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Freezing/stocking breastmilk?

Redlass13Redlass13
in Parenting after a Loss
For those of you who are BF'ing and went back to work, how many weeks before you went back to work did you start freezing breastmilk (if you did)?  When did you pump and how often?  So far, all of my pumping has only been to buy me some time out of the house and/or catch up on my sleep.  I'm a little overwhelmed with the idea of creating a stash and not sure how to go about it.  Right now, whatever I pump is used within days.  Thanks in advance for any help!
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Gone but never forgotten, our three angel babies Jude, Mary and Gerard
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Re: Freezing/stocking breastmilk?

  • ECUTeacherECUTeacher

    I started pumping for storage 2 weeks ago which was 4 weeks before I go back to work. I pump one breast while Austin  eats on the other side each time I nurse during the day. After I put Austin to bed, I pump both breasts (I don't get much, but it helps to increase my supply for the AM). I also give Austin one bottle a day to keep him used to the nipple. When DH feeds him the bottle, I pump on both sides.

    When I started I got about 10oz a day. After only 2 weeks, I am getting about 20 oz a day that I freeze. 

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  • sdkrlmsdkrlm

    I had a huge over supply and had about 100 oz in the freezer - but really you don't need a stash if you're at work. 

    Just use whatever you pump that day for the next days feeding.   Frozen BM has to be used within 24 hrs of being thawed. 

    here is my schedule. (note: i nurse during lunch - so I only need 2 bottles worth per day)

    Sunday - pump 3-5 oz fresh milk for 'reserve'.  Thaw 8 oz of the oldest milk  (2 - 4 oz bottles)

    Monday - Pump 2x during the day (yield about 8-10 oz).  Feed her the thawed milk.  

    Tuesday thru Friday- Make bottle using the "reserve" milk and then one of the previous day's milk- so you're always feeding her the oldest milk first. Use the leftover for the 'reserve'

    Whatever I pump on Friday goes into freezer bags so I'm rotating my freezer stash. 

     

    the reserve helps me mentally not stress over needing to get "at least 8 oz" during the day... 

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  • yellowcaryellowcar

    I've been pumping and stashing since the beginning of January.  I get either 5 oz. or 10 oz. a day.  I am going back to work Feb. 16.  I already have about 50 bags stashed so far.

    I pump in the morning, after DS has eaten.  He nurses off of one side and I pump off of the other.  That gets me anywhere between 5 and 8 oz, depending on whether or not he slept through the night or had a midnight feeding.  I also pump in the evening while DH gives him a bottle.  That pumping often becomes the next night's bottle--I don't freeze it.

    I do feel like I need a large stash because I remember from DD that you go through your supply very quickly.  There is also the chance that once you go back to work the stress and being away from your DC will cause your supply to dry up.  That happened to me when DD was about 7 months old.  Luckily I had enough supply in the freezer to last another month and a half.

    You might not get much now, but try pumping in the morning--your supply is at its greatest then.  The more you pump, the more you will make.

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