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One of the difficulties faced by many mothers who choose to breastfeed is creating a routine for pumping, especially when returning to work after maternity leave. I want to share what I learned along the way, so you can start the pumping journey with a little more information than I had in the beginning!

Here are some ways that I was able to streamline my routine:

1. If you will be pumping at home and at work, it's very helpful to have two breast pumps-especially two that use the same parts. Many insurance plans provide a breast pump free of charge, and you can sometimes find an inexpensive or free used 'closed system' or unused 'open system' on your neighborhood mommy boards or local Buy Nothing group. Also keep an eye out for any unused pumping parts and supplies-it's incredibly helpful to have multiples of everything. If you are not able to find a second pump, you can still set up a pumping routine in a way that will allow you to grab and go with the parts that with travel with you to work every day. I chose the Medela Pump in Style Advanced for the ease of use and the universal availability of all of the parts and accessories.

2. Set up an at home pumping station. I hacked an IKEA RASKOG wheeling cart by installing the top shelf upside down. I kept my pump and daily makeup supplies on the top shelf, tissues, and breastfeeding supplies on the middle shelf, and pre-bagged pump supplies on the bottom shelf. I attached an extension cord to the bottom of the cart so I could plug in wherever I needed, and had battery packs for the pump and mirror as well. I was able to apply my makeup and leave a note for the babysitter while I was pumping, giving me a few extra minutes of precious sleep in the morning.

3. Set up a pumping work bag. You can purchase an on-the-go pumping bag, or create your own. I liked the Medela Pump in Style On The Go Tote, because it was plain, the front flap opened into a clean pumping space, and I could fit other personal items that I would normally carry in my handbag. You will need a cooler, a battery backup pack, and a DC plug. Depending on your work pumping situation (I never had a designated place to pump, so it was always a surprise!) you may want to have any of the following: alcohol spray to sanitize your hands and surfaces, a Betty Dain Styling Cape for extra privacy in a pinch; disposable changing pads or procedure towels to ensure a sanitary surface, extra disposable nursing pads, a travel pack of tissues, coconut oil as nipple cream, a travel pack of baby wipes, and a door sign that asks for privacy while pumping.

4. Invest in wearable hands free pumping bras. It saves a lot of time at home and at work when you are wearing one bra that does everything. I liked the Simple Wishes Supermom Nursing and Hands-Free Pumping Bra, because I was able to wear it without changing the silhouette of my work clothing.

5. Pre-bag your pumping supplies. I stored each set of pumping supplies (flanges, bottles, lids) in a gallon zip bag. I was able to easily grab a new bag for the day, and store it in the refrigerator or in a cooler between pumps. The best part of this hack is at the end of the day, you can separate all of the parts, put a little dish soap and water in the bag, shake it up, rinse, and then sanitize! This was my favorite timesaver. If you are concerned about the use of plastic, you could always use reusable silicone zip bags, but I personally felt that since I was reducing so much waste by solely breastfeeding, I could justify this disposable plastic usage.

6. Wash and reset everything in your pumping world as soon as you get home from work. This step is essential, because you don't want to forget your clean pumping supplies. On that same note, if you can stash an emergency bag of pumping parts at work, do it!

7. Don't give up! It wasn't easy, but I managed to pump at work every day for well over a year. I pumped in lots of empty dressing rooms, and fielded MANY uncomfortable interruptions and questions. 🤦🏻‍♀️ That being said, I DID IT. Please reach out me if you need some help troubleshooting your pumping plan-you can do this too!

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One of the difficulties faced by many mothers who choose to breastfeed is creating a routine for pumping, especially when returning to work after maternity leave.

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Wondering what goes in a nursing cart? Learn exactly what to put in your nursing cart, when to prepare it, and snag my printable nursing cart checklist!

The day of my 35th birthday, my husband and I were sitting down, enjoying our morning coffee together, giddily planning how we’d spend one of our last Sundays sans baby (whose due date was in 3 weeks).

We were already drooling, looking forward to a romantic dinner at our favorite Italian place – their house made goat ricotta is drizzled with the finest olive oil, flaky maldon sea salt, fresh rosemary and served with warm crostini. I die.

However –

Our daydream was cut short by an important phone call from my midwife.

It turns out, I had developed preeclampsia and had to be admitted to the hospital immediately, and induced.

Talk about a birthday surprise.

It goes without saying that a few of the things I’d wished I could have gotten done before baby arrived, didn’t get completed.

Today, I’m sharing what I’ll be doing differently the next time around.

So, when do I recommend you put together your nursing cart?

When to put Your Nursing Cart Together

Preferably before baby comes. (Lol)

I have found that it is not entirely uncommon – even without preeclampsia – for baby to come a few weeks early.

I have also learned, through my own experience, that it really makes the postpartum period a whole lot tougher when you didn’t have time to prepare what you need for baby in advance.

So – my recommendation?

If I could do it all over again, I would aim to have everything – and I will say it again – *every* thing in preparation for baby completely done a month before their due date.

This includes:

Putting together a nursing cart

Stocking up on household basics

Making some healthy freezer meals

Packing your hospital bag

Put together a diaper caddy

Downloading some helpful apps

Following a few helpful Instagram accounts

All right, your calendar’s marked.

Now, what do you put in a nursing cart?

My Must-Have Nursing Cart Essentials

Here’s exactly what to put in your nursing cart:

01. Breast pump

I’ve got the Medela Pump In Style double electric breast pump.

‘Double’ denotes that it pumps both breasts at once, as opposed to a single breast pump, which only pumps from one side at a time.

It’s also electric, as opposed to manual. With this model in particular, you can either have it plugged in to an outlet, or connect the portable battery pack.

Earlier on in my postpartum period, I used the battery pack to pump on the go in the car a few times when I had to go out to do something while my husband was at home with our little guy.

Whichever breast pump you choose, I recommend purchasing it, washing and sanitizing the pumping parts, and learning how to use it in advance.

And then storing it on your nursing cart.

Medela Pump In Style Breast Pump with MaxFlow ($195)

Shop →

02. Haakaa

What an invention the Haakaa is.

A haakaa is a small, squishy silicone container that looks very similar to the pumping attachments on a breast pump. The haakaa suctions on to your breast and is used to collect extra milk from the breast you aren’t feeding baby with.

Haakaa Manual Breast Pump ($11)

Shop →

Wait, isn’t that what nursing pads are for?

Well, yes and no.

Every woman is different. Depending on how much milk you end up producing, you may find that you have a heavier let down than is soaked up by the nursing pads.

Or, maybe you’re trying to build a freezer milk stash. The Haakaa allows you to collect that extra milk, and freeze it, instead of tossing it, or washing it out, with disposable or reusable nursing pads.

Which brings me to my next nursing cart must-have –

03. Nursing pads

Nursing pads are small round pads that you line your bra with to catch extra breastmilk.

Lansinoh Stay Dry Nursing Pads, 200 Count ($24)

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Nursing pads can either be single-use and disposable, or reusable. These ones from super cool maternity brand, Blanqi, are pretty, simple and comfortable. I’d recommend buying 3 or 4 pairs so that you have time to wash them in between uses if you want to go the reusable route.

Get $20 towards your first purchase by clicking the SHOP link below:

Blanqi Washable Nursing Pads ($12)

Shop →

04. Swaddles

What can swaddling blankets not do?

I feel like a baby brand should create a ‘101+ Uses for Swaddles’ contest where parents can share all of their creative uses for swaddles.

So far, here’s what I’ve used our swaddle blankets for:

a swaddle

a blanket

a burp cloth

a changing pad liner

a tissue

a breast pad

a sun shield – and

a car seat cover

Swaddles are super useful. I can guarantee you’ll use them.

Here are a few of my favorite swaddle blankets:

Mebie Baby Mudcloth Swaddle Blanket

Copper Pearl Large Premium Swaddle Blanket

Kyte Baby Bamboo Swaddle Blanket

05. Burp cloths

Comfy Cubs Muslin Burp Cloths, 6 Pack ($13)

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Because of that whole emergency induction almost a month early thing, burp cloths were one of the things we didn’t have when we brought our baby home.

In place of burp cloths, we ended up just folding some of our thicker swaddle blankets up to burp our little guy for the first few weeks.

I’ve got to say –

We did end up finally getting a handful of them, and they are so nice and thick, and just the right size to drape over your shoulder or catch spit-up with.

While swaddles do definitely work in a pinch,

Because newborn babies can often feed upwards of 10 times a day, and may spit up just as frequently, I would recommend buying two or three of these 6-packs so that you don’t have to worry about washing them every day or two!

Before adding them to my nursing cart, I washed and dried them, and rolled them up.

06. Nail scissors

FridaBaby Easy Grip Nail Scissors ($8)

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These nail scissors are so easy to use, and super awesome!

Baby’s nails grow so quickly, you’ll be surprised how often they need a trim.

Trimming baby’s nails while they’re breastfeeding is the best time to do it because they’re squirming around a lot less, they’re distracted and oftentimes, getting sleepy.

Keeping these handy nail scissors in your nursing cart will help you keep those tiny talons in check!

07. Oogiebear

This is seriously one of the best baby items ever!

Newborn babies go through a period in the first few weeks where they are “flushing” everything out of their body and I swear, I don’t know where it all comes from.

Oogiebear Safe Baby Nasal Booger and Ear Cleaner ($24 CAD)

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This handy little q-tip-type tool is perfect for pulling little boogers and ear wax out of baby’s ear, which you’ll undoubtedly notice while you’re sitting in your glider, admiring every square inch of their cute little being.

If you’ve done your research on baby essentials,  I’m sure you’ve come across other moms recommending the Frida Baby Snot Sucker. This is an alternative for that product and I prefer it.

Note – This item seems to only be available on Amazon in Canada. I purchased mine from Buybuy Baby, so if you are in the States, you can try there!

08. Nipple Balm

It can take awhile for the sensitive skin on your nipples to adjust to the new reality of being tugged on all day long. This Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter will soothe and soften sore, cracked or dry nipples.

Must-have.

09. Snacks

What’s the worst place to be when you’re starving?

Stuck under a sleeping baby.

Grab a few of your favorite snacks and stock your cart up.

Here’s a few ideas:

granola or protein bars

energy bites

whole pieces of fruit that are easy to eat one-handed like apples

nuts

crackers or pretzels

popcorn

10. Water

All the water in the world is not enough for a breastfeeding mama.

For real. My gosh.

Any new breastfeeding mom will tell you – they have *never* been so thirsty in their entire life!

Yes, of course, it seems pretty simple to just expect to keep the water bottle or tumbler you normally use filled, and then to remember to cart it over to wherever you sit down to nurse.

Somehow though, it just doesn’t end up happening.

Reduce 24 Oz Tumbler with Handle ($19)

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Between the baby burps, and blow-outs, and outfit changes, oh – and not to mention, the sleep deprivation – somehow, it just didn’t end up happening for me.

Stock up on water. Add a few bottles to your nursing cart, and refill it every few days.

You’ll thank me later.

Suggested For You: Snuggle Me Organic vs. DockATot Lounger: Which Is Better? [Review]

11. Hair elastics or clips

I don’t think there is any better feeling than tying your hair back after baby’s been tugging on it all day.

Lululemon Uplifting Scrunchie
*Bow ($9)

Shop →

12. Notebook + pen

After Hudson was born, when my dad first came to visit, he brought me one of the most thoughtful and special gifts – a special notebook to write notes to Hudson, and to record milestones and memories.

It was just so sweet.

Some of the most special moments I have had when it’s just you and your baby, nursing in a dark room,

Nurtured 9 Bump Pregnancy Journal Keepsake ($36)

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Nursing Cart Ideas

So – you know exactly what to put in your nursing cart, but where do you actually *get* the cart itself from?

We live only a few minutes from IKEA, so I picked ours up from there.

If you don’t have a location nearby, this one’s almost identical, and comes in both white and black:

Amazon 3-Tier Rolling Utility Cart ($45)

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This one’s also really similar, with a bit more minimalist design and lower price point:

Aojia Slim Storage Cart ($27)

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Next on the list of nursery cart ideas – this pretty set of rattan shelves. It definitely costs a bit more, but if you are planning a boho-style nursery, this would match really well and could easily be used for storing toys or other items later on –

World Market Natural Rattan Cane 3 Tier Farrah Storage Tower ($139)

Shop →

Nursing Cart Organizers

Now, what do you use as a nursing cart organizer?

I am a mama who just loves when everything has its own contained spot.

Here are a few ideas to contain your snacks, nursing pads, etc –

Amazon Deep Plastic Storage Organizer ($14)

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The bins shown in the images of my nursing cart are the Lurpassa baskets from Ikea, but again, if you don’t have one nearby, I’ve found another option, too.

These little rattan baskets would fit nicely in the nursing cart and look cute (you could totally use for storage or even as decor on open shelving in your home after baby) –

Amazon Natural Rattan Storage Baskets, Set of 3 ($36)

Shop →

Nursing Cart Essentials –  TL;DR

Well, there you have it! That’s how to put together a nursing cart that will serve you well.

What do you think? Did I miss anything important?

Read Next:

49+ *Important* Things To Do Before Baby Arrives (Third Trimester Checklist)

11+ Must-Have Diaper Caddy Essentials for New Moms

25+ Easy and Delicious Snacks For Your Hospital Bag

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11+ Super Useful Nursing Cart Essentials That You’ll Definitely Need [+Free Checklist] - Minimalist Mama

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Learn exactly what to put in your nursing cart, when to prepare it, and snag my printable nursing cart checklist!

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When I was prepping to bring Goldie home, I tried to reflect on the things I wanted to do differently from when Lincoln was a newborn. Besides prepping WAY more freezer meals (including breakfasts and lunches), I also started remembering the struggles of breastfeeding. Because nursing was so difficult with my first, I ended up exclusively pumping and bottle feeding for about the first 5 months. The problem was this: at any given moment, all of my nursing/pumping STUFF would be scattered at random places throughout the house. I'd pump in the living room during the day, in our bedroom at night, sometimes in the nursery. I was constantly lugging equipment back and forth and never had anything in one place. It was suuuuper annoying.

The solution: Breastfeeding and Pumping Cart

Then I visited a friend's house who'd had a baby several months earlier than me. And she had this marvelous cart with all the things on it that you would need for breastfeeding and pumping. It was pretty much a newborn survival kit...on wheels! You could roll that bad boy with you from room to room, with all your stuff still in one place. I immediately tucked that in the back of my mind and vowed to do the same with our next child. And 2 years later, that's exactly what I did.

What goes on your cart?

That's where the fun part comes in...whatever the heck you want! This is all about making life a little more convenient for you. So think about what you're going to want at your fingertips the most. For me, it was things I would need for nursing and pumping, snacks, and diaper changes. I got my cart from Michael's, and they had a few different colors to choose from. Here's a closer look at what went in each section of mine.

Top: Nursing and Pumping

Why don't we just go ahead and call this the "boob" section...because that's really all it is. Some things I made sure to put here were:

Breast pump: I LOVE my Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Pump. Keyword being...hands-free! Although I received a free breast pump through my insurance, it had to be plugged into the wall and really limited me. Once I knew I was going to be 100% pumping and bottle feeding, I needed the freedom to pump without being chained to a wall. This pump runs on a rechargeable battery and was a total game changer for me. It cost more than my frugal little heart desired, but you can't put a price on your sanity!

Hands-free pumping bra: This is essential, in my opinion, no matter what breast pump you plan on using. Unless you plan on not using your hands for the next 15-30 minutes, you need one of these.

Nipple shields: My lactation consultant recommended these when I was having trouble nursing.

Soothies cooling gel pads: Let's be honest: nursing can hurt....these gel pads give you some relief.

Lansinoh nipple cream: A must have!

Disposable nursing pads: These were mainly the free "samples" I received in various baby registry gift bags. I used them until I ran out, but I MUCH prefer washable nursing pads (see below).

Washable nursing pads: Y'all...these washable nursing pads are THE bomb! I found that the disposable pads were really rough and scratchy, and these are soooo soft! Plus, they're washable...so they pay for themselves almost instantly.

Baby bottles

Middle: Snacks

We all know how hungry and thirsty you get when nursing...so go ahead and fill this part up with your favorite snacks. Try to mix in some snacks that will give you a little energy boost, or some coconut water that has lots of electrolytes.

It's not pictured, but you can also stash a book or E-Reader here to pass the time while nursing.

Bottom: Diaper Changes

After coming home from the hospital, often the best place to change a diaper is where ever you're currently posted up. Unless you're just dying to get into that floral and flamingo nursery that you worked so hard to prepare, but have not yet used. *ahem* Here's some diaper supplies to have on hand:

Diapers

Wipes

Baby powder

Diaper rash cream

Changing pad or blanket

Disposable changing pads: In Goldie's short 8 days of life, she's already managed to pee everywhere at least 10 times while changing her diaper. Thank goodness for these disposable pads! Side note: changing a girl is SO much harder than changing a boy. Am I right??

What are some items that you found ESSENTIAL to have nearby when you brought your newborn home? Let us know in the comments below!

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Breastfeeding and Pumping Cart - Her Happy Home

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Calling all nursing moms! When I was prepping to bring Goldie home, I tried to reflect on the things I wanted to do differently from when Lincoln was a newborn. Besides prepping WAY more freezer meals (including breakfasts and lunches), I also started remembering the struggles of breastfeeding.

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A baby changing area, situated midway between the bedroom and bathroom, is decked out Beatrix Potter-style.

Though the suite does not officially open to the public until June, pre-booking is currently available. Packages start at $3,425 for a one-night stay, but the Buckingham Package (the biggest of the bunch) includes the most perks: airport pickup, babysitting services, dinner for two on-site, spa treatments for mom and dad, a private tour of Buckingham Palace, a personal shopping trip to Harrods, and a one-on-one consultation with Dragons of Walton Street.

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Royal Baby Travel: Photos of the Grosvenor House's Royal Nursery Suite

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A baby changing area, situated midway between the bedroom and bathroom, is decked out Beatrix Potter-style. Though the suite does not officially open to the public until June, pre-booking is currently available.

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New mom Kiersten Rajaraman prepared for the pain of labour and for the sleepless nights to follow, but she never expected breastfeeding to be so hard.

"I remember just crying at 3:30 in the morning because it's like, what am I doing wrong?" the surgeon from Halifax, N.S., said. "I remember having a roadmap for labour and there is no roadmap for breastfeeding."

After four frustrating months, and many conversations with lactation consultants, Rajaraman's daughter still refused to feed at the breast. She knew her baby was getting the nutrition she needed from the bottle so she began pumping exclusively.

"Our freezer quickly became like, I'm not joking, it was breast milk and one bag of frozen berries," she said.

Even as Rajaraman began pumping less, she realized she was producing far more milk than her daughter would ever need. So last week, she packed up the "liquid gold" and shipped nearly 48 litres of it halfway across the country to help feed babies in need.

Because the IWK Health Centre in Halifax doesn't have a milk bank like hospitals in Vancouver and Toronto, it relies on donations of human milk from Canada's only community-based milk bank in Calgary.

Rajaraman said it's a complicated process to donate breast milk if you live anywhere on the East Coast, but she said it's worth it to help some of the province's tiniest and most vulnerable patients.

Donor milk is pooled, pasteurized and tested for safety at NorthernStar Milk Bank in Calgary, then distributed to 31 hospitals across the country, including the IWK .

It's reserved for babies in neonatal intensive care units who need it the most.

Daughter benefited from donor milk

Rajaraman's daughter, who is now six months old, spent the first week of her life in neonatal intensive care.

Because she was born a bit early and dealing with health issues, Rajaraman and her husband opted to feed her donor milk at first.

Now Rajaraman said it's her turn to give back.
Hear Kiersten Rajaraman share her story with CBC Radio's Mainstreet:
"I was blessed, and I do say blessed, because I know ... that a lot of people struggle on the opposite spectrum, like they just can't get their milk to come in or they just can't get enough milk," she said.

"This is a significant amount of milk that I would never want to waste."

Last fall, Rajaraman contacted NorthernStar Mothers Milk Bank and began the process to become a donor, which includes screening questions, blood work and getting a doctor to sign off. The charity reimburses donor expenses for shipping the milk.

Jannette Festival, the non-profit's co-founder and executive director, said it's a lot of work and not for everyone, but those who are able to donate "are all helping save a baby."

The charity usually has between 600-800 donors, but has recently seen a drop in the number of donors from the East Coast, Festival said.

A need for more donors

Last year, there were six donors in total from this region, including five from Nova Scotia. That's down from 2020 when there were 10 donors from Nova Scotia and six from New Brunswick.

Festival said that means last year, about one per cent of the charity's donors were from the East Coast, while hospitals here accepted 11 per cent of the total donations - with the IWK receiving eight per cent.

"We would like to see a few more people donate, just to even it out," Festival said, adding that the charity can handle about double the volume of donor milk it's currently receiving.

Meanwhile, the IWK has no plans to open its own milk bank.

A spokesperson for the hospital said in an email that "the most feasible and sustainable option to provide pasteurized human milk for IWK patients continues to be purchasing from an established milk bank."

Michelle Higgins, a clinical dietitian in the IWK's NICU, said donor milk, which arrives at the hospital frozen and is stored in a secure locker, is very beneficial for babies who are born early, are very small, or have gut issues.

"I think there's certainly more and more hospitals using donor milk, at least in the NICU population just as the body of literature grows and more and more evidence is there to support the use," she said.

Families often have many questions about whether the milk is safe and where it comes from, and IWK staff say there's a clear consent process before a newborn receives donor milk.

Rajaraman recently posted on Facebook about the struggles she faced breastfeeding her daughter, and why that inspired her to become a donor.

Before long she was receiving messages from strangers and friends she hadn't spoken with in years, all of them sharing their own stories.

The challenges they faced were all unique, said Rajaraman, but it's clear that many felt unprepared to deal with the hurdles, and were eager for more education.

"It seemed to me that they were just looking for an outlet to kind of share their own struggles and have a sense that someone else is going through the same thing," she said.

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How this N.S. mom's struggles with breastfeeding inspired her to help others | CBC News

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New mom Kiersten Rajaraman prepared for the pain of labour and for the sleepless nights to follow, but she never expected breastfeeding to be so hard. "I remember just crying at 3:30 in the morning because it's like, what am I doing wrong?" the surgeon from Halifax, N.S., said.

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&#151; -- When Mikah Duncan's son was born three months premature, he was taken to the NICU at The Children's Hospital of San Antonio and she was told there was nothing she could do to help -- except pump breast milk.

"I couldn't touch him, I couldn't hold him," Duncan told ABC News. "So I decided I was going to pump my heart out. It was all I could do."

She named her son "Cash." His early arrival was a complication resulting from Duncan's shortened cervix. Surgery mid-pregnancy enabled Cash to continue to grow, but at 24 weeks, Duncan started to leak fluid. Cash was born one week later.

When she began pumping, Duncan said she was only able to get a syringe's worth. But the hospital nurses were so encouraging, she said, that she kept at it, every two hours around the clock.

"My husband would wheel me down to the NICU to deliver this tiny bit of milk and I felt so defeated," she said. "But I had to keep trying."

Soon, Duncan said, the tiny bit went to 2 ounces, then 4, then 6. A NICU nurse told her she had plenty stored for Cash, and Duncan should start storing up at home.

"I realized that he probably wasn't going to be able to eat everything I had stored at both the hospital and home," she said. "So I decided to donate it."

JoAnn King, a spokesperson for the hospital, said that when Cash was first born, Duncan had signed a consent form allowing him to receive donor milk if needed. That form, she said, came to mind when the subject of donation of the milk in the freezer came up.

"I was just hoping I'd have 100 ounces," Duncan said. The hospital requires 100 ounces as the minimum amount to make a donation.

The amount Duncan actually donated was 15.5 gallons.

King said that once the breast milk was taken out and added up, she snapped a photo to capture the moment before the breast milk had any chance to thaw. She posted that photo to the hospital's Facebook page, where King said it received very positive feedback. It was the largest single donation the hospital has ever collected.

As for Cash, he was released from the hospital on Tuesday. He is home with is parents and thriving. Duncan said she is so happy to donate to another child who may be in a similar situation as her son was.

"It feels amazing," she said. "Just to help in some small way."

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Mom's 15 Gallon Breast Milk Donation a Record for Texas Hospital

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151; -- When Mikah Duncan's son was born three months premature, he was taken to the NICU at The Children's Hospital of San Antonio and she was told there was nothing she could do to help -- except pump breast milk. "I couldn't touch him, I couldn't hold him," Duncan told ABC News.

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Dealing with a hurricane can cause a lot of anxiety, especially if you have a little one at home.

Here is some valuable information shared over on Facebook that will give you great tips if you have a stash to take care of.

Stay calm and get prepared.

🆘 FLORIDA BREASTFEEDING MOMS 🆘
Many Florida moms are worried about what to do with their frozen milk if the power goes out. Here are a few tips:
🍼 Freeze gallon jugs or gallon Ziplock bags full of water and put them in your freezer. These will act as ice packs.

🍼 DO NOT OPEN FREEZER. Keep it closed to keep it cold.

🍼 Use dry ice if you have to. You might be able to find some at Publix.

🍼 Consider investing in a backup generator. They're expensive but worth every penny when the power goes out.

🍼 Connect with other local moms! Find someone with a generator and ask to keep your milk in their freezer if there is room!

🍼 Some hospitals and emergency centers will keep your milk for you if you contact them ahead of time.

🍼 A FULL freezer will maintain temperature for 48 hours. A half-full freezer will maintain temperature for 24 hours. STOCK YOUR FREEZERS WITH THOSE GALLON BAGS AND JUGS!

🍼 If you are an exclusive pumper, make sure you have a manual pump for when you don't have power. Remember that FRESH PUMPED breastmilk is good on ice for 5 days.

🍼 Make sure you have water set aside to wash bottles and pump parts if needed! Use a drinking container to store the water.

🍼 Thawed breastmilk needs to be used within 24 - 48 hours after the last ice crystal melts. You cannot re-freeze fully thawed breastmilk* ( What to with your milk in a power outage).

🍼 Learn how to hand express if you run into issues and you are an exclusive pumper. Feel free to contact me and I will walk you through it.

🍼 Yeti coolers are also a good option when the power goes out and your milk starts to defrost. Newspaper is a good insulator! Make sure to fill that cooler up to the brim and DO NOT OPEN IT!

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Links:

* Breastmilk storage and handling:
https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/

* What to do with your milk in a power outage:
https://kellymom.com/hot-topics/frozen-milk-power-outage/

* Safe use of dry ice:
https://www.chop.edu/pages/traveling-breast-milk

* Infant feeding in emergencies:
https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/bf-emergencies/

* How to hand express your milk:
https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/hand-expression/

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Please stay safe through this storm! No amount of frozen milk is worth your life. Stay calm ❤️

This was shared by Welcoming Waves Birth Services via Facebook.

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How to Save Your Stash- Preparing for a Hurricane When You Have Frozen

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Dealing with a hurricane can cause a lot of anxiety, especially if you have a little one at home. Here is some valuable information shared over on Facebook that will give you great tips if you have a stash to take care of.