Pumped milk: freezer, fridge or both?

[cat13]

I just started back at work part time a few weeks ago, and am going back to full time in a few weeks. Right now, I am pumping a few more ounces per day than DS takes from the bottle while I'm gone, so I have extra, plus I had originally built up a little freezer stash prior to going back to work.

I'm trying to find the best way to use the milk. What should I do?

*Should I freeze all of today's milk and defrost the oldest bags from the freezer for DS to eat tomorrow?

*Should I just keep today's pumped milk in the fridge, and have DS eat it tomorrow? Then I could just freeze any extra I had. But then when am I ever using the freezer stash? I don't want it to get too old and expire.

*Should I do half & half?

*Is there another method that you use?

Thanks for your advice & experience!

[erigeron]

basically, if you make more milk than baby needs, your stash will grow. You have a few options: accumulate stash for after baby weans, donate milk, or (I suppose) just let it go bad (but that's not a great option). If you want to accumulate stash for the future, you would probably want to do first in, first out.

I work an irregular part-time schedule so sometimes I go several days in between shifts--when this happens, I freeze all fresh milk and then use the oldest frozen on my next working day, but when fewer days elapse between shifts, I use the freshest milk 'cause it's easiest that way, and I'm lazy. I plan to donate milk because I make more than my kid needs and I don't feel like accumulating for post-weaning; that sounds like too much work. *shrug*.

[Anna Phor]

I used a Friday/Monday freeze/defrost system.

On Monday, take the oldest milk from the freezer and defrost it.

Pump Monday, and give Monday's milk on Tuesday, give Tuesday's milk on Wed, and so forth through the week.

Freeze Friday's milk, then take the oldest milk from the freezer on Monday morning again.

Here's why I liked this--I could keep track of supply/demand fluctuations pretty easily; I kept circulating my freezer stash (but always had a little backup stash), and I was also feeding the baby fresh milk most of the time, so he was getting the immunological benefits of the most current milk.

[greenmulberry]

Originally Posted by Anna Phor 

I used a Friday/Monday freeze/defrost system.

On Monday, take the oldest milk from the freezer and defrost it.

Pump Monday, and give Monday's milk on Tuesday, give Tuesday's milk on Wed, and so forth through the week.

Freeze Friday's milk, then take the oldest milk from the freezer on Monday morning again.

Here's why I liked this--I could keep track of supply/demand fluctuations pretty easily; I kept circulating my freezer stash (but always had a little backup stash), and I was also feeding the baby fresh milk most of the time, so he was getting the immunological benefits of the most current milk.

This is what I do as well.

[cat13]

Originally Posted by Anna Phor 

I used a Friday/Monday freeze/defrost system.

On Monday, take the oldest milk from the freezer and defrost it.

Pump Monday, and give Monday's milk on Tuesday, give Tuesday's milk on Wed, and so forth through the week.

Freeze Friday's milk, then take the oldest milk from the freezer on Monday morning again.

Here's why I liked this--I could keep track of supply/demand fluctuations pretty easily; I kept circulating my freezer stash (but always had a little backup stash), and I was also feeding the baby fresh milk most of the time, so he was getting the immunological benefits of the most current milk.

So smart and simple, I'm definitely going to do this!

[Mosaic]

I did the Friday/Monday thing until my freezer stash kept growing. Then after about 3 months I started the FIFO method of freezing everything and thawing for the next day's bottles, topping off with fresh where needed. I'd also use all fresh when DD was fighting a bug or otherwise needed some immune boosting. DD is 18months now and I still have an insane freezer stash, though now I'm pumping less so I'm gradually drawing it down.

[greenmulberry]

The Friday/Monday thing works well for me because I only pump what I need for bottles the next day or monday. So I really never have extra building up in the freezer, I saved up ones days stash and that is it.

[Quinalla]

Originally Posted by Anna Phor 

I used a Friday/Monday freeze/defrost system.

On Monday, take the oldest milk from the freezer and defrost it.

Pump Monday, and give Monday's milk on Tuesday, give Tuesday's milk on Wed, and so forth through the week.

Freeze Friday's milk, then take the oldest milk from the freezer on Monday morning again.

Here's why I liked this--I could keep track of supply/demand fluctuations pretty easily; I kept circulating my freezer stash (but always had a little backup stash), and I was also feeding the baby fresh milk most of the time, so he was getting the immunological benefits of the most current milk.

The few times I was pumping enough to have surplus, I did this as well. I like giving mostly "fresh" milk and it helps keep track of any fluctuations for sure (though I had a spreadsheet for that too ) But yeah, Monday is a good time to unfreeze as that milk isn't as fresh anyway. Glad that it sounds like pumping is going well!