? for breastfeeding SAHM's

dee7972 · September 2010

If your a breastfeeding or pumping SAHM do you have a freezer stash?

I'm a SAHM for the most part. I only work 1 day a week to maintain my radiology license. I EP and usually have enough BM in the fridge for about 5 or 6 feedings. Since I'm always home and have enough for a few feeding while I'm at work do I need to have a freezer stash as well? I'm wondering if there's a reason I should am I'm not seeing it.

If you do, about how much do you have frozen?

axr8111 · September 2010

I did when I was bfing because I wanted to be able to get out of the house and away without stressing about not having milk. I started stashing as much as I could from the beginning because I also knew that I was going to be going on a long weekend away when I was still BFing so my goal was one small bag a day if at all possible. It worked great and once I was done BF I still had some stored up bags to give until it was gone.

Stacyc625 · September 2010

I had a freezer stash (too big of one) with my DD- but I had a massive oversupply that I desperately tried to work out for months. I too EP'ed.

The stash came in handy for a couple of reasons- I had to suddenly take medicine that made me pump and dump for about 3 weeks. I didn't have to worry at all about dumping it because i had plenty of milk. I also donated a lot of my milk to a milk bank.

There really isn't a 'need' for a big stash- it just depends on your situation.

Congrats on EP'ing- it is sure hard work. I am so glad this little guy is BF'ing- because if i never touch my pump again it will be too soon (I EP'ed for a year)

zeesbride · September 2010

Congrats on EP'ing! Thats some tough work, mama! My daughter is still BF'ing but I dont have much of a stash. Maybe 4 oz or so in the freezer. She wont take a bottle so its kind of a moot point for us.

wifeofaussie · September 2010

I pump once a day so DH can give DD a pumped bottle. I've got 3 bags with 4oz each in the freezer at any given time. There's no planned reason for them, I just like knowing if I need to be away from her or if I have a glass of wine and she unexpectedly wakes for a feeding, I'm covered Smile

SMA! · September 2010

zeesbride:
Congrats on EP'ing! Thats some tough work, mama! My daughter is still BF'ing but I dont have much of a stash. Maybe 4 oz or so in the freezer. She wont take a bottle so its kind of a moot point for us.

this.

llsign · September 2010

I dont even own a pump. Probably will regret that later, but for now we really dont go anywhere without LO. Heck, we really dont go anywhere at all yet lol.

lms_bride · September 2010

I have a small stash and it is so nice to have. Its there as a "just in case" and also for when my husband or a sitter watches the kids. I have about 3-4 feedings worth in there, which isn't much but it would give me an evening out (well really more than that). I definitely recommend having a stash of frozen BM. You don't realize how tied to the little one you are until you have one and then you realize you have freedom to go see a movie with a friend or do a date night or something.

Mereou12 · September 2010

I did for awhile, but I recently trashed it all (it was over 4 months old). It got to be a pain to think about rotating the milk out, and it took up room in our already packed freezer.

I don't think it sounds like there's any need for a freezer stash. If you foresee needing an extra bottle in there somewhere, you can always add a pumping session in for a couple of days to build up some extra. Freezer stashes are a LOT more work!

VTbride05 · September 2010

I pumped and froze a few bags to have on hand and ended up throwing them all away. I never needed them. Pump for what you need.

kmc217 · September 2010

I am SAH still on mat leave right now but eventually will be going back to work 3 days a week. I have a HUGE freezer stash already and it's pretty silly since DD just got her first bottle today and will probably get very few until I go back to work. With DD1 I worked 4 days a week and also had a huge freezer stash and hardly ever needed it either.

mandapie · September 2010

Yeah I pump a little in the morning. I have 2 4oz bags in the freezer right now. If I have to be out (which I try not to do too often) when he should eat I'll make a bottle. I also just started alternating pumping 2oz one morning and 4oz the next morning. I'll keep the 2oz's in the fridge for cereal at night (I mix 1 oz of milk with some rice cereal at dinner time) and it lasts 2 days.

I was told in the hospital that the contents of your milk changes with the needs of your LO, so milk you pump when LO is 1 month old prob wouldn't be sufficient when they are 2months old. Plus I knew I would prob stay at home and wouldn't need much of a stash anyway.

Mrs.Reem · September 2010

I would have a freezer stash IF my daughter didn't think bottles were evil. The only reason I wish I could do it is in case I get sick or hurt and can't nurse or if I got a really bad cold and wanted some decent meds. lol!

eaglesfan700 · September 2010

I EBF'd both kids and had a huge stash for both. It was super important to me (and encouraged by my H) to do things out of the house away from the kids. I took a few girls weekends, nights out and I have season tickets to the Eagles, so with tailgating that is a good 8 hours away.

If you don't think you will want that kind of time away then you won't need a huge stash. For me it was essential

BFab11 · September 2010

I have enough for 4-5 feedings, just in case DH and I want to see a movie and my mom watches him, or so DH can feed him if I want to go grocery shopping alone or something. We rarely need it but I feel good having it just in case.

emmielou83 · September 2010

At the beginning, I had an oversupply and pumped to relieve some of the engorgement. I ended up having 100 or so ounces frozen. Then I would pump 1x per day so DH could give Jack a bottle in the evening. I rotated the milk, always using oldest first. I honestly wish that I had kept up with pumping more, and developed more of a stash because at 5.5 months, I got my period back and my milk supply never recovered from it, and that 100 ounce stash went REALLY fast. We struggled with continuing to BF up until 2 weeks ago, when I switched to formula during the day and nursing at night. There is nothing wrong with formula, but I feel like I wish I had more of a BM stash that I could give him as I had planned on BF to at least a year. Also, as a PP said, you never know if you might get sick and have to take meds that prevent BF, or if something comes up that takes you away from LO. Good luck! : )

Dochas · September 2010

I have enough for a few feedings in there. My DH gives at least one bottle a week, often two. I try to put enough for two feedings in there per week. I freeze in 2 oz servings. So when he does a bottle he thaws 2 oz and uses fresh from the fridge to make up the rest. I really like the Medela test tube storage bottles. It seems easier than the bags to me and they are reusable. I have to be able to get out on my own once per week for my sanity and I like knowing there's a little more in there.

cuse1814 · September 2010

I have a small freezer stash. I haven't left him with anyone else yet. I like having it though so I don't have to worry about pumping before I do leave him. I still feed on demand so it is hard sometimes to know when he will want to eat. For the most part he has put himself on a schedule, but it still varies a lot on some days. An extra stash is never a bad thing though.

babypuplove · September 2010

I don't have a freezer stash. I usually pump once a day, sometimes twice, and keep the milk in bottles in the fridge. I give DD a bottle of expressed milk every night before bed to help her sleep better, so we never have more than two bottles in the fridge at a time. If we plan to go away for a weekend sans kids in the next few months, I'll probably pump a little extra to get a freezer stash going. Otherwise, I don't really see the need for one.

HarrietNJMommy · September 2010

I had a LOT of frozen BM. A HUGE stash. I could have been gone a week and it would have been fine.

My issue? DD#2 and DS would NOT take a bottle. AT ALL. EVER! So, I ended up tossing a lot of BM. It was very sad.

mrsfirefly · September 2010

I have maybe 20-30 oz. I used some recently when a friend was in town visiting and I wanted to go out for the evening. I can also easily have a bottle ready if DH wants to take LO for a few hours or if we are going to church. I'll be going wine tasting with LO in a couple of weeks, but I'll bring a bottle just for peace of mind. I don't pump a lot so it's tough for me to make a bottle spur of the moment. I just pump each morning after the first feeding and occasionally during a nap or after LO goes to bed. We give a bottle just a couple of times a week so I freeze whatever we don't use. I also plan on using some of what I have frozen when I start introducing solids since some days I only end up pumping a couple of ounces (if I pump at all).

kiarox2002 · September 2010

I had about 50 oz, but DD wouldn't drink frozen milk. I cried when I threw it away. I thought about donating it, but they wanted 150 oz.

cmhicklin · September 2010

I am an EP and I'm afraid my supply will dry up. I know my frozen stash will go fast! I just want to be able to continue giving LO some breastmilk if that ever happens. However, my deepfreeze is filling up fast!

nd01 · September 2010

I tried pumping and found it frustrating so I never had a stash. I restricted how much I could be away from him until he started on solids but it worked out fine as I don't have much else going on!

Amorilde · September 2010

Mrs.Reem:
I would have a freezer stash IF my daughter didn't think bottles were evil. The only reason I wish I could do it is in case I get sick or hurt and can't nurse or if I got a really bad cold and wanted some decent meds. lol!

This is exactly why I also have a freezer stash. Prior to my pregnancy I was a migraine sufferer and had to take lots of drugs to get rid of them. Thankfully since becoming pregnant I have only had one migraine but want to be prepared just in case.

Right now my DD won't take a bottle consistently so I'm not able to leave her with anyone for a long period of time. It will be great if she would so I could at least go see a movie with the girls SIGH maybe next month.

I think if you are someone who is usually healthy and who takes their LO with them then you wouldn't need a freezer stash.

jmlushbough · September 2010

SMA!:
zeesbride:
Congrats on EP'ing! Thats some tough work, mama! My daughter is still BF'ing but I dont have much of a stash. Maybe 4 oz or so in the freezer. She wont take a bottle so its kind of a moot point for us.

this.

Ditto.

I hadn't pumped in months because DS screamed if he even saw a bottle. Now that we're working on a sippee cup, I'm trying to pump again and UGH. I totally respect anyone who can EP!

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