https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:09:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-during-mat-leave-should-i-start-trying-to-build-a-stash#post-818448 Thu, 30 May 2013 14:01:02 +0000 Lozza 818448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My lactation consultant told me to start pumping seriously from Day 1, and I am SO glad I did. I think it definitely upped my supply, but I never really had oversupply issues like leaking or being too uncomfortable or overwhelming LO... for me it really just meant that I always had a really easy time pumping and tended to get a ton of milk in a short period of time. We also gave LO a bottle of pumped milk a day starting on Day 1, and I'll definitely do the same for my next kid. I built a huge stash on maternity leave and continued to expand it for my first few months back at work because my supply was so high that I could pump almost twice as much in a day as LO would eat at daycare for a while. I loved pumping- I felt like it was easier than nursing and I felt like it was so productive since I got so much milk. Then for various reasons my supply started to tank after I'd been back at work for a few months and I was really happy to have my huge freezer stash to supplement what I could produce on a daily basis. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-during-mat-leave-should-i-start-trying-to-build-a-stash#post-818330 Thu, 30 May 2013 13:32:32 +0000 Adira 818330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I returned to work when my LO was 12 weeks. I started pumping around 4 weeks and originally wasn't getting much out, but eventually I started pumping 4x a day, after every feed before the evening (when he'd want to cluster feed and there was no point in pumping) and could usually get 3-4 oz a day (so almost 1 oz at each pumping session). By the time I returned to work, I had about 80z frozen (I think). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-during-mat-leave-should-i-start-trying-to-build-a-stash#post-818327 Thu, 30 May 2013 13:31:59 +0000 Anagram 818327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, good information! So I don't really need a lot of supplies (extra pumping parts, flanges, etc.) just yet. Good to know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-during-mat-leave-should-i-start-trying-to-build-a-stash#post-818273 Thu, 30 May 2013 13:13:53 +0000 LemonLong 818273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my LC advised not to start pumping until 4-6 weeks after baby was born so my supply has time to regulate. I only pumped once a day while I was on maternity (right after the first morning feed). I'm now on month 7 of breastfeeding and pumping so it worked for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-during-mat-leave-should-i-start-trying-to-build-a-stash#post-818268 Thu, 30 May 2013 13:12:53 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 818268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started pumping when he was around 10 weeks, but didn't do it often. I really only pumped when he had a bottle to "replace" what I took from the freezer. I didn't try to create a stash.</p> <p>I teach in a public school and went back when my son was 4 months. Do you have a set schedule? I pumped during my lunch, my students' specials classes' and after school (sometimes before school as well). Sometimes the timing didn't work out or we'd have professional development and I had administration get someone to cover my class for 20-25 min. It was kinda a pain, but I'm glad I did. Don't be shy - you have the right to pump &amp; they have to allow you time! I came up with a plan for my schedule and presented it to my principal when I came back from leave. It got tweaked during the year &amp; it was a pain in the butt sometimes, but I rarely had need for the freezer stash (like when I spill milk). </p> <p>I also read to try not to rely on frozen milk as a regular resource for replacing pumping sessions, because your body starts thinking you don't need that umpumped milk.</p> <p>ETA: my son is 8 months now &amp; I made it to summer break. I plan to keep pumping for the beginning of the school year until he's 1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-during-mat-leave-should-i-start-trying-to-build-a-stash#post-818219 Thu, 30 May 2013 13:01:09 +0000 yellowbird 818219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started at 4 weeks. It was perfect. I would pump 1X per day between 3-6 am and get a lot of milk! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-during-mat-leave-should-i-start-trying-to-build-a-stash#post-818207 Thu, 30 May 2013 12:59:16 +0000 birdofafeather 818207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i didn't get my pump for a while and i wish i had it sooner (looking back) to start my stash! i would wait a couple weeks (4-6) for your supply to regulate and get used to everything. then you can start pumping in the mornings after the first feeding to get a stash going.</p> <p>here are some resources from kellymom: <a href="http://kellymom.com/category/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/category/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-during-mat-leave-should-i-start-trying-to-build-a-stash#post-817436 Thu, 30 May 2013 10:02:10 +0000 hellobeeboston 817436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So - right when the babe is born, maybe the first month - I don't think you're supposed to pump so that your supply can regulate to what your baby needs. I waited 2 months to really start pumping to build up a stash, but that was mainly because I was feeding him every 2-3 hours. Once it spaced a little more to 3 hours, I would usually do one pump in the morning an hour after feeding and keep it in the fridge for a day or two in case we needed it, and if we didn't, then I froze it.</p> <p>I didn't have a huge supply so it was hard for me to stash much away, I wished I had committed to it a little more, i was pretty lax, and now at 7 months I only have about 20oz frozen - nothing! I blew through my entire stash when I was away from LO for a night.</p> <p>anyway.... yeah, i think it's a bit of a wait &amp; see situation depending on your supply! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-during-mat-leave-should-i-start-trying-to-build-a-stash#post-817408 Thu, 30 May 2013 09:54:56 +0000 Anagram 817408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will be returning to work when LO is about 4-5 months old (depending on when she actually arrives). Right now, I'm planning to just breastfeed for at least a couple of weeks (but I'm flexible on that), and then try to introduce a bottle at least once a day so baby will be used to a bottle when I go back to work.</p> <p>At what point should I try to pump extra to start building a stash? Is this something I just have to wait-and-see, depending on my supply? Or should I start pumping from the beginning, just to signal to my body to make more? Or should I wait until I know if I have under/over supply and then decide?</p> <p>I'm 7 weeks from my EDD, and I just realized I should start buying bottles, pumping bags, etc. if building a stash is something I should be starting right away. I do *really* want a decent stash if it's possible, because I work in a school, and I don't know how easy it's going to be to have a regular pumping schedule at work, and my supply may drop quite a bit when I go back to work.</p> <p>Also, is it worth it to get a bottle sterilizer to use for both bottles and pump parts?</p> <p>Tips? Advice? </p>