How did you use your frozen breast milk? 🤔

Question

I EBF my 4 month old daughter and I started to pump when she was around 5 weeks old for two reasons: 1. I knew I'd be going back to work when she was 12 weeks old and 2. She slept through the night since week 5 so I will set my alarm to wake up around 2am to pump then freeze. I also work full-time so I pump 3x a day at work (I'm blessed to have my own office and sink!). The milk I pump at work is being used the next day at daycare or when she is with my family. So, I have about 300 oz (and counting) of frozen breast milk. I hope to BF til she's a year old!
Hypothetically, say my supply stays strong this whole year and the milk reaches its expiration date.... what can I do with the breast milk? What was it like in your case? Did you dry up unexpectedly? I don't want the milk (and hard work pumping it) to go to waste!
Please share your story!🤗
P.S. I read the milk is good until 6-12 months. Seems like a huge range.🤔🤔 when did you use yours up?
TIA! 💓

Answer

I used some of it to make pancakes and waffles for the little one.

Answer

When some of my frozen stash was coming up on expiration, I’d use it up. Like 5 days of frozen milk, and I’d freeze everything I pumped that week. I didn’t make a lot of extra milk, so everything I froze was very precious.  But my baby didn’t eat a lot, so I was luckily able to build up a good stash. I’m quitting pumping about 1.5 months shy of a year, but I’ll have enough milk to feed him for 13 months.

Answer

If you freeze your milk, Please look into properly preparing it beforehand! Apparently it's supposed to be simmered( there's a whole process you can look up because I don't remember) if you store it for long periods. Especially if it's really fatty milk. The enzymes in the fat will eventually make it "soapy" and you can no longer use it/baby most likely won't drink it. It literally tastes and smells like soap. I stored my milk not knowing this and literally have 60+oz of milk sitting in my freezer now lol
My husband and I are literally thinking about just making cool soap bars out of it now.

Answer

Donate it to other mothers who are struggling with breastfeeding or have lost their supply.

Answer

I send fresh milk pumped the day before to daycare Tuesday through Friday. But Friday I freeze whatever I pump, then on Mondays send defrosted milk. This keeps my freezer stash fresher, because I’m using up the oldest milk. 
A small freezer stash is good for backup if you have a dip in supply or something and need to supplement. 
But if you feel you have too much, donate it. You can help another baby. Also if you don’t need the milk, you can probably cut out the middle of the night pump.

Answer

I’d keep some for those stressful days when you produce not enough but given the large amount you can donate it

Answer

I’m due to be a first time mom here in December but I’ve read a lot of people doing a milk bath with it! I’ve heard it’s very beneficial to little one :)

Answer

With my first I had so much frozen milk ended up using some of it for her cereal, etc and some in her bath. Milk baths are great for their skin and yours

How did you use your frozen breast milk? 🤔

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