https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:28:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1186570 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 20:22:17 +0000 singingbee 1186570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: @Thenetexan: @marionberry: @autumnlove: thanks so much!!! Great tips!!</p> <p>@evansjamie: 3 oz!!! Way to go!!!!</p> <p>@mrskc: it depends on the night for her sleep. Last night she slept in 4 hour stretches. :) the night before, up every 2 hours. </p> <p>@cmomma17: great idea to track it!!! Also, good idea for pumping when I'm alone. Since DH is back to work, I'm by myself some more than usual. </p> <p>@grizz: that's a good article suggestion! Also, I will have to get some of those trays! </p> <p>@Bluebonnet: sometimes she eats on one side, sometimes both. When you say it is important for LO to rake frozen milk, what does that mean? Do you thaw it? Then warm it? Sorry if this is a stupid question. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185586 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:53:20 +0000 singingbee 1185586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Y'all I just pumped 2 oz while LO was napping so DH could feed her while I ran some errands by myself. I was getting the air out of the bottle, we use playtex drop ins. Well, I pushed too hard and the liner slipped. I lost a whole ounce. I just started bawling and DH tried to comfort me. I told him I never understood why people cried after spilling pumped milk until right at that moment. :( he was a sweetie and told me that was probably all she needed. :) I'll feed her when I get home, but man I was upset! </p> <p>Also, thanks for these great tips!!! I can't wait to read them all closely and start utilizing all of this wonderful advice </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185585 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:53:09 +0000 Bluebonnet 1185585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a huge stash when I went back to work (hundreds of ounces). At first I would just pump when I could. Around 5 weeks I started to pump more on a schedule. There is no right way to do it, just do what seems to work for you/LO and adjust as you go.</p> <p>Does LO feed on both sides or just one side? At some point in the first few weeks, LO started feeding on one side per feeding. After the morning feed, I'd pump on the other side. Before I went to bed at night (once LO was sleeping 5ish hour stretches), I'd pump before I went to bed.</p> <p>I pumped 15-20 minutes at a time, and I froze in 2 oz bags. I immediately froze everything I pumped so I could cycle through my stash. It was also important to me to make sure LO took frozen milk (there wasn't lipase issues or any other issues). </p> <p>I froze flat in the lansinoh bags in 2 oz portions. At some point I started freezing in larger quantities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185575 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:47:36 +0000 cmomma17 1185575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you ever have to pump while you are home alone with the baby my trick was to put him in a bouncy seat at my feet (I could reach and put his paci back in if I needed to), with the white noise machine on the floor next to him. I'd bounce him with my feet! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185561 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:41:41 +0000 Boheme 1185561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When should I pump? I got this advice from an article Lawbee posted and it worked perfectly! After the first feed of the morning (between 6-8 a.m.) I pumped the side that DS didn't eat. Then as soon as DS went down his first nap of the morning, I would pump both sides. I built up a 250 ounce stash during my maternity leave this way! </p> <p>How long should I pump? I pumped for 20 minutes. </p> <p>How should I freeze it? In 2 oz? 2.5? I did a mix, but I never went higher than 4 ounces. </p> <p>Anything else I should do? I froze my bags flat, and transferred them to the Sterilite ice cube trays you buy at Target. They fit perfectly, and its a really easy way to rotate my stash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185552 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:38:43 +0000 autumnlove 1185552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I drank tons of water and I pumped around the clock...after nursing, during naps. I froze in 4 oz portions the first few months and I always pumped for 25-30 minutes.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185535 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:32:41 +0000 cmomma17 1185535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennimac: </p> <p>When should I pump? I pumped 20 minutes after nursing sessions. (on the advice of an LC). I started with just one session a day (in the morning, when you have the most milk), then built up from there.</p> <p>How long should I pump? I started out at 10 minutes and built up from there. The longest I ever pump is about 25 minutes if milk was still coming out past the 20 minute mark.</p> <p>How should I freeze it? In 2 oz? 2.5? I personally could not stress about exact amounts on top of everything else. So I just froze what I pumped.</p> <p>Anything else I should do? Be kind to yourself and try not to stress out over all the little details. Drink tons of water while pumping and try to make it an enjoyable experience too - read a book, listen to music, play a game on your ipad, etc.</p> <p>Also, I enjoyed tracking the total ounces I had frozen on a whiteboard in the kitchen. It totally motivated me on the days pumping really sucked :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185507 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:22:57 +0000 Adira 1185507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, I should add that I used to pump 4x/day in the beginning, after the first four nursing sessions of the day. Once evening struck, I stopped pumping because Xander tended to clusterfeed and I didn't want to be empty for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185494 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:20:06 +0000 marionberry 1185494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When should I pump? I was told by my LC to pump once in the morning and once at night so that I didn't create an oversupply issue. Nights don't work well for us since my ds cluster feeds and then I want to sleep so I pump once after his first feed of the morning and then once during his long nap. You may not be to the one nap stage yet, so maybe try at night after he goes to bed?</p> <p>How long should I pump? My LC said 10-15 mins but I've heard others on here say to go as long as 30 mins. Maybe someone else can answer this, but I usually just pump until the milk stops coming.</p> <p>How should I freeze it? In 2 oz? 2.5? Again my LC said 2-3 oz but I just freeze all of it in one bag. Since your lo is younger though, 2-3 oz is probably a better idea. My lo is quite a big eater so I figure if he doesn't finish it all in one bottle, he'll get it in the next feed.</p> <p>Anything else I should do? I use the medela storage bags because they fit so easily to PISA pump. I read that you should store them upright and not stack them (which i had been doing) so that there's no leakage. Also store them in the back of your freezer, not the door.</p> <p>Best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185492 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:19:58 +0000 Thenetexan 1185492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could never find the time to pump in those first few weeks. LO started sleeping in 8 hour stretches around 6 weeks and then consistently at 7. I would set my alarm and pump in the middle of the night. That was how I built most of my stash. I kept that up until we got past 4 months. I was expecting te sleep regression and wanted to have my middle of the night supply intact. It all sounds crazy now, like I should have just slept. But again, that was most of my stash. I would suggest saving in 2 ounces. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185477 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:17:44 +0000 mrskc 1185477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It really is tough to find the time when you're taking care of a newborn! </p> <p>When should I pump? I think a good time would be after she nurses first thing in the morning. Or I used to pump after DS went to bed for the night. How is she sleeping at night? </p> <p>How long should I pump? I would do 15-20 minutes. </p> <p>How should I freeze it? In 2 oz? 2.5? 2 ounce portions are good and when she starts taking more in 3-4 ounce portions are good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185465 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:15:13 +0000 avivoca 1185465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Subscribing, because I need to know too! I did just pump about 3 oz out of my right boob (she ate off it last) so I would have something for her when she gets up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185457 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:13:05 +0000 Adira 1185457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped about an hour after nursing (so pretty much as soon as he was done and I could get him settled doing something else). I pumped for 5-10 minutes total (usually got 0.5 - 1 oz at a time). I freeze in 2 oz bags.</p> <p>I usually stored a bottle's worth in the fridge so that if I wanted to do something or wanted Hubs to feed him, we had it. Once I had extra, I'd take the oldest and freeze it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-build-a-freezer-stash-help-with-pumping#post-1185442 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:10:13 +0000 singingbee 1185442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I searched for some posts that address this topic, but I couldn't really find anything that answered all my questions. </p> <p>I'm 3 wks pp trying to start building a freezer stash. I felt like I had a really big oversupply to begin with, but now feel that I make just enough due to LO having a monstrous appetite. I'll be going back to work in January and want to have a stash built up. Right now we are not supplementing with formula, she is just getting breast milk. We are back to birthweight and beyond (born at 8 lbs 14 oz, now 9 lbs 3 oz). DH feeds her a bottle when he is home, which is every couple of days since he works shift work. LO gets 2 oz each time he feeds her. So, I want to build a stash so he can feed her when he is off and I can start saving it. I have a Medea Pisa. I have the lansinoh bags. LO has been eating on average every 1.5 hours to 3 hours if she is sleeping really well. I don't mind trying to get on a schedule because I honestly do better on that. One of my sisters got me some lactation cookies and I'm really watching my fluids. I guess that I am making enough because obviously LO is gaining weight and content! but first time mom doubt sets in and I worry. </p> <p>Sorry for the long back story, here are my questions. </p> <p>When should I pump?</p> <p>How long should I pump?</p> <p>How should I freeze it? In 2 oz? 2.5? </p> <p>Anything else I should do? </p>