Cheap, decent BM storage bags

[EmyB]

Hi there,

Can anyone tell me where I can get cheap, decent quality BM storage bags? I need to start storing up some BM for when I go back to work in a month.

The only ones I've seen for sale in chemist are like a dollar each bag! I was hoping just to store 100mL in each to minimise wastage and that's gonna be soo expensive! I've seen a few for sale on eBay (brands "cherub baby" and "green and mother") but I'm not sure if they'll be any good or not?

Thanks,
x Em

[amandaw]

Personally I just used the ziplock Glad bags, and wrote the date and amount on the outside of the bag for future reference. Had no issues with them either time

[Electric Rodeo]

Personally I just used the ziplock Glad bags, and wrote the date and amount on the outside of the bag for future reference. Had no issues with them either time

I did the same:)

[Isaac's Mummy]

Personally I just used the ziplock Glad bags, and wrote the date and amount on the outside of the bag for future reference. Had no issues with them either time

:yes: I did this too!

[EmyB]

But how are they sterile? :confused:

[BabyPaparazzi]

I was given some 'sterile' milk bags (cant remember what brand) with DD1, and thought it was a joke that once you opened the pack the ones remaining werent technically sterile either.

I asked my lc, she told me that it wasnt really a problem and I ended up using glad bags. Something about the freezing temps killing off germs anyway.

If you are worried you could probably soak them in milton before using.

I also found that freezing the milk in ice cube trays first, then putting the bags made it easier to defrost and put in the bottles.

[Annabella]

I got an ice cube tray thing from the nursing angels website, it freezes the milk in long cubes (but I guess they're not 'cubes coz they are long and thinner???), they hold 30 ml each so you know how many to put in the bottle for each feed and are thin so they fit in bottles with a narrow neck. You freeze the milk, then put the frozen milk in snaplock bags with the date on it til you use them. I also saw them in Toy'r'us for about $30.

[Moorish]

Personally I just used the ziplock Glad bags, and wrote the date and amount on the outside of the bag for future reference. Had no issues with them either time


But how are they sterile? :confused:

Yep, zip lock bags are sterile.
Perfectly safe to store breastmilk in - it was recommended to me by a lactation specialist at my hospital :)

[EquineMum]

We used ziplock bags as well - never even occurred to me about them not being 'sterile' because the MCHN and the middies at the hospital recommended them :D

[InSaneOne]

i found the snack size the best and i froze them laying flat in the freezer. that way it was so much quicker to defrost them in a bowl of warm water. heated up the milk easily too then i just snipped off a corner and poured into the bottle when it was the right temp. just changed the water a couple of times to heat it up.

i found they stacked great in an old lunch box i had in the freezer. i could put the fresh ones at the back (labelled with the date anyway) and the older ones at the front. easy for dh to see too.

[EmyB]

Thanks guys. I think I'm gonna go with the cheaper freezer bags - after all in a few weeks he'll be eating solids that have been frozen in non-sterile trays and stored in non-sterile freezer bags!

The only thing is I couldn't find glad "zip-lock" bags at my local woolies today - just the "snap-lock" ones (where you run your fingers along the groove to click it together). Will these do? I filled it with water and turned upside down and it seems water-tight...

InSaneOne - how much fits into the "snack" sized bags? I ummed and ahhed over this for a while but ended up getting the sandwich sized ones.

[InSaneOne]

i used the snack ones because they were all i had at the time and i got more in a box of them than i did with the sandwich size. i used to put about 100-120 mls in each bag and then remove as much air as i could. you can fit more in a snack size bag. i just filled one of mine up with 250mls of water and it still had room for a little bit more. looks a bit bulgy tho with 250mls in them. i just used the cheapest brand i could get too. and we never had a leak with them.

i used the sandwich sized ones to put the pureed food cubes that i had frozen into.

just try to get the ones that have the white label on the front - easier to write dates on that then the plastic