44 PM.

Re: Using frozen breastmilk stash while I'm still pumping fresh milk?

I'd give her a combination. On work days, Colin gets 3 bottles - two from the freezer, one fresh. And nurses morning and night - so technically 3 sessions of "fresh", 2 frozen. Days I'm home (3 days/wk), he only gets the breast.

Since you exclusively pump and she gets all bottles, I would maybe half it. How many bottles a day does she get? If 6 - do 3 and 3??

Re: Using frozen breastmilk stash while I'm still pumping fresh milk?

Re: Using frozen breastmilk stash while I'm still pumping fresh milk?

Posted by nbc188


I knew you'd answer, you're like my personal lactaction consultant Thanks!!!

She eats every 3 hours during the day, so on average she gets about 6-7 bottles/day.

Dumb question-- how do you thaw it? I know sit it in warm water until it thaws-- but then, do you have to serve it right away, or can I do that in the AM when I'm packing up bottles and then MIL can give it to her at any point in the day? Or do you have to give the thawed milk right after it's thawed?

Message edited 9/23/2010 1:38:14 PM.

Re: Using frozen breastmilk stash while I'm still pumping fresh milk?

Posted by SweetCaroline

Posted by nbc188


I knew you'd answer, you're like my personal lactaction consultant Thanks!!!

She eats every 3 hours during the day, so on average she gets about 6-7 bottles/day.

Dumb question-- how do you thaw it? I know sit it in warm water until it thaws-- but then, do you have to serve it right away, or can I do that in the AM when I'm packing up bottles and then MIL can give it to her at any point in the day? Or do you have to give the thawed milk right after it's thawed?

No, don't use warm - use cold. The day before I'm going to use it (usually mid afternoon) DH pulls it out of the freezer for me and puts it in cold water in the fridge - by the time I get home it's thawed. I just pour into bottle then and put back in the fridge in the daycare bag. They warm it there before giving it to him. So, it's only one "warm up". Once it's warm you have to use pretty soon after.

Re: Using frozen breastmilk stash while I'm still pumping fresh milk?

Totally agree with the PP. I give a combo each day of frozen and fresh (I nurse her in the morning, evening and night time.).

Re: Using frozen breastmilk stash while I'm still pumping fresh milk?

And if you forget to thaw - it honestly doesn't take long. Sometimes DH doesn't do it so I just put it in cold water and let it still on the counter for 20-minutes and it's done.