A tip...

TexasGirl81 · December 2013

I just want to say if you are pumping to build a stash for whatever reason, just keep doing so. I say this because I hear people say "why build a stash" just pump at work for what you will need to following day. Yea, well I went through my stash quickly. Granted my stash was not very large but I really regret not doing it more.

One weekend I had some drinks so of course I used some of my stash and my supply dropped my being dehydrated. Now for the past 5 days I've been really sick, again my supply has dropped a lot. This has been really tough and stressful thinking all day long about my milk and if will return back to normal. Not only that but now LO prefers the bottle of BM over regular nursing. So the bottles are flying left and right. We are hanging on my a hair!!! This weekend I'm going to try some power pumping and pray all goes well. Sorry for the dear diary I just wanted to say, if you are pumping and stashing keep doing so. You never know what will happen. Thanks for listening. Off to pump!

meryan12 · December 2013

Thanks for heads up

Ridgebackmom · December 2013

Yes, definitely. Plus, you want your body to get used to "pumping" so that when you go back to work or leave LO you're not playing catch up. I went through my stash the first month I was back!

This is a BIG TIP!!!

Knh85 · December 2013

Everyone always asked why as a SAHM I had such a HUGE stash. And I always said 'because you never know when you're going to need it!' I've gone through half of it now! Plus since DS HATES WCM it's been amazing to have so much to mix with it so slowly that he hardly notices.

YellowLily2013 · December 2013

Thanks for the tip! I've been feeling bad about creating such a big stash and continually adding to it. But this advice always reminds me that it's very lucky of me to be able to do so.

TexasGirl81 · December 2013

theresat858 said:
I think this is actually BAD advice. A small stash is nice, yes, but you should never be 'going through' your stash while you are at work...you should always add in pumping sessions as necessary to pump as much as your LO is eating, so that you are not using up your stash except in emergencies.

If you're planning on getting wasted often, then yes, a stash is probably a good idea... but not necessary if you simply limit yourself to a drink here and there.

Edit: The reason I think it is bad advice is that if you pump more than one time a day (while on mat leave or whenver) if you are also breastfeeding full time (pumping in addition to feedings, not to replace them), you're generating more of an oversupply...and you will be tied to that pumping session and not have the freedom that just breastfeeding gives you. Not to mention all of the other downsides of oversupply.

That's exactly what I meant. I never meant just build a stash and solely use that only. My point was I have come across two emergencies already and my small stash is all gone. I'm still sick and still struggling to get enough for the next day. It's stressful and I just wish I would have pumped more before so I wouldn't be so worried about all of this. I didn't mean go crazy and pump and then have an oversupply and be engorged often. That would suck. If you stay at home just one or two pumps a day is good even less like a few times a week. Everything in moderation. I can see where you would have thought that's what I meant but heavens no. Over supply I think would be as stressful as the under supply.

TexasGirl81 · December 2013

YellowLily2013 said:
Thanks for the tip! I've been feeling bad about creating such a big stash and continually adding to it. But this advice always reminds me that it's very lucky of me to be able to do so.

Yea, don't feel bad. I always have weird thoughts like well what if I never made it home one day like a car wreck then I was in the hosp. Well your stash will hold baby over. I think things over to much sometimes.

TexasGirl81 · December 2013

Ridgebackmom said:
Yes, definitely. Plus, you want your body to get used to "pumping" so that when you go back to work or leave LO you're not playing catch up. I went through my stash the first month I was back!

This is a BIG TIP!!!

Wow! I know it's crazy how fast that milk can go. I mean mine went just from silly things like if I needed to go to the grocery store or traffic. I was happy I had it but ahhhhh I should have done more.

mommatotwo2 · December 2013

theresat858 said:

I think this is actually BAD advice. A small stash is nice, yes, but you should never be 'going through' your stash while you are at work...you should always add in pumping sessions as necessary to pump as much as your LO is eating, so that you are not using up your stash except in emergencies.

If you're planning on getting wasted often, then yes, a stash is probably a good idea... but not necessary if you simply limit yourself to a drink here and there.

Edit: The reason I think it is bad advice is that if you pump more than one time a day (while on mat leave or whenver) if you are also breastfeeding full time (pumping in addition to feedings, not to replace them), you're generating more of an oversupply...and you will be tied to that pumping session and not have the freedom that just breastfeeding gives you. Not to mention all of the other downsides of oversupply.

I'm sorry, but I disagree with you. It's not easy to just "add in pumping sessions" when you are working. I already spend an hour and a half of my work day pumping 3 times. I get 12 oz in that time and many days, my LO takes 16 oz. I had 50 oz frozen when I went back to work mid-August and it didn't get touched for about a month or so, but the last month, I've plowed through it. Her appetite has increased, AF came back and my supply took a hit, there are many days where I can't get all 3 pumping sessions in, etc. I think having a couple hundred ounces stored up when you go back to work could be the difference in making your goal or not making it. We have 4 oz left in the freezer and are about to have to start supplementing. I wish I'd been more committed to pumping at least one extra pump every day from about 4-12 weeks while I was off. One 4 oz pump a day would have been 224 ounces and 56 "extra bottles" when I was short.

jensriot · December 2013

Having a stash can be a really good thing. I had my appendix out when DD2 was 7 weeks old. I didn't have enough milk stored and wasn't able to feed her, so we gave her formula. That isn't a bad thing, but she had some sensitivity and couldn't keep the formula down. She ended up in the ER from dehydration. I was kicking myself at the time for not storing a little more.

HisChamaoleGirl · December 2013

I too think that having a stash is a good idea for any emergencies that you cant predict. Every family is different in what could bring mother and baby apart so I think that the stash size could vary. I know I am preparing myself to be away from LO for a few weeks due to job training so having the couple hundred ounces I have in my freezer is good. My goal is to BF to at least one year and I am depending on my stash to allow me to do so even when away from LO.

TexasGirl81 · December 2013

JenS2203 said:
Having a stash can be a really good thing. I had my appendix out when DD2 was 7 weeks old. I didn't have enough milk stored and wasn't able to feed her, so we gave her formula. That isn't a bad thing, but she had some sensitivity and couldn't keep the formula down. She ended up in the ER from dehydration. I was kicking myself at the time for not storing a little more.

Exactly this! I'm sorry that happened.

YellowLily2013 · December 2013

@theresat858 you are being a snob. Seriously!

Everyone's situation and perspective on how to bf are different. And you aren't allowing any flexibility in that! I'm sorry that daycare was over feeding your baby and that you decided to pump a crazy amount to cover that. But the problem was the over feeding! Not that "breast feeding isn't easy". Bfing and pumping can be "easy" especially if you can establish a routine that works for your family.

The OP just wanted to share why her stash had helped out and how she wished she would have put a little more effort in to get a larger stash.

Having a larger stash is a great safety net for moms so they don't stress about output, have flexibility for activities away from the baby, etc.

By no means does this mean the mom is trying to cop out of doing a good job pumping at the moment. It just plainly means they can be less stressed about it!!

I'm very grateful for my stash. I know if I am unable to pump enough at work one day the baby will have enough food to eat. And that I can work to get my supply back up the next day by eating oatmeal / drinking mothers milk tea / etc. I may not have the time or energy that specific day/ time to "add in more pumping sessions".

LBeez13 · December 2013

I completely agree with @mommatotwo and the original poster advice. 2 weeks ago, just randomly, my supply cut in half. I had to pull out from my freezer and went through my stash so fast! I was lucky that I had pumped an extra session each day of my maternity leave. I would not have made it to the 5 month mark without my freezer stash. I would nurse full time on the weekends and after work.

I was pumping SOOO much while I was away from my baby though. 1 hr of pumping at 6AM, then 45 minutes at 9:30, 45 minutes at 11:30 AM, 45 minutes at 2:00, 1 hr of pumping at 4:30.

Total pumping time was over 4 hours which is ridiculous when you work a full time job and take care of a baby when you get home. My supply has now increased a little so I don't have to pump as much but a freezer stash was super important for me.

TexasGirl81 · December 2013

theresat858 said:
I'm not trying to be a "snob", I am trying to set moms reading this up for a year of nursing and pumping success. If you consistently pump less than your baby eats, your supply will slowly decrease...and regardless of a freezer stash, if you don't take additional steps to increase it again, you may not make it to your goal, whether that's 3mo or 6mo or a year or longer.

Yes, having a backup is nice...pumping once a day on maternity leave is a good idea.But storing hundreds of ounces that you will have to stress about rotating through before it goes bad isn't necessary and the idea of "needing a stash" causes undue stress for many moms, when in reality it isn't necessary in most cases.

I think you seriously misunderstood this whole post. I never said that I relied on my stash. That would be absurd, obviously I would be setting myself up for failure. I meant in times of desperate needs as now several moms have said that it is extremely helpful to have that stash. I never had supply issues. While pumping 3-4 times at work I had plenty for the following day. However with my current horrible sickness my supply is very low right now and if would have pumped more while on mat leave then my baby and I would be set until my supply boosts back up. In the meantime we will most likley have to supplement which is fine I just hope she reacts ok while I'm at work tomorrow.

TexasGirl81 · December 2013

That's the thing I did ALL I needed to do. I never missed a session I was very loyal to pumping and nursing. I never coped out of any of this just because of a stash. I unfortunately had a rough situation and my supply dropped. Now I'm overwhelmed. Just wish I would have had more saved to help me while I get better and while I pump and pump and pump and nurse and nurse. Poor baby is getting frustrated.

LBeez13 · December 2013

TexasGirl81 said:
That's the thing I did ALL I needed to do. I never missed a session I was very loyal to pumping and nursing. I never coped out of any of this just because of a stash. I unfortunately had a rough situation and my supply dropped. Now I'm overwhelmed. Just wish I would have had more saved to help me while I get better and while I pump and pump and pump and nurse and nurse. Poor baby is getting frustrated.

I understand you completely @texasgirl81. I had the same problem. In fact I only went to my stash because my supply just randomly decreased. I never stopped pumping, in fact, I increased how much I was pumping and added sessions. I was "doing everything I was supposed to" and still wish I had a bigger freezer stash cause I already went through half of it. Some may not understand cause they haven't gone through this type of situation personally.

TexasAggie06 · December 2013

I have to be dairy free for LO so I use my stash (which I feel is considerable at 400 oz) to feed him when I decide to have dairy about once every other month. I still pump - I'm not relying on the stash and not pumping - I just either throw it away or freeze it and label it "dairy" in case one day he can tolerate dairy.

I think a stash is a good idea. No, you shouldn't rely on it and you shouldn't utilize it without pumping each time you should have nursed. I'd have started supplementing with formula if it weren't for my stash though, because I struggle with pumping at work and I don't always get enough milk. I'm a teacher and I don't have the luxury of pumping when I feel like it.

Stash is good advice.

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