For my older 2 kids I never really pumped at work for different reasons but managed to maintain a decent supply since I was nursing in thr evenings and at night. This time I plan to pump at work.we have a dedicated mothers room with fridge, sink etc. My commute can sometimes take 45 mins to an hour and I am worried about the milk temp in transit, even with the icepacks. I wonder if I should freeze the milk immediately after pumping at work ? What do you do?
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@Mrsbells: I had a 30 minute commute from work to daycare, and would just keep my cooler bag in the fridge all day so it would be cold and then put ice packs in when I left and never had a problem. Everything was always still very cold by the time I handed them over at pickup time.
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My commute is 1 hr + daycare pick up and travel home and it totaled 1.5 hrs that my milk was out of the fridge and in a cooler with an ice pack. I never noticed my milk going off and never froze it. I kept the bottles in the fridge during the day and then packed them up with the ice pack in an insulated bag as I got ready to leave. Even though E was drinking everything I pumped I never wanted to be in a situation where I had to used frozen then thawed milk within 24 hrs. Technically breast milk can sit at room temp for 4-6 hours so I never worried if my ice packs didn't keep it as cool as a fridge.
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I kept my cooler in the fridge, with an ice pack. DS didn't mind the result. DD wouldn't touch the milk whether it was fresh or had come from work because bottles = evil things that were trying to replace mommy
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I had a 35 minute commute and just kept all milk in a cooler in the fridge, and added an ice pack when I left. I gave 2 or 3 bottles to daycare each night, non-frozen and then they kept extra bags of frozen.
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@Sams Mom: @snarkybiochemist: thanks thats useful.
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I had a monster commute and my milk would be out of the fridge for 2+ hours. I kept in the fridge during the day and on ice packs on the way home and never had a problem. I think partially freezing (since it won't be solid in the time you're at work), partially thawing, and then re-freezing at home is asking for trouble.
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@Mrsbells: just to add to the chorus, I wouldn’t worry about that at all! I actually don’t even put my milk in the fridge at work, I just put it with ice packs in a frozen pack it lunch bag.
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I also use a packit lunch bag with ice packs during daycare pickup and the commute home, and it always comes out feeling as cold as when I packed it...
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@kiddosc: good point I didnt think about the fact that it wouldn't fully freeze at work .@mrsbubbletea: @periwinklebee: thanks thats good to know!
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I used the madela cooler bag with the ice packs that bottles fit around and it kept milk cool for a long time, especially if it was already cold. I pumped all kinds of places and would often not have a fridge to put it in and would freeze it unless i think it got warm... I was kinda lax.
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@maddyz: thanks I have that medela cooler bag with the contoured ice pack too.
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I just use ice packs all day at work and commute home, it is just fine. Did with my first and now with my second, no issues.
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Fresh milk is healthier then frozen milk, packed with anti bodies and such, so I always tried to keep it fresh if possible.
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This time around I don't even use a cooler bag or ice packs, and my commute is anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour.
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@Mrsbells: I'm abnormal,but my commute is 52 minutes home on foot. I refrigerate my milk and then I pour it into a vacuum sealed, super insulated water bottle and run it home. It's still cold when I get home. Given that milk lasts for 8 hours at room temperature, I definitely would not freeze.
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Thanks everyone!
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I don't freeze. I keep it in the Kiinde zippered cooler all day with the two little ice packs. It stays cool and I've never even contemplated putting it in the office fridge.
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I was the weirdo that didn't even put my afternoon milk in the fridge since it was fine at room temp for 8 hours. I wouldn't worry. I did freeze my milk if I didn't need it soon though!
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I put my milk in the fridge. When I was ready to leave, I just took it and put it in my insulated bag with no ice pack. Between picking up kids (two different daycares) and a bus/train ride home, it was out for up to two/three hours. It was always cold and able to be used the next day.
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19 comments