Freezer stash question

PurpleIris30

I currently EBF my twins. I will be going back to work in about a month. While I've successfully pumped in the past (extended NICU stay), I'm nervous about having a drop in my supply when I'm pumping at work and keeping up with their eating demands. I've been accumulating a bit of a freezer stash (usually add 2-4 oz per day with 1-2 pumps after they are done feeding). Because of their premature lungs, it is REALLY important to me to give them exclusively breast milk through flu and RSV season. My secondary goal is to make it a year.

I'm wondering what your goals would be for a freezer stash by the time I go back to work (keeping in mind I have two babies)? I can step up the pumping if needed, but it's been nice to breastfeed them without stressing about pumping. I probably have a little over 100 oz right now.

On a related note, do you have a favorite brand of freezer bag? I've just been using the extras from the NICU, but only have about 20 left.

Thanks!

TheDairyQueenx3

When you pump are you able to replace feeds? Like say they drink 3 oz each. When you pump can you get 6 oz at a time? If so 100 oz is a good stash because you won't be going threw it if that makes sense. I would rotate out on Mondays (take oldest bag from freezer then replace with fresh). As for bags I love the kiind twist and the Lansioh (spelling?) they are what I use. However If your anything like me I am nuts about my freezer supply for my twins and am around 250 oz mark and am so thankful for it because I got the stomach flu and I used quite a bit due to dehydration so I supplements feeds. I stay at home but with my last baby I dried up earlier than I / he liked and had nothing froze so this time I'm trying to fill my deep freeze.

cinderin

I like the nuk bags. I have one baby and the most I could get before I went back was 130 ounces. I have a deep freezer. I would say the more the better.

DreamDisney

I ebf. But after each feed I would pump whatever was left. And she goes from 10-12 her last feeding until at least 5. Well at that first morning feed I can pump about 8 ounces after she eats. Just by doing that for maybe 2-3 weeks or so... I have 160+ ounces in my freezer.

Now that I'm going back to work and going to be pumping in place of her daytime feedings... I pump more than she'd eat. I pump about 5 ounces (one baby) and she eats no more than 3.5 ounces at a time. So I'm replacing the bottle she ate at that time while having some to freeze.

The most I can get the better is my mentality. Better to have than to not. I've used the nuk bags and lanoish and haven't had a problem with either.

jesuisfatiguee

I can't give advice on how much you should have or how much you should expect to pump, but I don't think my supply has really dropped much since starting work. You may have to simply continue pumping a few times during the weekend to keep that stash up.

I really love the Up & Up (Target brand) bags. I've never had an issue with them. 

CDMay2006

The only part i can comment on is the bags. I like up&up/target the best.

PurpleIris30

mellissalynay90 said:

When you pump are you able to replace feeds? Like say they drink 3 oz each. When you pump can you get 6 oz at a time?

Since being home from the nicu and EBF, I don't know how much they are taking in a feed by breast or how much they would need in a bottle. I'm also only pumping after they both have eaten, so I don't know how much I could get if I pumped from full to empty, so to speak. After they both have eaten, I usually pump 1-2 oz per session.

TheDairyQueenx3

Maybe try giving them a bottle of frozen and try to do a pump session from completely full. Then you can see how your body responds to a pump. I know I have to pump completely through a let down and then until the last drop of milk then start all over from the fast sucking mode to get a second or even third let down to get enough for both my little guys. Then you will know if you can get enough but then you can see how much they will take. It won't be more than 3 oz though at most 4 so as long as you can replace that you will be ok. How old will they be when you return to work? I can't remember when they were born and it seems like the past couple weeks since my twins arrived everyone had their babies too on the MoM board Also mobile bumping so can't see siggys. Ask over on the MoM board I think a few EP and a few might work and pump too. Either way it's awesome to see another twin mom EBF! But really the Kiind twist bags are user friendly you pump directly in them and feed from them so no worries about spilling and wasting during transfer to/ from a bottle. If your getting 1-2 oz post feed then you already are doing great! I can only get about an oz unless I'm downing oatmeal and taking my mother milk tea and fenugreek.