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freezer stash-frustrated.

sdheft619sdheft619 member
edited March 2016 in September 2015 Moms
So my freezer stash is starting to run very low, I think I have 8 bags left. I work 3-4 days a week and pump every two hours while at work. I seem to be coming up just shy of meeting her in take with a bottle. She drinks 5 oz. bottles every two hours, sometimes three if she takes a good nap. My goal was to go to a year with breastfeeding. I know formula isn't awful for babies-I was just hoping to be exclusively breast milk and not supplement with formula.  I'm going to start pumping morning and nights the days I'm home as well. It's just kind of frustrating to me. 

Anyone else been through this?

ETA: will I be in luck with getting ready to start solids?
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Re: freezer stash-frustrated.

  • NatabearNatabear member
    I haven't been through this, I'm sorry.  Have you tried drinking a Lactation boosting tea?  I recently purchased the Milkmaid tea by Earth Mama Angel Baby and it definitely helps.  I'd actually end up nearly engorged in the mornings again, which I haven't had in weeks.  LO also seems to be happier after I feed him solids and his tummy is full, but BM or formula still have to be the main source of nutrition.
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  • sdheft619sdheft619 member
    Hmm, no I haven't tried anything like that. I'll have too. 

    @Natabearabout how much does he drink with eating solids? About the same? 
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  • Yiggle09Yiggle09 member
    I got mastitis in December lost 6 or 7 oz blew through my stash then got sick for almost whole month from Christmas till mlk day now I only produce 25 oz. I'm an ep er. I had a real hard time going to formula but he only gets one bottle a day and hasn't had any trouble with it. Haven't seen a decrease of milk intake and lo gets solids 3 times a day. GL
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  • wilcoxevwilcoxev member
    Are you pumping on your days off as well? I try to pump everyday to help build my stash and up my supply.
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  • sdheft619sdheft619 member
    @wilcoxev I'm not but I am going to start too since my freezer supply is running low. I was planning on just doing morning and night. How often do you pump on your days off?

    I don't think my supply had lessened or dipped, she is always satisfied after she nurses. I think it's maybe from pumping and it's just what I have?!
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  • jen83mnjen83mn member
    Have you replaced your pump membranes lately? Just a suggestion if you haven't as that can really effect pump output and the suction. (The membranes are the little white flappy circles on the Medela In Style Advanced.) My pumping output started to dip at 4.5 months postpartum; then I replaced my membranes and instantly got more milk each session and could feel the difference in suction. The membranes should be replaced at least every 3 months, if not more. Worth a shot if you haven't replaced them lately!

    Also, lots of water, Gatorade, and oatmeal. Those all help my supply. 
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  • wilcoxevwilcoxev member
    Yes, make sure membranes are replaced and get bigger flanges if need be. That helped me get more milk. When I was building my stash I would try to pump just one side in the a.m. and the other side in the pm. Now I just pump once a day on my days off.
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  • strickler924strickler924 member
    I'm headed back to work soon and not pumping enough to meet LO's needs has been on my mind. I found this article recently that I thought offered a different perspective on the freezer stash... https://www.workandpump.com/freezerstash.htm. Could you try giving LO an ounce less each bottle or changing to a slower flow nipple? Good luck mama! 
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  • NehoustonNehouston member
    Do you know about paced bottle feeding?  Google it and you'll see a You Tube video showing you the technique - it's way different than I've ever given a baby a bottle, but it works to slow down the baby so he/she is fuller quicker.  It's often used for BF babies.  5 oz is a LOT at this age - how much do you typically get in one pumping session?  I would be really surprised if your baby is taking in 5 oz from a nursing session...
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  • hopeful87-2hopeful87-2 member
    Is the person feeding her while your at work using all the milk you give them? I found out last week that LO's daycare dumps it if she doesn't drink it within an hour. I could have cried when I heard
    that! I wish they told us that in the beginning, they went through my freezer stash so fast.
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  • hakettlerhakettler member
    I agree 5 oz is a lot for a bf baby. I've been told by ibclc's that your baby needs 1-1.25 oz per hour you are away from them. I nurse/pump and supplement only because I get so stressed with pumping enough it's just easier to do that. It's not the end of the world and I feel good knowing she's getting BM most of the time. Good luck mama!!
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  • jen83mnjen83mn member
    Agree with pp's that 5 oz. every two hours seems like a lot!

    My 6-month-old boy (big guy, 98th percentile for height and 86th for weight) has 4 oz. every 2.5 hours throughout the day (sometimes longer if he's napping), has his last feeding at 8 p.m., then eats again when he wakes up at 6 a.m. (sometimes he'll wake up for a feeding between 3-4 a.m., but hasn't been lately). Maybe try either increasing the length of time between bottles by a half hour or decreasing each bottle by 1 oz and see how she does? That would make it a lot easier for you to keep up. Like others said, I doubt she's taking in 5 oz during an actual nursing session, but it's easier for them to drink more and faster from a bottle.

    Here's what our schedule looks like:
    6 a.m.: Nurse before work
    8:30 a.m.: Pump at work
    11 a.m.: Pump at work
    1 p.m.: Pump at work
    3:30 p.m.: Pump at work
    5:30 p.m.: Cereal (we just started this week)
    6:30 p.m.: Nurse
    8 p.m.: Nurse to sleep

    Baby drinks four 4 oz. bottles a day while I'm at work. I work 4 days a week, so on the days I'm off and at home nursing, I pump once after my morning nursing session when I have the largest supply (and let baby sit in front of me in his jumperoo while I'm pumping). Baby usually only nurses from one side in the morning since I'm so full, so I usually can produce quite a bit during that session. That also helps if I fall short during my pumping sessions at work.

    Hope that helps! :)
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  • buckleykbuckleyk member
    edited March 2016
    I know 5oz sounds like a lot but my LO will take 3 x 6- 6.5oz bottles in 8 hours at daycare. My oldest did about the same and they are both in the lower percentile for weight (less than 15th). 

    And I would definetly try to stretch out those feedings. If LO is used to 2 hours, back it up to 2h 15min- once he's used to that, try adding an extra 15min until you get to 3 hours. 

    But to get a little extra, I pump after the morning feeding and before I go to bed (about 2-3 hours after her last feeding). That's helped add to my stash. 
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  • sdheft619sdheft619 member
    Thanks everyone! i will defiantly try some of these. 

    @buckleykmy daughter is also in the lower percentiles (5-10). She's a hungry little thing!

    I also think she's ready for solids. She will be 6 months in two weeks so I'm just waiting to talk to my pediatrician about that. 
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  • buckleykbuckleyk member
    Make sure whoever is feeding her is making sure she's taking her time. Like adults, if she sucks down her bottle too quickly, she'll over eat. We were having that problem- my LO would still suck on the bottle like she wanted more. But she was just eating too fast. It should still take 15-20 minutes or as long as it doesn't to nurse. 
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  • jnhajijnhaji member
    My stash started running low (like 3 bags left) so I started pumping about 3 hours after she goes to bed. She sleeps at 7 so I pump at 10. This helps me build my stash slowly but surely. 

    I also wanted to give my LO only breastmilk and had a silly thing about no formula. About 3 weeks ago, we gave her some formula while on vacation in Puerto Rico so I could have a drink and I felt surprisingly okay with it! Now she has about 2 feedings of formula a week and I'm totally cool with it. It allows me to pump and build up my stash. 

    Good luck! 
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  • Sully3302Sully3302 member
    @jnhaji your LO just took formula by itself?? Jealous!!
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  • jnhajijnhaji member
    @Sully3302 yes! Is that uncommon? She's a fatso like her mom and loves to eat so I assume that's why lol! 
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  • sdheft619sdheft619 member
    So. Started eating oatmeal (yuck!) and drinking gaterade. And trying to be aware of how much water I'm drinking in a day- I might have been cutting myself short.  Also, pumping after she's in bed and mornings and nights I don't work. 

    I seem to be getting more milk out! So happy about that. 

    We we have also moved her eating to about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.   

    I also bought a new breast pump last night. Can't wait to try it. Also bought bigger flanges because I do believe mine are too small. (Bought a new pump bc I didn't like mine-got it from insurance-and it frustrated me!)
     
    I also realized I had been chewing winter mint gum- and I know mint is not recommended if you're breast feeding!

    Thanks for all the advice ladies! I'm feeling pretty good about this.   I'm also going to try a recipe for lactation cookies.
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