ftm breastfeeding and pumping question!

[AmandaBanana]

I attend school for long hours (930-5) twice a week and plan to pump often enough to have a supply for dh to use when I'm at school. My only concern is that if I pump while I'm at school, I don't have a fridge to keep the milk in.
I'm also worried if I don't end up pumping enough and my supply stops.
Any advice?

 

[AmandaBanana]

Also are milk storage bags reusable?
And would it be okay to use Tupperware made for the freezer? (Small containers that are made for freezer use)

 

[jessmke]

If I were you I would take a small cooler full of ice to school with me to put the expressed milk into. If necessary you could always run out during a lunch break or something to get more ice. Or talk to your instructors and see if you could use the fridge in a staff lunch room.

 

[noon_child]

Have you spoken to the school about it? You may find they have a policy that includes providing storage for breastmilk.

Milk storage bags are recommended over other types of storage because they are sterile.

 

[AmandaBanana]

Thanks for the advice! I will definitely ask next time I am there.

Also are the milk bags reusable? None of the packages seem to say whether they are reusable or disposible!

 

[jessmke]

No they aren't intended to be reused. They are sterile, so once they are used once they are no longer sterile and you could get bacterial growth.

 

[PurpleIvy44]

Medela has a bottle shaped ice pack and storage container. Or just use regular ice packs and bottles or the storage bags and maybe a insulated lunch pail. Just be careful that it doesn't get punctured.

 

[marigold91]

I am new to pumping as well (baby is 2 weeks old!), but my LC said that freshly pumped breastmilk can sit out for up to 10 hours at room temperature (although 4-6 hours is preferred) before being refrigerated. So it sounds like with your hours, you may not need refrigerator access after all!

 

[Ellie Bean]

I agree with the previous poster not a huge deal to keep it completely cold. Is just take an insulated lunch bag/box and an ice pack and call it good. Also def check with your school to see what options they might have available for you.

 

[AmandaBanana]

I am new to pumping as well (baby is 2 weeks old!), but my LC said that freshly pumped breastmilk can sit out for up to 10 hours at room temperature (although 4-6 hours is preferred) before being refrigerated. So it sounds like with your hou
rs, you may not need refrigerator access after all!

Oh well this is great news!! I'll definitely ask when I'm in the hospital. Thanks you everyone for your input!

 

[noon_child]

I am new to pumping as well (baby is 2 weeks old!), but my LC said that freshly pumped breastmilk can sit out for up to 10 hours at room temperature (although 4-6 hours is preferred) before being refrigerated. So it sounds like with your hours, you may not need refrigerator access after all!

I think the guidelines I'm aware of state how long it can be at rm temp before significant bacterial growth occurs, therefore I wouldn't want to keep it to for 6hrs, then refrigerate it for a few days then freeze it, then defrost it.

If OP wants to freeze the milk when she gets home, or refrigerate it for use the next day or so, I think it needs refrigerating, or at least keeping in a cool bag.

Oh and if the room is warm (which is true in a lot of schools/colleges) it's closer to 3-4hrs max at room temp.

 

[slammerkin]

I would be out of the house 11 hours and I just took a cooler bag with one large solid freezer block on the bottom, and 4 smaller, thin freezer blocks around the outside - kept my bottles in the center. It worked well for me.