BM Stash--What's normal?

AMbaby · June 2012

OK, so I am getting ready to return to work in two weeks since DD was born. I *thought* I had a good stash going but then I was told that I should have about 4-5 gallons of milk stashed in case my supply tanks. Aren't there 128 ounces of milk in a gallon??? Is this right? Oh God, I'm freaking out. Please tell me what you think is average for milk stash!

[Deleted User] · June 2012

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dyg201 · June 2012

Geez I had no stash bc DS eats every two hours and I wasn't getting that much from pumping when I did do it. I was going by the skin of my teeth for the first few weeks but now I have like 18 oz in the freezer and I thought that was pretty good lol. I pump 3x a day and nurse him on my lunch hour and right when I drop him off and when I pick him up so dc only gives him 2 3oz bottles per day.

AMbaby · June 2012

I have 170 oz's right now and I'm trying to add more each day before I go back. My LO eats probably every three hours sometimes more often but not for long. I can pump quite a bit at work (as long as I'm not stuck in meetings). My boss is fully supportive and we have Nursing Mother's Rooms to use. Just wish someone would have told me a long time ago so I could have been prepping....

Jess084 · July 2012

Realistically, you only need enough milk to get you through the next day. I went back to work at just shy of 8 weeks. I had a small stash at that point but not a ton.

I pump twice a day at work but what has helped me have a surplus of milk is pumping after I feed him in the morning. I always get at least 5 oz that way and that leaves me with extra milk at the end of the day. By the end of the week, I will have put some in the deep freezer. I just reorganized my stash today and I have 234 oz put away!

caitie2002 · July 2012

You will be fine! I went back to work when DS was 7 weeks and all I left for him was 4 oz of BM! The rest of the day he got formula. Then what I pumped the 1st day, he got the next day and so on. He still gets formula sometimes if I don't pump enough. I am jealous of your stash and the diligence and patience you have to pump that much!

Mrs.MauiBride24 · July 2012

~170 ounces sounds great! Don't stress. Like pp said, you REALLY only need one day's worth of milk for the first day of day care.

I came back to work @ 12 weeks with 280 oz. in the freezer. It's hard for me to tell, but I think my stash has stayed about the same. I pump three times at work and usually once at home. I do FIFO and right now we're using milk from mid-May.

I'm a little worried about what will happen when DS starts solids, but hopefully if I have a small dip in supply my stash will pull me through. And I plan to keep up my work pumping schedule. I have slacked on the weekends and don't pump then, so that's another opportunity that I could start again if needed.

Good luck! I'm jealous of your long ML!

AMbaby · July 2012

Mrs.MauiBride24:

~170 ounces sounds great! Don't stress. Like pp said, you REALLY only need one day's worth of milk for the first day of day care.

I came back to work @ 12 weeks with 280 oz. in the freezer. It's hard for me to tell, but I think my stash has stayed about the same. I pump three times at work and usually once at home. I do FIFO and right now we're using milk from mid-May.

I'm a little worried about what will happen when DS starts solids, but hopefully if I have a small dip in supply my stash will pull me through. And I plan to keep up my work pumping schedule. I have slacked on the weekends and don't pump then, so that's another opportunity that I could start again if needed.

Good luck! I'm jealous of your long ML!

I'm jealous of your stash!! 12 weeks and 280 ounces??? You are a milk maniac!!! Good job mama!

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