https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:52:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk/page/2#post-1075207 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 19:24:44 +0000 LaineysMom 1075207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: I felt the same way when DD was 2 months and I started EPing, but I have a strange attachment to pumping that I can't give up.. well, not yet. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1075114 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:36:31 +0000 banana 1075114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LaineysMom: Aw thanks! I think my motivation was because I didn't want to pump anymore and figured this was the fastest way to quit pumping (I hated pumping!). It was also really exciting (if that's the right word) to see my freezer stash grow and grow. I don't think I could do that again though. It was the "first child" motivation. I wasn't able to do that for my 2nd. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1075111 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:32:09 +0000 lawbee11 1075111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: :)</p> <p>This is what I do. Sometimes I'll get enough from just pumping the one side so I don't do a second session. </p> [attach=1395/13/msvted.600x489.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1075109 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:30:37 +0000 LaineysMom 1075109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: Geez, you are one dedicated mama! I only got up in the middle of the night when DD was 1 week old in the NICU.. Once she came home I would feed her in the middle of the night, but I have never pumped in the middle of the night. Kudos to you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1075103 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:27:10 +0000 banana 1075103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: @autumnlove: I know! It's crazy but that was the only way I was able to save up my milk because I was only able to produce just enough for his feedings! And I was really determined to BF him for at least 12 months. I literally set my alarm, pumped, put the bottles in the fridge and went back to sleep. I'd rather sacrifice my sleep for a few months, build up a nice stash and quit pumping all together earlier. I was able to stop pumping at 9 months and just feed my son frozen BM until he was 12 months. So I thought it was worth it. </p> <p>I was able to save up 3 months worth of milk in 4 months because I pumped almost one whole day's worth of milk in those 2 sessions. For some reason, I produced tons more milk in the middle of the night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1075102 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:23:55 +0000 heartonastring 1075102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rubies: In the morning I am super engorged and only feed her on one side. So I pump the other side and lately have been getting about 6 oz (on mornings when she's STTN). At night, she still cluster feeds a little before bed and before DH gives her her bottle, so for the pumping session after that I usually only get 2 oz. It means that on a good day though I end up with 4 oz to freeze, which is what we give her for one feed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1075095 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:14:48 +0000 autumnlove 1075095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: Those are the best hours for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1075092 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:13:22 +0000 Foodnerd81 1075092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: so you get up twice during the night when you don't have to? I value my sleep too much I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1075043 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 17:30:48 +0000 banana 1075043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was able to save a lot when he started sleeping through the night longer. I'd still get up in the middle of the night (2am, 5am) to pump. I built up my stash super quickly like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074988 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 16:40:19 +0000 Trailmix 1074988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pump after the 4am feeding session. It sucks but it's when I get the most milk! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074854 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 15:21:28 +0000 Foodnerd81 1074854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had the same question. I just feel like my supply is appepriate for my baby right now, so I don't want to mess with it too much. I was trying to pump a few days a week, after her morning feeding while she went down for a nap, but I'd get stressed trying I shower, pump, wash parts before she woke up. And I would get less than three ounces every time. So I'm taking a slight break from it. I'm not going back to work and I have a few bags in the freezer for an emergency. I'm going away for a day in oct though so I need to build up enough for that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074354 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:43:57 +0000 Boheme 1074354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use a method that @lawbee posted. Between 6 am and 8 am, I pump the side that DS didn't eat. Then during his first nap after that, I pump both sides. I rarely pump again each day. It has worked really well... I have over 100 oz. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074349 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:42:41 +0000 mrsjyw 1074349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped an extra btl a day sometimes two casually while I was on maternity leave for 3 months. I have a small stash now of about 100 oz?...</p> <p>Next time, I'm going to pump from day 1 of milk coming in and cycle it throughout leave and build more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074345 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:41:07 +0000 LaineysMom 1074345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At first I would pump only in the mornings after her morning feed.. I used to get ~6 oz.. But I would also leak everywhere. So, I transitioned to pumping in the morning instead of breastfeeding and I would get ~10-12 oz. After 1 month I realized that bottle feeding was the way to go for us since I could pump twice the amount in 1 pump session and DD couldn't handle my over active letdown. I have been EPing ever since and my freezer stash topped out at ~1250 oz., but now it's at about ~1000 oz. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074341 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:40:42 +0000 shopaholic 1074341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started pumping the day after we got home from the hospital. I was able to pump more frequently in the earlier weeks due to a sleeping baby! Earlier months I pumped in the morning. Now that she STTN, I usually pump after baby's gone to sleep and I'm still awake. I aim for once a day, though it usually only happens about 4-5 days/week. DD's 6 months now and we have yet to touch anything I've frozen. I took out our earliest bag to defrost TODAY since it will go bad if we don't use it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074333 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:35:27 +0000 Bookish 1074333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: Well, the poster asked how I built a stash, and that's how I did! It gave DH a chance to feed the baby while I pumped, and like I said, at the beginning I didn't pump enough to be able to feed her what I pumped, so we did a formula feed. It worked well for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074330 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:34:18 +0000 Rubies 1074330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in awe. </p> <p>After your baby breastfed, how many oz were you able to pump afterwards? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074319 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:28:45 +0000 allison 1074319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: what was the point of doing that (giving formula while pumping)? I guess I just don't understand why you would do that instead of just bfing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074290 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:18:01 +0000 heartonastring 1074290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EBF but DH does bedtime every night and he gives DD a 4 oz. bottle of expressed milk. I pump 2x/day (once right before bed and once after DD's first feed in the morning). Whatever excess I get goes in the freezer. I don't have a huge stash (about 120 oz at the moment), but definitely more than enough considering I'm SAH for a year (fellow Canadian :) ). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074282 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:15:39 +0000 sooz 1074282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I added in a pumping session right before I went to bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074278 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:14:24 +0000 Bluebonnet 1074278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started pumping at 3 weeks. At first I'd just pump once a day (sort of randomly). Eventually I pumped twice a day while on maternity leave. LO would only feed on one side per time, so in the mornings I'd feed on one side, then pump on the other side. At night, after LO went to bed, right before I went to bed, I'd pump again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074260 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:09:52 +0000 Bookish 1074260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine is probably not a popular idea, but I let DH give LO a bottle of formula while I pumped. I got barely any at the beginning, but then started building up enough of a stash that I can replace her morning formula bottle with a bottle from my stash. I think I've got about 70oz in there right now. It worked for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074259 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:09:33 +0000 lemondrop 1074259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped after most feedings to help build up my supply. I almost never pumped in the middle of the night though- I had to draw the line somewhere. </p> <p>Pretty early I started feeding 15 minutes per side, then had my husband give a small bottle of formula while I pumped. It felt like I started over again in no time flat, but it really helped my supply and sanity that I gave him a cut off and he didn't stay constantly attached to boob for marathon sessions. I'm going to do the same thing next time if I can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074253 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:05:54 +0000 purrpletulips 1074253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went away overnight when DS was 5 weeks old and stashed all the milk I pumped during that trip; since I didn't have enough on hand already he drank formula that weekend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074251 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:05:33 +0000 Smurfette 1074251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only pumped like once a week, usually on the weekends. R wanted to be held all the time, and I had to hold her for naps, so I never got a chance unless DH was home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074244 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:03:08 +0000 sslm 1074244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped once a day in the beginning which caused a huge oversupply that I am still trying to get under control!! I only pump maybe once a week now, although I could pump once in the morning because I wake up with both sides engorged and she only eats from one side. Anyways, I have about 120 oz in the freezer (she's 4.5 months), but she isn't taking a bottle, so that number just keeps going up!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074235 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:59:55 +0000 HabesBabe 1074235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@edelweiss: OMGahhhh it was horrible! Like you, I suddenly had an epiphany and was like, "WHY AM I STILL DOING THIS?!" Not to mention, LO had green poop from a foremilk imbalance, so I had to reduce my pumping due to that, too.</p> <p>Good news was that I ended up with an awesome (1,000 oz.+) stash after 6 months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074233 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:59:02 +0000 edelweiss 1074233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: yes, although it was a ton of work! pumping in the middle of the night after nursing was not fun. your routine sounds much more sane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074232 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:58:53 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1074232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped after she went to bed whenever I felt like pumping, so every few days or so. I slowly built up a stash five ounces at a time. She's not had to have any of it but its there for emergencies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-ebf-how-on-earth-do-you-build-a-stash-of-breastmilk#post-1074228 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:57:12 +0000 edelweiss 1074228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HabesBabe: that happened to me too! i just kept going, pumping at least 8x/day, and then all of the sudden i was like, wait a minute, my boobs are getting out of control. </p>