https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:53:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-492009 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:42:05 +0000 LaineysMom 492009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@betsyboop: 9 - 10 mo. of just breast milk is amazing. And 60 oz. a day?!? Sheesh.. I think my max is about 30 oz., but I'm not a very diligent pumper.. 2 + hours hooked up to that thing, with people sporadically coming and going.. :/</p> <p>@keiki_mama: Your LO consumes that much milk! He must be a super baby! Thanks for the encouragement! </p> <p>@babypie: Soda boxes are a great idea! Mine are currently half in honeysuckle bags in a Muscle Milk box and half in ziplocks all over my freezer.. I definitely prefer the bags b/c they take up so much less space! </p> <p>@leelee: I seriously started laughing when I read the liquid copper comment! HAha!</p> <p>I'm jealy of all your stashes.. ;) ..must keep pumping.. must be a better pumper.. haha! This thread is definitely helping keep me motivated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491753 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:28:15 +0000 leelee 491753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>(1) How long did you make it exclusively pumping? Or how long have you made it if you're still in the process..</p> <p>6 months EP, currently in process of weaning.</p> <p>(2) How big was your stash when you finished? Or how big is your stash now?</p> <p>I had a major over supply so stash is at 3000+ oz.</p> <p>(3) Where the heck did (do) you store all of the milk?</p> <p>We have 2 freezers just for BM and partial of our regular freezer.</p> <p>(4) How much room did (does) it take up?</p> <p>ALOT! There is seriously BM everywhere! DH jokes that my BM isn't liquid gold, its copper because there's so much of it. If I didnt start weaning when I did we would've had to get another freezer... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491690 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:05:02 +0000 babypie 491690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi, I am new to hellobee. Finding these boards extremely supportive. </p> <p>DD is 7 weeks old. Been ep for 6 weeks after ebf for a week. Ebf just wasnt for me and I dont think DD got the hang of it since she lost a lot of weight that first week. </p> <p>I produce about 55oz a day and DD takes 20oz so I am freezing a lot. Already up to 750oz. I asked for an upright deep freezer for xmas... 13cubic feet. I store them in soda boxes after freezing in lansinoh bags flat. They fit about 20bags each. So far, its taken up one entire shelf. I have two more shelves plus the door shelves left.</p> <p>Planning to pump as long as I can. Returning to work in April, so building this stash early on is helpful. Its tough to tend to LO and pump when alone at home. We can do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491611 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:33:54 +0000 keiki_mama 491611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>(1) How long did you make it exclusively pumping? Or how long have you made it if you're still in the process..</p> <p>I made it 9 months.... in the process of weaning</p> <p>(2) How big was your stash when you finished? Or how big is your stash now?</p> <p>I have no stash! LO takes as much as I produce. I produced 36-40 oz a day--he likes to eat A LOT!</p> <p>(3) Where the heck did (do) you store all of the milk?</p> <p>Sorry, can't help!</p> <p>(4) How much room did (does) it take up?</p> <p>Sorry, can't help!</p> <p>You can do it mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491399 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:44:20 +0000 betsyboop 491399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>(1) How long did you make it exclusively pumping? Or how long have you made it if you're still in the process..</p> <p>I pumped until LO was about 6 months. I actively weaned because I was going on a trip and didn't want to bring the pump and parts with me, but I wasn't able to do so in time. </p> <p>(2) How big was your stash when you finished? Or how big is your stash now?</p> <p>LO takes about 28 oz per day, and I produced about 60 oz per day. I think I have a 3-4 month stash.</p> <p>(3) Where the heck did (do) you store all of the milk?</p> <p>Lansinoh bags in the freezer.</p> <p>(4) How much room did (does) it take up?</p> <p>A lot. It's getting better now that we've been feeding LO thawed milk, as you go through the stash pretty quickly. But a couple of months ago when I was feeding her fresh milk, our freezer was a complete sideshow. </p> <p>You can do it! I had the same flow problem as you, which is why I turned to EPing. At first I thought pumping was so cumbersome but it got much better once I figured out an efficient system. Like you, I was hoping to feed LO breast milk exclusively but it looks like I'll have to feed her formula for 2 months or so. Oh well, I think whatever we can give our LO's is great! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491365 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:36:36 +0000 winniebee 491365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LaineysMom: I had a crazy supply, which was part of the problem with BF in the frist place - my baby was tiny and couldn't handle the letdown and flow. He would choke and snarf and get upset. Towards the end of my pumping days I did not pump overnight (so would wait like 10 hours bewtween pumps) and would routinely pump 16-20 oz....in one session. Generally I pumped every 4 hours during the day and whenever my baby woke at night (usually once). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491333 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:26:58 +0000 LaineysMom 491333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I'm hoping that in a month we'll be able to nurse at night again! When we tried the other night she didn't have any real latch issues, but I can hear the reflux and I can't stand to hear her cry. :( I'm trying to just think of all of the milk I can store for her.. I switched to storing in bags a couple of nights ago and freezing milk has become sort of fun for me! Haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491318 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:23:21 +0000 LaineysMom 491318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: I would be so sad if I had to throw away that much milk. I cringe when I throw away the oz. leftover in LO's bottles that she doesn't finish! 3 - 4 weeks is a lot of milk! I have like 9 days worth right now and I've been pumping for 8 weeks.</p> <p>@winniebee: 40 oz. a day! How often did you pump?? I have only been pumping 4 times a day and know I should increase, but it's such a pain.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491314 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:22:39 +0000 mediagirl 491314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LaineysMom: I EP'ed because of some issues M and I had in her first couple of months. I started breastfeeding and pumping again at 2 1/2 months and things got better. Her reflux got better around 4 months and we now exclusively bf at night and on weekends and I pump while at work during the day on weekdays. Stick with it - I have a nice stash put away b/c of my EP days but it is not nearly what I wish it was (I had to use some when I was having low supply issues after being sick). Just keep pumping and think of all that awesome milk you are able to store away for her!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491295 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:18:33 +0000 LaineysMom 491295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaisyMay: Wahh.. I wish pumping was less painful for me! Pumping has gotten way better than it was in the beginning, but nursing was so much less painful. I never had a cracked nipple until last week when I wasn't paying attention and accidentally pumped too long. :/</p> <p>@mrs. wagon: Haha.. The ice cream is helping increase my milk production. It's keeping the fat on me so I can produce more. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491286 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:16:18 +0000 winniebee 491286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>(1) How long did you make it exclusively pumping? Or how long have you made it if you're still in the process.. Started when he was 6 weeks, quit when he was 4 months b/c I couldn't stick with a dairy free diet. </p> <p>(2) How big was your stash when you finished? Or how big is your stash now? 400 oz of frozen milk - I produced about 40 oz a day and he drank 24.</p> <p>(3) Where the heck did (do) you store all of the milk? Freezer. </p> <p>(4) How much room did (does) it take up? LOTS! Was considering a deep freeze but then gave up pumping.</p> <p>GOOD LUCK! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491281 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:15:46 +0000 Mrs. Bee 491281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ep'd with Charlie</p> <p>(1) How long did you make it exclusively pumping? Or how long have you made it if you're still in the process..</p> <p>9 months. would have gone longer but i ingested pesticides that was making charlie allergic (after getting bed bugs).</p> <p>(2) How big was your stash when you finished? Or how big is your stash now?</p> <p>i ended up throwing away 2-3 weeks stash because it was all mixed up and i didn't know which one had pesticide milk.</p> <p>(3) Where the heck did (do) you store all of the milk?</p> <p>just in our regular freezer.</p> <p>(4) How much room did (does) it take up?</p> <p>not much. i went through my stash pretty quickly and never had more than 3-4 weeks worth of milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491262 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:12:19 +0000 mrs. wagon 491262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LaineysMom: hehe... of course there aren't any ice cream novelties stored in my chest freezer for easy access while upstairs in bed. of course not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491239 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:04:51 +0000 LaineysMom 491239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you ladies for all of the helpful tips!</p> <p>I tried breastfeeding LO a couple of nights ago and it's just so sad how she wimpers the whole time. The first 6 weeks or so I was able to almost exclusively breastfeed her and it was so nice (and so much less work). Unfortunately her reflux has always been really bad and I thought my letdown was only making things worse, so we switched to the bottle. After making the switch her reflux dramatically improved.</p> <p>I was hoping that she would grow out of her reflux by 3 mo., but we recently had another bad episode and her medication was increased. I'm hoping that in another month or two she'll grow out of it and we'll be able to go back to BF at least a couple times a day.</p> <p>@Thehistoryofus: I want to make my own baby food too! How much baby food do you have frozen? My parents (who live across the street) have offered their freezer, but I may be driving the milk 5 min. to my grandparents house because they have a deep freezer. </p> <p>@Bluebonnet: Thank you for the encouragement! I only have 200 oz. right now and it literally takes up half of my freezer -_-. </p> <p>@mrs. wagon: Congrats on the 618 oz.! I'm jealous! ;) I think I may look into a chest freezer.. The milk takes up so much room that I hardly have any space for my essentials.. ice cream.. haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-491161 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:38:02 +0000 MaisyMay 491161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also EP, but LO is only 16 days old, so I don't know that I'll be too helpful. I don't have a stash yet, but need to start one soon. My plan is to EP until she's about a year, but it does suck sometimes. To me it's a lot less painful than nursing though.</p> <p>Good luck! You can do it!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-490973 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 11:32:11 +0000 mrs. wagon 490973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>(1) How long did you make it exclusively pumping? Or how long have you made it if you're still in the process..</p> <p>I've been exclusively pumping for about 4 months now. I exclusively nursed with one bottle of pumped milk a day for the first 9 weeks, then nursed morning/night and pumped at work for a couple of weeks, then switched to EP.</p> <p>(2) How big was your stash when you finished? Or how big is your stash now?</p> <p>Last night I froze my 103rd bag. That makes 618 oz.</p> <p>(3) Where the heck did (do) you store all of the milk?</p> <p>I bought a separate chest freezer that we keep upstairs in the hallway next to a mini fridge (where I keep refrigerated bottles for the next day's feeding). It was only $200 or so (delivered and set up as well! from homedepot.com) and is REALLY useful for extra food as well! I buy bread and meat in bulk and freeze the extra here.</p> <p>(4) How much room did (does) it take up?</p> <p>Right now my stash takes up about 1/4 of my chest freezer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-490739 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:22:05 +0000 Bluebonnet 490739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not exclusively pump, but I am a WOHM so I do pump a lot. </p> <p>Exclusively pumping is a lot of work. Have you tried to BF LO recently? Lots of women have issues like you are describing, but their supply regulates and their LO grows and what was a problem isn't a problem any more. Keep trying, it would be a lot easier for your to BF LO and not pump.</p> <p>I froze the milk storage bags flat. If you want to freeze that much milk for that long, you will need a deep freeze. Milk is only good for 4 months in a refrigerator freezer, but longer in a deep freeze (6+ months). 2,000+ ounces of milk would take up a lot of room. It would probably be hard to store 1000 ounces in a regular freezer.</p> <p>Another thing to think about, as LO gets closer to a year, she will drink a little less milk (because she'll be eating so much solid foods). </p> <p>I think BF is really overwhelming if you think about doing it for a year. Its easier for me to just think about making it to the next month. Then thinking about the following month. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-490658 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:57:05 +0000 T.H.O.U. 490658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck! This is really tough but if you are committed you can totally meet your goal. </p> <p>1. I did not exclusively pump but went back to work full time (10 hour days) and made it to a year! I know lots of moms who do make it past a year pumping. </p> <p>2. I had 100 ounces when I went back to work and by 9-10 months due to some work related trips, that wasn't enough and it was gone. </p> <p>3. We didn't have a ton extra at the end. We froze all the bags flat and then put them in gallon size zip lock bags by month. I have heard that using old gift bags works well too. </p> <p>4. We just had a french door freezer at the time (freezer drawer on bottom). It took up a good chunk of space. But it was also packed because after 6 months we started making our own baby food and freezing that too! </p> <p>Again, I didn't exclusively pump so not sure how helpful these answers are! Another thing to remember/try is that sometimes when the baby gets bigger and your supply more regulated you may be able to go back to nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-those-who-are-exclusively-pumping#post-489027 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:13:27 +0000 LaineysMom 489027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO cries when I breastfeed her because the milk comes out too fast, so for the past few weeks I have been exclusively pumping.</p> <p>Originally I had hoped to feed her breast milk until she was 1 year old, but OMG.. I don't know if I can imagine pumping for the next 9 months.</p> <p>I was thinking that maybe I could stop pumping when she's around 9 mo. and then feed her exclusively from my freezer stash until she's 1 year, but after doing calculations that would mean that I would have to store 2,200+ oz. of breast milk in the next 6 months. I have a pretty good supply but holy crap that's a lot of milk.</p> <p>..sorry about the rambling..</p> <p>My questions are:</p> <p>(1) How long did you make it exclusively pumping? Or how long have you made it if you're still in the process..</p> <p>(2) How big was your stash when you finished? Or how big is your stash now? </p> <p>(3) Where the heck did (do) you store all of the milk?</p> <p>(4) How much room did (does) it take up?</p> <p>..Words of encouragement are appreciated.. </p>