Premature question for Moms that pump and work.....

ok, I am sure they will tell me all this stuff in the Hospital but I at times I sit here at work bored and worry/think of a gizzilion things!

I read that if you breastfeed, nite time feedings are easier for all b/c there are no lights to turn on, no stove to heat up, etc......
my question is in the morning when you bring the baby to moms house lets say w/ bottles...... where does she keep the bottles all day?? On the counter? In the fridge? and if they are kept in the fridge? does the baby drink it cold or does it get warmed up? Just curious, I know its early
Thanks

Thanks Misha
so my mom would just take out of the fridge and give it? no need to warm, I guess?

Tammy you made me laugh, when I went back to work JJ got it right out of the refrig (yes it is for safety purposes) after that even when I stop BF and went to regular fomula and then Milk he got it from the refrig and let me tell you he won't drink anything now unless it is ice cold!!!! I really think that was my fault! He is just a pain in the butt about it!

Hi Tammy,
I wanted to add that there a lot of + and - to bfing and never bottle feeding at night. Yes, there are no bottles to warm but remember you are the only one who can feed the baby so there is a 'tired' factor involved. In the beginning I found that hardest to get used to. But as you know Molly has/had latching issues so maybe other bfing moms are better at answering that part. Also, I have never turned on a stove to heat a bottle. You can microwave a cup of water and use that (never microwave breastmilk), or Molly will take a bottle cold or barely warm so if your baby will you can just use hot tap water to warm the bottle up. We have an instant-hot installed so it is like boiling water to use. In regards to the lights being turned on: in the beginning I needed lights on to make sure the latch was correctly done, but once you you are used to it you can do it in your sleep from what I understand.

Breastmilk can be left for up to 8 hours when just pumped- as long as it is not very hot suchc as in the summertime. I keep a bottle on the counter after my last pump at night (11:30PM) to use for the 3-5am feeding. I would suggest your Mom (or other sitter) puts all the bottles in the frig when you drop the baby off and heat up as needed. And then you can use any remaining bottles the next day or that night.

Also, give your mom one bottle more than you think you will need, just in case the baby is hungry one day.

Are you planning on pumping mostly or bfing mostly?

Thanks Michele
I plan on bf while I am home , probably b/w 3-4 months and then pumping when I get back to work. I want to try to BF till the baby is at least six months

I have one more question then, if it stays for 8 hrs? do you mean out of the fridge? how long can it stay in the fridge?? I remember someone saying they freeze what they pump to 'stock up' if you freeze breast milk
how many days in advance do you have to put it in the fridge to unfreeze? you cant just leave it out frozen? I have a zillion questions going thru my mind today

I am no bfing expert by any means, but I am a pretty good pumping mom so ask away.

When you pump the milk it can remain out of a frig or cooler in a room tempature area like a counter top for around 8 hours. I have never kept it out that long though. Usually I keep it out 4 hours during the night. I also use freshly pumped milk if I have to go out and bring a bottle with me. It is the perfect temp that way. Milk stays good in the frig for up to 8 days.

When you freeze the milk, use a breast milk storage bag. I use the Gerber ones. There are other brands but I like the Gerber because it has a ziploc top with it. Anyway, you date the bag, pour the milk into the bag and squeeze out the air (like you do with any other ziplock bag) and lay it flat to freeze (something I didn't learn until I had 25 bags standing upright, taking up a ton of room). If you use your kitchen freezer it will last up to 3 months. If you use a deep freezer (not part of a frig) it will last up to 6 months. You take the bag of frozen milk out and let it thraw in the frig for around 24 hours or so. Use that milk within the next 24 hours. warm it only once though.

thanks! believe it or not I started a folder lol
with materials to read on BF so I am going to print this later
so far though easy enough to remember '8' 8 hrs max out and 8 days in the fridge
thanks for your help

I read that if you breastfeed, nite time feedings are easier for all b/c there are no lights to turn on, no stove to heat up, etc......


Hm...must have been written by a Daddy....

Here's the thing. The baby wakes up, and yes its' easy to whip out the boobie and give it to her. But Mommy is obviously still up and nobody else can tend to baby but Mommy cause Mommy is all she wants! You have to turn the lights on in the beginning cause you need to see to latch on. Sophie latches on her own now so I can do it in the dark. And a lot of times - A LOT of times, a feeding session is followed by a poopie! - And then it's lights on in the nursery, etc to change her. I can do that in the dark too, but once you are up doing that you are kinda up for good anyway. So is it easier - I do both because I supplement during the day, so I know the trials of warming the bottle, etc. I guess it's more convenient just to give the breast, but in the middle of the night it might be nice to just sit with a bottle and keep your boobs to yourself for once!!!