How did you build up your bm stash?

umdbride · February 2011

At the hospital bf class they said to resist the urge to pump extra when your milk first comes in because you'll constantly have an over-supply and you want to match with baby's needs. But, I've heard from friends when your supply is matched to your LO's needs, it's hard to pump any extra for a freezer stash for when you return to work. For example, if you pump while DH feeds one of your previously pumped bottles you seem to not be able to get more than one bottle ahead or so (which isn't enough to last a whole day). So, how did you build your stash??

eeclem · February 2011

I pumped before I went to bed, nearly every night. In hindsight, my stash was much more than I needed.

belizeitornot · February 2011

I pump one side (the side I don't feed on) first thing in the morning, right after her first feeding and get at least one bottle's worth - for the moment -right there (3oz-5oz). I also pump both sides at night just before bed and get at least a bottle's worth. We only give one bottle a day so I am gaining 3 oz a day typically for my freezer stash.

This works well for me because I don't have to worry about pumping after every other feed during the day when I'm solo with the kid and hands free time to pump isn't easy to come by.

umdbride · February 2011

Thanks! When did you start those routines? As soon as your milk came in? or later, like when you introduced the bottle?

belizeitornot · February 2011

umdbride:
Thanks! When did you start those routines? As soon as your milk came in? or later, like when you introduced the bottle?

Later, around 5 weeks (which was 2 weeks ago). I had to use up my initial stash with the snowstorm when our power went out, so I just started building it up again a few days ago. I was lazy a few days and didn't pump, but I have about 15-20 oz in the freezer at the moment.

HikerBride07 · February 2011

I started pumping in the morning after DD nursed when she was 5 weeks old. I built up quite a bit from that. I did that morning pump for just over a year. When I went back to work I was able to pump about 4 oz a day more than she was drinking at daycare (pumping 3x/day). I cut down my work pumping to 2x when she was around 6 months old, then down to 1x around 9 months old. I didn't touch my stash until she was a year old because I was getting enough from the one morning pump and the 1x at work. I donated 1500 oz over the course of that year and we still have enough frozen milk for her daycare milk (8 oz/day) until she's two.

VTKelly · February 2011

Just a little side suggestion about your stash that someone told me. When I went back to work, whatever I pumped monday went to daycare on tuesday, and so on for the rest of the week. On Fridays whatever I pumped I would freeze, then I would use some of my frozen stash for Monday bottles. It was a great way to get my stash used before it wasn't usable anymore. To be honest, I never really needed my frozen BM, but I am still glad I was better safe than sorry. Towards 9 months I started pumping less at work because I had the stash to use up. Also, remember you can pump on the weekends to add more as well!

WinesNotWhines · February 2011

I started pumping when M was about 3 weeks old, but I only pumped occasionally, so we could give him a bottle if we went out somewhere and I didn't want nurse in public. When he was about 2 months old, I started pumping once in the morning to build up a stash. He usually nurses from only one side in the morning, so I have to pump the other side to be comfortable. Just that one pumping session a day was enough for me to build a comfortable stash.

umdbride · February 2011

thanks everybody! I think my friend had trouble getting anything out of that extra pumping session when she first added it. I'll have to ask her if it's improved. I also never thought of pumping just the side he doesn't nurse on - that's a great idea! I'll definitely pass that on to her too.

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