How much breast milk do you freeze?

[KarenLud]

I've been BF now for about 2 1/2 weeks and my supply is more than DS is eating..so time to freeze! My question is...how many ounces do you store in a bag? I've heard that defrosted milk only lasts 24 hours, so I don't want to freeze more than he will eat before it goes bad. Thanks in advance!

[pb&j]

I store 2-4 ounces per bag.

[Momof3Labs]

I mixed it up depending on what I pumped that day - some 2oz bags, some 3oz and some 4oz. It's nice to have some smaller increments for when baby needs a little top-off but caregiver doesn't want to thaw an additional 4oz.

[moxiewoman]

I use the Medela hard plastic containers, and each of them holds 2.5 oz. I think that's a perfect amount. Personally, I use the hard plastic containers, as I have heard that more of the antibodies (good stuff in breast milk) clings to the sides of the soft plastic.

[MacMacMoo]

It depends. How soon do you plan on using the milk? If you are thinking of using it soonish then make it for the amounts he is currently eating. If you aren't planning on thawing them for another month or two might concider making it for a few more ounces.

If I were to do it over again, I would have frozen in 6 oz incremenets since looking back that would have generated the least amount of waste

[Binkandabee]

froze in 4 ounce increments. This worked out well because DD took 4 ounces when she was very young (1 bag) and as an older baby she takes 8 ounces (2 bags). These increments made it easy for me.

[trales]

I did 4-6 oz and really regretted it. I wasted a lot. Next time I will do 2-3oz max. It kills you to throw it out.

I used the bag b/c they used up the least space in the back of the freezer, I labled amount and date and put them in a rectangular ice cube bin.

[hez]

Agree with many of the PP's-- between 2 & 4oz, depending on what I pumped in a session.

[Neatfreak]

What a hive-mind! I also do b/w 2-4 oz ...

[KarenLud]

Great thanks everyone!! :thumbsup: