Bottle feeding breastmilk/ going out

I breastfed my son for 2 1/2 years and he never ever had one bottle. Now I have a preemie in the NICU and I have to exclusively pump for now because he is being fed through a feeding tube. I have a TON of extra milk. I'm planning on donating most of it if I can find somewhere once he is out of the hospital but I'm thinking it might be nice to have the choice to bottle feed if we're going out somewhere. He will be more bottle fed than breastfed in the hospital since I can't be there at all times but once he's out I'm planning on mostly breastfeeding. I never had any issues breastfeeding in public, you gotta do what you gotta do. BUT there were a few places I felt awkward doing it, like DHs dads house lol or the playground around a ton of kids.(I dont have any problem with my kids seeing that but some people do and I didnt want to make parents feel like I was showing their kids something they didnt want them to see yet).

Anyway, how do you keep it good? Do you keep it in a cooler? Then how do you feed it to the baby? Cold? Do you just bring it at room temp and have a certain period of time it stays good for?

ANY advice   Thanks!


AND btw....drumrolll please....he latched on for the first time last night!!!!!!! He was born at 30 weeks and is now 3 weeks and 3 days old. They told me he wouldn't be able to latch until the 35 weeks gestation point but he was showing all the signs of being ready and he did amazing  

Woohoo for watching! That's awesome. I've been following you (like a creeper) and that's great.

I always brought DDs milk along in a lunchbox or something, with an ice pack. I had a bottle warmer I used to warm it before feeding, or just run it under hot water if you're some place that has it.

I'm glad he is doing so well mama!!!! Just store the BM in the breast milk freezer bags in the back of your freezer, it's good for 6 months. And when you want to use it just take it out and defrost it in a cup of boiling water. I bring it to a warm temp in the bag then dump it in the bottle. Or you can just pump right into the bottle if want.

Quoting FaithLovesPussyCats:" Woohoo for watching! That's awesome. I've been following you (like a creeper) and that's great. I always ... [snip!] ... pack. I had a bottle warmer I used to warm it before feeding, or just run it under hot water if you're some place that has it."

Thank you  
I didn't know there were portable bottle warmers. Are they battery operated? What if you're outside?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Will☮Creedence:</b>" Thank you   I didn't know there were portable bottle warmers. Are they battery operated? What if you're outside?"</blockquote>




Yes they sell them at BRU and Walmart. I bought a thermos and I use it when I go places because I find that super hot water works better for me.

Quoting ILOVEWINE:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Will☮Creedence:</b>" Thank you   I didn't know there ... [snip!] ... at BRU and Walmart. I bought a thermos and I use it when I go places because I find that super hot water works better for me."

Thanks  

How do you do it if it's frozen? Bring it out with you frozen and then stick it in the bottle warmer?

yay for latching and yay for breastmilk!

here are some guidelines for storing and using breastmilk:
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/

At some point (it differs for each baby), they won't mind cold and/or room temp breastmilk either, so you won't have to even warm it up then. Probably won't be 'til after at least 3-4 months old though. Until then, you can follow the guidelines above at the link.

Quoting dream:" yay for latching and yay for breastmilk! here are some guidelines for storing and using breastmilk: ... [snip!] ... then. Probably won't be 'til after at least 3-4 months old though. Until then, you can follow the guidelines above at the link."

Thank you! And while I can't exactly say I'm tandem breastfeeding because my son doesn't want to breastfeed anymore, I did get him to start drinking some of my pumped milk out of a cup and he loves it!  

Quoting Will☮Creedence:" Thank you   I didn't know there were portable bottle warmers. Are they battery operated? What if you're outside?"

I have one where you bend this little metal plate and it warms up the liquid inside. It's like magic haha. It's reusable though. I know they do make battery operated ones, too.

dont ever shake stored breastmilk only gently swirl it. kellymom.com is a great website