I have pumped, labeled and stored almost 200 ounces of breast milk for the last month. This way, in case he needs more than what's fresh in the fridge, he's got plenty of stock in the freezer.
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I was advised to feed Christian on one side and pump the other side. Since I've been doing this, I have collected as much as nine and a half ounces of breastmilk a day on top of what he eats. But I'm not going to lie, if he wants to snack or if he needs a top-off in between a feeding, I let him eat and I won't pump anything during those times.
Labeling and Storing: Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags are by far the best way to store milk. I haven't necessarily tried anything else, but every friend I have who has stored breastmilk swears by them. They hold up to 6 ounces, but I usually don't put but about 4 ounces in each bag. Christian doesn't eat anywhere near 6 ounces at any one feeding so I don't want any milk to go to waste. (At this point, even 4 ounces is a lot. He probably eats about two and half to three ounces at each feeding...during snacks he probably eats an ounce or two.But since there's no real way to tell how much he is getting since I am still nursing, these are all guesstimates. I suppose we'll know how much he's eating once he starts eating out of a bottle.)
When we start using the freezer supply, we have to start by using the oldest milk first. The rule of thumb is that in a regular freezer milk is good for 5 months. Whereas in a deep freezer, the milk is good for a whole year! I really want to buy a small deep freezer once we see how the whole process with me pumping at work goes.
Cleaning: We use regular Dawn dish soap to clean the breast pump accessories after each use. Many dish soaps have antibacterial ingredients such as triclosan, so we have to make sure to just use the regular old soap. The antibacterial agents in soaps kill the natural bacteria in breast milk and baby needs those natural bacteria!
Feeding: The hardest part of pumping, for me, is knowing that I won't be feeding Christian every time he eats. I savor the time we spend together at each feeding or snack. And even though I don't mind him using a bottle and having Daddy getting to share in the privilege of nourishing him, I will miss our special time.
It was suggested that we use the Breastflow Bottles because they function closer to a real breast feeding session. Most bottles are very easy to suck. In fact, a lot of babies won't go back to the breast once they start eating from a bottle. I wanted to ensure this wouldn't happen with Christian even though he enjoys the breast so much...I mean, really, I don't see this being a problem for my son.
These are all the measures I have taken to ensure breast feeding even when I'm away is a success. I pray that I have the will to stay strong and stick to it even when quitting would be easier. Updates to follow!
