Freezing Breast Milk

[Deleted]

Please tell me how you freeze your breast milk. It looks like I am pumping 8-10 ounces more than the baby eats a day.

I am wondering how you physically keep the bags in the freezer and if there are any bags you specifically like.

I am testing tomorrow to make sure the baby will drink my thawed breast milk without any extra preparations. Fingers crossed.

What things lead to split/spilt bags? I have only frozen about 6-8 bags and already found one that spilt everywhere. Grrrr. It was a Medela bag which is annoyingly what I have like 70 of from various sets/gifts. I have a box of Target brand too someone gave me. And I already used the handful on Lanisoh my sister had leftover.

[humpforfree]

I am not a pro, but I did freeze some. I poured the milk into the freezer bag, laid it flat in the freezer and after it froze I stacked them front to back in an old soda box, oldest in the front. The box was like the exact width of the freezer bags.
I don't know what causes the leaking bags, but we had this issue with some Lansinoh ones. We started just defrosting them in a glass measuring cup so if it leaked it could still be poured into a bottle.

ETA- I also used the measurements from the bottle, not the bag. I froze in 2-2.5 oz increments because I never pumped more than that. Lol. It was convenient though because we never defrosted more than he would drink.

[sjh722]

I used Lansinoh bags and didn't have any problems with leaking, but one of my friends did. I've never heard anything bad about the Target bags.

I also never went by the oz measurments on the bag (I don't know if you're over-filling, that could make it leak?) - I measured from the pump bottle then labeled the bag. I froze flat by laying on the top drawer of the freezer, then filed in a front-to-back system so that the oldest milk got used first. There was never more than 150-200 oz of milk in our freezer at once; if you're EP you may get better advice from someone else who stored more. :-)

[fortmyersbride]

I use the lansinoh bags. I freeze 5 oz per bag (just because counting by fives makes the process faster, lol). I lay them on a flat surface in the freezer then add them to a gallon bag after frozen. I freeze about 40oz per gallon bag and put the dates on the outside of the bag, and put the big bags in the deep freezer.

[meltoine]

I've always used Lansinoh bags and I've never had one leak. I froze in 4oz increments, laying down. Then once the were frozen I stood them up in a shoebox.

[mcfelix]

I second humpforfree. Freeze the bags flat, then put in a container. I also thawed them in another bag, because I had a few lansinoh bags split at the seams. Definitely do not overfill them, even though you might think there is room! I liked the Dr Brown's bags the best but they were pricey.

That's great you are pumping a bit more than you need!

[countthestars]

I used Medela Lansinoh the whole time with no leaking (luckily!). I would lay the bags flat in the freezer until they were frozen and then stood them in this little Tupperware like thing from the dollar store that allowed them to all stand up straight. I always put the new ones in the back.

It was super helpful for me to have different increments between 1oz and 5oz so I could mix and match for DD depending on what she wanted/needed to eat.

[chicago]

I froze between 2-4oz/bag. I would stack flat in the freezer until I remembered to put them in a gallon bag. Very unscientific I am. I kept track of my inventory in my Total Baby app.

I used Lansinoh bags the whole time and had at least 10 that leaked. I write to Lasinoh and they said its to be expected because of the "virgin plastic" they use. I think sometimes multiple bags would stick together a little and pulling them apart caused microtears. That was the only thing I could think of that would cause it.

[ringstrue]

I have a Starbucks paper bag with the top half cut off. I lay the bag flat in the bottom of it (perfect flat surface) and freeze. When it's frozen I stand them up in a Tupperware thingy.

I've used a few types over time. Never had a split but you can't move them around once frozen- just treat them very gingerly. The plastic can easily be scrapped.

[Deleted]

Good idea about thawing in something else--I hadn't thought of that!

The bag that broke only had 3 oz, so I don't think it was overfilled--the bag was marked to hold 5 or 6oz.

I am hoping to not EP forever--we're still working on BF and had two promising feedings today, so I should kind of prepare for all options.

I have been keeping milk in the fridge two days then on the third day freezing whatever is left. Is this a sound plan? Should I be doing something else to keep sufficient milk on hand? My supply various through the day, but usually DS will eat 3oz ish and I will pump 4-5oz. And always at least once during the day he will eat more often and I use milk from the fridge.

[Brie]

That sounds like a good plan!

I recommend thawing in a glass liquid measuring cup--that way, if it leaks, it's easy to pour out.

Also, loaf pans are the perfect width to store flat bags of frozen milk.

[influenza]

I strongly preferred the Lansinoh or Target brand bags. My Medela bags were mediocre at best and I had a few break on me too. We freeze the bags flat, and then attempt to keep them organized by week or month inside of larger tupperware containers in our deep freezer, although that was necessary due to the quantity we were dealing with. I labeled the containers with blue painters tape and sharpie. 

[winemaker06]

Like others, I froze flat and then stacked them.
Leaks happened if the bags were dropped or if they stuck together a little bit from moisture and were separated. Just thaw in another container and it's not a big deal.
I used several brands but settled on the Target ones due to cost. No brand leaked more than the others.

[jewel]

Mar 5, 2015 21:27:40 GMT -5 fortmyersbride said:

I use the lansinoh bags. I freeze 5 oz per bag (just because counting by fives makes the process faster, lol). I lay them on a flat surface in the freezer then add them to a gallon bag after frozen. I freeze about 40oz per gallon bag and put the dates on the outside of the bag, and put the big bags in the deep freezer.

I do exactly this, but use the Nuk bags. www.amazon.com/dp/B002UXQRES/ref=twister_B00601T9K0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 

[FoxInFiji]

I've been using Target bags and haven't had any problems. I started freezing in small batches (2-3 oz) but now I have a slight oversupply by the end of the week each week so I've been doing bigger bags so I don't have to use a million of them.

I've been using the gift bag storage trick where you cut a slot in the side of a gift bag near the bottom and pull the oldest frozen bag from there. Sorry I'm on the app so I can't link .

[azurely]

I'm in a similar position, just freezing the excess. I've always frozen in smaller batches so a bag can be thawed for just one bottle. I aim for 3 oz per bag, but my bags are between 2.5-4 oz, depending how much extra milk I have to freeze that day.

I have excess lipase, so scalding the milk is a whole extra process, but once I'm ready to freeze, I freeze flat, then store standing up in a box. Sort of like the soda 12-pack idea, but I use thicker cardboard boxes that I get when I buy crackers from Amazon.

I use Target bags, but I used Lansinoh bags at first, because that's what I had, and haven't had any issues with leaking. I like the Target bags better though, because they are cheaper and the plastic is thicker.

[MrsAggie]

I'm not sure which Medela bags you have but I have some of the pump and save (attach directly to the pump). I like them a lot but I haven't thawed any yet. To pour those, it's best to cut the top off under the ziplock part. They can be difficult to pour over the ridges and with the holes but cutting them solves the problem.

If you do have the attachments for the pump, you can also cut 1/4" slats above the ziplock part of the lansinoh bags. Then you can attach the lansinoh bags (or any bags really) using the medela adapter.

I also just used the kiinde bags for the first time and they're pretty nice. I ordered the bottle parts for them and am expecting them Tuesday. It would be nice to not have to wash a million bottles everyday.

[Poppy]

I use Lansinoh bags but I've barely started defrosting bags so can't comment on the leak rate. I did have one fall out of the freezer and I could see that the corner split open so I defrosted in a Pyrex and used right away. I have seen people say not to stack while freezing in order to avoid tears. The Medela ones frustrate me because they don't freeze flat, so they take up a lot of room.

I bought a couple 5" Fridge Binz on Amazon to store them but ran out of that space and switched to the gift bag trick which is a lot cheaper and seems more space efficient.

[VillainV]

I've used Medela bags for almost a full year and only had one leak on me (I over-filled it). I lay them flat-ish to freeze, then thaw upright in a measuring cup, and once thaws cut across the top with scissors (just under the zipper) to pour.

[kershnic]

I use Lansinoh and they leak all the freaking time. Probably operator error though because I overfill and they freeze together and I drop them. Ha. So not a helpful comment??

I put a cookie sheet in my freezer to freeze everything flat and then stored in gift bags.

[nessness]

I use Ameda bags and have never had one leak (except when I don't seal it properly, but can't blame the bag for that!)

[ewall]

Mar 6, 2015 1:04:24 GMT -5 MrsAggie said:

I also just used the kiinde bags for the first time and they're pretty nice. I ordered the bottle parts for them and am expecting them Tuesday. It would be nice to not have to wash a million bottles everyday.

Oooh I want to know how you like the bottles and bags together! I'm considering this system.

I use the Lansinoh bags, freeze flat, then do the gift bag thing.

[linz]

I've never had issues freezing milk. I use up and up bags. I do 6 oz at a time and lay them flat to freeze. Once I have 8 I put them in a ziplock freezer bag and they go to my deep freezer in the basement.

[mae141]

I used lansinoh bags and they leaked unless you were super careful with them. If I bumped them at all the seam would break. It was really annoying.

I froze them flat. We have a top freezer with a single shelf in it, so I basically took over the bottom with BM. I would freeze them in 3 or 4 oz bags (DD took 4 oz bottles most of the time) and when I had a bunch I would put them inside a bigger bag. That way the bigger bags would all have similar dates inside, and I could easily use the oldest first.

[crispnclean]

We used Lansinoh bags and never had any leaks.

I poured the milk in, squeezed any extra air out and seal, then laid flat in the freezer to freeze. Once frozen, I stacked them upright in date order in a fridge bin like this: www.amazon.com/InterDesign-Fridge-Freezer-Storage-14-5-Inch/dp/B003E1W9G0

[crispnclean]

Oh, and a trick I heard is when you thaw the bags in the fridge, put them inside a clean bowl. That way, if they leak, you don't have a mess in your fridge and you can still use the milk by pouring it from the bowl into a bottle.

[kermit]

I like the Target bags. I froze them flat with 4 oz in each (only because that's what she was taking in a bottle when I started freezing). 10 bags fit in a gallon freezer bag so I knew a freezer bag had 40 oz total. I've had a few leak and I think it's because I would put them in the freezer touching each other and they'd kind of freeze together, then the bag would split when they were separated. Hope that makes sense.

[thefield]

I used these trays to freeze the milk in 1 oz portions. Then I bagged a few days worth together in freezer bags.

www.toysrus.com/buy/accessories/breast-milk-freezing-trays-5510674-4033361

The really awesome part is that they fit through the mouth of a normal size bottle so you can pull them out one by one and insert into a bottle frozen and then leave in the fridge as they thaw until it's time to use. It makes it easy to adjust serving size.

[motzie]

I've always used Medela with no issues. I also always write the amount from the bottle on top because once it's frozen in the bag it's hard to tell how much is in there.

[jm1982]

I freeze in ~3 oz portions, nuk bags. And I use and love this storage tray: The First Years Breastflow Milk Storage Organizer www.amazon.com/dp/B000K4YSVI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_CQF-ub07T13CT
www.amazon.com/dp/B000K4YSVI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_CQF-ub07T13CT

It freezes flat while standing, and the oldest stuff is always at the front.