https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 17 Jun 2026 06:52:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2253254 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 13:32:57 +0000 Mrs.Waffles 2253254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. I'm still nursing my LO he is almost 11 months. He refuses to take milk from a bottle or sippy cup, so I figured I would never use it, so I gave it to my friend who is having problems producing milk. At least it did not get wasted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2253097 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 11:26:55 +0000 snowjewelz 2253097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always use it and rotate in newer milk; and I've used up a lot of it since I started pumping less, so there's only maybe a week's worth in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2253032 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 10:04:06 +0000 avivoca 2253032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used it all. I had a week where I was on medication that was incompatible with breastfeeding (LC said not to nurse withing 12 hours of taking the meds), so I nursed, took the meds, and then all overnight feeds were from my stash. Then my supply dipped at six, eight, and 10 months, so I used every bit. I still have one frozen bag left from my last pump session that I can't bear to throw away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2253027 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 10:02:03 +0000 catlady 2253027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used all mine. It's surprising how quickly it goes. I had to throw out most of what I pumped over maternity leave because I discovered I had excess lipase and she wouldn't drink it unless I scalded. So that was a bunch gone. Once I went back to work, I was pumping just enough each day, so I re-built my stash very slowly. Got to about 200 oz and then my supply took a dive after being back at work 6 months or so. The stash helped us get through the next 6 months and I literally used the last one the week she turned 12 months and I stopped pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252994 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 09:34:51 +0000 littlebug 2252994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup! As many PPs have said, I cycled through. I would portion out and freeze the new stuff I pumped every day, and use the oldest stuff to send to daycare. I still ended up with a lot, so twice during the 12 months I pumped I ended up donating 150+ ounces through a local FB group. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252939 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 08:41:18 +0000 Alivoo01 2252939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used it when I didn't pump enough or a bottle spilled/broke (it's happened at daycare a few times and once with my mom). I started using it more when I was beginning to wean since I didn't want to pump anymore. I still ended up with &gt;1,000oz by the time he was fully transitioned to WCM at 12 months. I gave mine to a friend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252931 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 08:35:30 +0000 NeekieRose 2252931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am building a stash right now (450 oz in the freezer, DD2 just turned 4 months), with the goal of being able to stop pumping around 10 months but still have enough milk to make it to a year. My stash peaked at 400 oz with DD1, which was really important since I got pregnant at 8 months pp, dried up pretty quick, and needed every oz to make it to a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252888 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 07:46:52 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2252888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>you go through it pretty quickly!</p> <p>but with olive she started refusing a bottle after traveling, and since she was 1, i just donated it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252865 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 07:27:49 +0000 travellingbee 2252865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used some of it but not all. I went on a trip for 3 days and used a chunk then, but then what I oumped on the trip replenished it. I used some for purées and some to stop pumping early but he self-weaned at 13 months and only wanted real food so some was left unused. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252857 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 07:19:21 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2252857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@simplyfelicity: I think any stash less than 1,000 ounces you can go through. You cycle through it and later on you may only pump 12 ounces instead of 15 that is needed. Defrosting just 3 ounces a day adds up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252832 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 05:59:12 +0000 Bluebonnet 2252832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@simplyfelicity: I had an extremely large freezer stash with LO1 (more than 1,000 ounces). </p> <p>You need to cycle through your stash. Start giving LO frozen milk for 1 bottle a day and freeze the new milk. When I went back to work, Half of LOs bottles were the oldest frozen milk (to cycle through my stash) and the other bottles were fresh milk. </p> <p>Having a huge stash allowed me flexibility to go on overnight trips without LO without worrying about if have enough milk. I also only pumped twice a day at work (instead of 3x a day) - I was able to cover her bottles most days and I didn't stress when I was a little short. Most importantly, I was able to stop pumping before her 1st birthday (I nursed morning and night and used my stash). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252778 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 22:26:25 +0000 youboots 2252778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@simplyfelicity: I pumped a lot the first 2 months was down to 2 at 3.5 months and am now down to one. I think I created an oversupply after T was in the PICU for dehydration- now it's a little more regulated. But I was hoarding for awhile. I have a friend I will likely give a good chunk of my stash to when she goes back to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252768 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 22:18:50 +0000 simplyfelicity 2252768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: Crap, thats a lot of milk! You got all that from pumping once a day?!?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252761 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 22:06:06 +0000 lady grey 2252761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have a large stash, but yes I used it all. Often your milk supply will decrease a bit after going back to work. Also some babies drink more milk at daycare/when away from mom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252517 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 13:50:28 +0000 youboots 2252517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have over 1000 oz in the freezer. She takes 3oz in a bottle before bed or when I'm gone. She usually gets fresh but I'm trying to remember to use the older frozen. I pump 1x a day and mostly SAH. I can't donate. So I bought a chest freezer so it will stay good at least a year. I will pump wean at 7/8 months.</p> <p>ETA use your oldest frozen to send to daycare. And freeze your fresh- that way you are rotating thru your stash. It may not be the best system but I freeze flat then put the milk in a 2 gallon zip bag (or 1 gal) with the month and year and oz if they are all the same- see photo.</p> <p>[attach=5281/15/nsgxvf.450x600.image.jpg] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252509 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 13:37:05 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2252509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, but I didn't ever have much of one. LO never took a bottle (I SAH), and it wasn't worth it to thaw a couple of tablespoons to mix with cereal (I just used water). Once he learned to drink milk out of a straw cup he was old enough for WCM. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252455 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 12:21:51 +0000 AmandaB8 2252455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EPed, so it's a little different. </p> <p>But I weaned at 11 months, and at 18 months, DD still gets breastmilk daily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252297 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 06:53:07 +0000 mamabolt 2252297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As others have said, I always used frozen on Monday, and when I had business trips. Once LO was 9 months, I dropped a pump session and could use it when I was a little short. I dropped to one session around 11 months and same thing, and stopped pumping at 12 months and was able to mix with cows milk to transition for a few weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252293 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 06:37:12 +0000 mfa_lady 2252293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure how many ounces I have in our freezer, but I take a week's worth to our sitter's each week and freeze what I pump at work. It's just one less thing I have to worry about when we're getting out of the house in the morning. I took some on Friday and still have a bunch in the freezer--whenever we stop nursing/I stop pumping, I plan to use what I have to mix with formula/milk so she can get used to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252286 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 05:55:31 +0000 Charm54 2252286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's an awesome stash! since I EPed (and supplemented) I used my freezer stash when I stopped pumping at 6 months to help ease the transition to all formula ... Both for DD and my wallet haha. It lasted about a month </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252278 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 04:33:35 +0000 Pumuckl 2252278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm the weird one out. I used some frozen milk sometimes but my stash was way bigger than needed. So when we moved this year I threw about 200-250oz away since my then 24m old had weaned nearly a year earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252241 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 23:01:08 +0000 mrsjyw 2252241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used up my small stash (100oz) or so when I went back to work. I'd cycle through the older milk and freeze what I pumped at work. If I didn't have the stash we wouldn't have made it to 13 months. My supply took a hit when af returned at 4.5 months pp and again each month during af time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252237 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 22:50:12 +0000 Anya 2252237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You cycle through the freezer stash by using frozen milk on Monday for daycare and then freezing what you pump at work on Friday. Then, you can use it if you travel without your LO, if you get sick and have to take a medication that isn't safe for breastmilk, use it if your supply ever dips from going back to work or getting your cycle back or whatever, you could use it to wean from pumping early, make pancakes and other things with it when your LO is older, donate it.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252218 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 21:54:42 +0000 MamaCate 2252218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never had that much of a freezer stash with LO1 but I was told to rotate through the freezer milk. So I would freeze the new milk and thaw the old milk for the daycare bottles the next day. That way nothing was too old that I had to get rid of it.</p> <p>I froze on 4 oz portions but ended up sending 5 oz most of daycare so I would save 1 oz portions of fresh milk to combine with the frozen milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252207 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 21:25:23 +0000 simplyfelicity 2252207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Badger: I usually pump when DH is snuggling him or when he is taking a nap. I'm not working right now but he does take most of his feedings from the bottle because of a difficult latch. We are working on moving more to the breast. Things are looking up as his mouth is getting bigger. Luckily, he transitions from the breast to the bottle and back seamlessly even though he is so young. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252180 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 20:44:39 +0000 matador84 2252180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't with dd. I just donated about 200 oz to our local milk bank. However, with DS I am sure I would have used it if I had a stash at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252179 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 20:43:47 +0000 MrsRcCar 2252179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used my stash with my first. He was any EP baby. I stopped pumping at like 9 months. He was able to have breast milk until 12 months. </p> <p>I didn't use my stash with my youngest. Bummed me out but I love the breastfeeding relationship I have with him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252175 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 20:36:01 +0000 shellio 2252175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used my stash. With both kids, my supply dropped a lot when I went back to work and had to pump - I work long days, stressful job, and don't always get to pump at regular or optimal intervals so that didn't help. Both of my kids consumed ungodly volumes of milk at each feeding - like 8-12 oz several times per day. (Yes, I trust that their caregiver knew their hunger signals and was not just stuffing them full, we tried feeding more frequently and doing all kinds of other troubleshooting, even with 40+ oz of daily BM in addition to 1-2 nursing sessions both boys dropped a lot on their growth curves in the first year.) So, I do agree with others that if trying to build a freezer stash is stressing you out, I would let go of some pumping sessions, but you also just never know when you'll need it as many here have mentioned. If you don't mind pumping, keep it up and build that stash - I went back to work with 500 oz for my second and still had to start supplementing with formula at 7 mos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252157 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 20:10:30 +0000 Mrs. J 2252157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I rotated each week. On Mondays, I would send frozen to my mom, and then left fresh with her each other day. I would freeze at the end of the week. Also, when I weaned him from the boob after a year, I kept giving him BM in his straw cup. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-use-your-freezer-stash#post-2252139 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 19:55:00 +0000 yellowbird 2252139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped pumping at 10 months and used my stash to make it to a year before switching to whole milk with dd.</p> <p>This time, with Ds, I am just hoarding milk until I have a few planned weekends away and then I hope to stop pumping early again and just continue to nurse when I am with him. </p>