How much milk do you store?

Carrmenn

I've starting pumping / freezing to establish a good supply for when I return to work. LO is one month. How many oz are you moms storing in each bag or bottle ? I just want a general idea. (I know all babies are diff) thanks !!

alinic916

I'm putting 4 Oz in each bag because dd will take anywhere from 2-4 Oz each time.

momming247

2.5oz per bag. I don't want to waste any so I figured smaller amounts are better than having to discard.

cdepperschmidt

Have you found bags smaller than 5 oz?

tracij12

I'm freezing in 5oz increments. LO will be 4 mo when I go back so I anticipate she will be drinking that much at each feed.

hiddengroveln

5 oz is safe, in case your baby will need more. I just started freezing recently.

JennaEllen

5 to 6 oz.

I figure the extra milk will be good to mix with food once he's eating solids

zetlopez

I do 5 oz bc that's the size is the bag. I figure when I start using my freezer stash I'll thaw a few a day and only put into the bottle how much he'll eat in that meal. It'll keep in the fridge for the day so it's not like it'll go bad .

whitemn04

I've been doing 2-4 oz bags but primarily 3 oz. plan to do the same with thawing a couple out and either using what I need from the larger bags or using a small one if he's still hungry.

cdepperschmidt

Please correct me if I'm wrong, FTM here, but I thought I learned that a mothers breast milk is always evolving to meet the nutritional needs of baby. Because of this, breast feed babies do not increase their milk intake the way formula feed babies do. So if my baby eats 3oz a feeding won't that (for the most part) always be the case?

zetlopez

cdepperschmidt said:

Please correct me if I'm wrong, FTM here, but I thought I learned that a mothers breast milk is always evolving to meet the nutritional needs of baby. Because of this, breast feed babies do not increase their milk intake the way formula feed babies do. So if my baby eats 3oz a feeding won't that (for the most part) always be the case?

I've wondered about this too. If I'm freezing 5 oz now to use in 3 months, those 5 oz are not going to be the same nutritionally as the 5 oz baby will need in 3 months, so is there a point in building up a freezer stash?

rms924

zetlopez said:

cdepperschmidt said:

Please correct me if I'm wrong, FTM here, but I thought I learned that a mothers breast milk is always evolving to meet the nutritional needs of baby. Because of this, breast feed babies do not increase their milk intake the way formula feed babies do. So if my baby eats 3oz a feeding won't that (for the most part) always be the case?

I've wondered about this too. If I'm freezing 5 oz now to use in 3 months, those 5 oz are not going to be the same nutritionally as the 5 oz baby will need in 3 months, so is there a point in building up a freezer stash?

Following this. That makes sense to me. I was stressing about my freezer stash but now I basically pump for the week. That said I have an oversupply problem so I'm trying to minimize pumping and maximize putting lo to the breast.

whitemn04

This all makes sense and when I go back to work my baby will get what I pump at work for the next days feeding. I primarily want to have some back stock in case something comes up where my schedule changes or we want to go somewhere without LO. It may not be what I'm producing now, but it's not going to hurt them and gives some freedom without giving formula.

tracij12

zetlopez said:

cdepperschmidt said:

Please correct me if I'm wrong, FTM here, but I thought I learned that a mothers breast milk is always evolving to meet the nutritional needs of baby. Because of this, breast feed babies do not increase their milk intake the way formula feed babies do. So if my baby eats 3oz a feeding won't that (for the most part) always be the case?

I've wondered about this too. If I'm freezing 5 oz now to use in 3 months, those 5 oz are not going to be the same nutritionally as the 5 oz baby will need in 3 months, so is there a point in building up a freezer stash?

Milk changing to meet nutritional needs is what I've read as well. In my experience the daily amount of milk remains somewhat constant, but the number of feedings/ day goes down as baby gets older and stomach gets bigger so amount per feeding goes up.

As for freezer stash, I agree with PP that I just want to have some backup in case I miss a pumping session or am short a day once back at work. While the milk may not be "perfect" for their need at the time it will get the job done.

leah665

I'm jealous of how much milk you ladies are producing. Breastfeeding has been such a struggle for me.