I'm glad this is being discussed, as I have spent the last two weeks looking at other options for breast milk storage also. We have used the sterile water bottles provided by the formula companies, dumped out the water and used them for ebm storage. I was just informed two weeks ago that we are being charged for the water bottles. Ross has developed a little package of 4 two oz. bottles to store milk which you can also purchase. I have researched ebm freezer bags and have found them to be cheaper by about $.10 each. So, we are considering switching to these. We haven't made a final decision as yet, and I'm very interested in what other people are doing. It's amazing that the formula is supplied free, however the sterile water bottles (which we've used to store ebm) we now have to purchase. I wonder what would happen if we were to dump out the formula and use these bottles for ebm storage? Would they start charging for these too? Just curious... Linda J. Tandy, MSN, RN, CCM, IBCLC Clinical Nurse Specialist [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Pamela Edenfield [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 9:48 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Sterile containers Mary Lou writes " Our breastfeeding mother's have been expressing their milk into the sterile water bottles provided to our unit by Mead Johnson and/or Ross Laboratories". Now both companies are putting a stop to use of their product for breastmilk. This issue is everywhere it seems. I was trying to find another collection container last year when we found out that the sterile specimen containers we used, were not food grade. We had used them for years before that. If you check the archives (I brought this up earily this year) you'll find many responded to this issue, but as far as I can see the only solution is getting a budget to cover the costs. I have looked at the Medela 80ml container (I think they said the price had come down) and considered recycling and autoclaving for reuse, or having the mom's use a sterile microwave bag to reuse them. Either way it is a cost that most units are not able to add to their budgets. And patient billing is not going to cover any more that is added. I also looked at the Pumpmate system and it has posibilities for short term storage, but probably not for VLBW premies. Again a cost factor. These bags are nice, but I only have one study that shows their value, done by the company itself. My neonatologist would like to see more studies that would tell more about short term storage. He is not interested in doing our own study at this point. Most of the previous studies were done awhile back and were mostly for milk banks and longer term use. It will be interesting to see what company besides Medela picks up on our dilemmia and presents another product. I would also be interested in how the members of this group are planning to procede. I am currently putting together a cost analysis of the available in my institution has come up with a solution. Pamela Edenfield MSN,RNC,CNS,CLC,IBCLC Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist Lactation Consultant Youngstown, Ohio *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Confidentiality Notice: This message and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information that is protected by law. The information contained herein is transmitted for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient or designated agent of the recipient of such information, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, copying or retention of this email or the information contained herein is strictly prohibited and may subject you to penalties under federal and/or state law. If you received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and permanently delete this email. *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html