Just got my breast pump and have a few bf questions!!
So I was not sure whether or not I was going to bf or not. I have decided to at least try. I do not plan to exclusively bf. I want to bf and feed her with pumped milk through a bottle as well. I just got my pump today and have some questions!! I know at the beginning I want to establish a supply before giving baby a bottle. But here are my questions..
Do I pump after every feeding?
When I store the milk should I put it in milk storage bags and freeze it or just refrigerate?
When I want to heat it back up how do I do that microwave?
Do I wash the pump and bottles with regular soap and water or do I have to sterilize them?
I have no clue what I am doing lol.
Do I pump after every feeding?
When I store the milk should I put it in milk storage bags and freeze it or just refrigerate?
When I want to heat it back up how do I do that microwave?
Do I wash the pump and bottles with regular soap and water or do I have to sterilize them?
I have no clue what I am doing lol.
Comments
The pumped milk has to be froze within 24 hrs. And then can be frozen for 3 months in a fridge freezer or 6 months + in a deep freezer.
They have dish soap for baby bottles and thats what I use
If you start pumping from the get go, you're going to make lots!
Put it inn milk storage bags, let the freeze flat, then stand them up our stack them together. Remember FIFO, first in first out.
I think @captivated pumped and stored a lot??? Not sure! Sorry. Lol
@caroline8_p I didn't freeze mine flat. But I think I'm going to now. Lol
@LeviLuv8 Baby did good going from boob to bottle? What brand bottle do you use?
Do I pump after every feeding?
Yes! You will build a great supply by doing that!
When I store the milk should I put it in milk storage bags and freeze it or just refrigerate?
I recommend bags. The lansinoh ones are the best, IMO. The medela ones always leaked. I always froze my milk. I'd seal the bag and lay it flat in the freezer.
When I want to heat it back up how do I do that microwave?
You should never microwave BM. Heat up a bowl of water and drop the bag in. This was the best way in my opinion. I'd heat a bowl of water or boil it. Don't forget that once you thaw BM, you cannot re-freeze it.
Do I wash the pump and bottles with regular soap and water or do I have to sterilize them?
I sterilized with first use only. Sterilizing more than that is unnecessary.
Try not to introduce bottle for a few weeks. Also, you may end up exclusively BFing...because it is much easier. Trying to pump, feed, pump ends up taking soooo much time out of your day!
Also I used the Dr. Browns bottles. Malia had no problem, but I never fed her bottles, just at grandma's.
@caroline8_p I got tommee tippee bottles. I hope she takes to them good. We'll see I guess lol.
A beer, just wait an hour. Pump and dump if you are feeling unsure. Once its out of your blood, its out of your milk. Plus BRU sells test strips for that. Its like 16 bucks.
@MorgDeeBee I hope she likes them. We only got one kind. I guess I will be bottle shopping if she doesn't.
@caroline8_p should i sterilize them now or wait until I am about to use them? I'll probably buy the strips if I ever have a beer. I just know I am gonna be a paranoid first mommy.
We warm the bottle up in hot water using the sink.
We use regular soap and water to clean. I usually sterilize once a month. Munckin sells microwavable bags for sterilizing. I put my pump pieces and tubing in it and dry. I boil the nipples and pacifiers at the same time.