How To Build Up Breast Milk Stash

Struggling to build your freezer stash? Check out the exact method I used to relieve over 100oz of milk in ii weeks!

Struggling to build your freezer stash? Check out the exact method I used to relieve over 100oz of milk in two weeks!

If you've been keeping up with me on Instagram, then you lot know that I've been blessed to build a pretty decent sized freezer stash in a pretty brusque period fourth dimension.

And by 'pretty decent' I mean over 100oz in TWO WEEKS!

I won't lie, I'm pretty shocked myself, just then again, one of my pumping goals this fourth dimension effectually was to build a freezer stash so that I wouldn't have to stress about milk if/when I take dips in my supply.

A dip in supply can happen at whatsoever time.

For instance, whenever Aunt flow decides to rear her ugly caput, I have a pretty significant drop in supply.

Going extended periods of fourth dimension between pumping can besides cause a dip in supply.

For instance, I'm on a plane as I type this and I haven't been able to pump since about 1am (it'southward currently 2pm).

You tin can merely imagine

one. How swollen my boobs are right now

two. How going soo many hours in betwixt pumping sessions tin can mess with supply.

I've been getting a ton of questions lately about how I was able to pump so much in such a short catamenia of time and how I've been able to maintain fifty-fifty when I go long periods of time between sessions.

I'yard glad to say that I'm FINALLY able to share my tips and tricks then that y'all can learn how to build your freezer stash FAST!

---

Beginning Early

I started pumping the same day that my son was born.

While I did go my son to latch a few times in the hospital, I had already decided that I wanted to pump this time around (mom shammers save your jiff).

Why?

Too it being my prerogative, I merely felt like pumping was what was best for me and my fiddling one.

So, a few hours after he was born, I requested a pump from the hospital so that I could start pumping right away.

Since I had a c-section, my milk hadn't come in yet and therefore, by pumping, I was signaling to my trunk that there was a demand for milk.

I pumped ever 3 hrs for 20mins each.

Initially, I was getting a few drops of colostrum, and by the time I left the hospital, I was making almost 4oz at each session.

I truly believe that starting early on set the foundation for my supply and along with the following tips, helped me to speedily build my freezer stash.

Follow a Consistent Pumping Schedule

This step is but as of import every bit the start!

Pumping exclusively requires real commitment and dedication.

That said, exist prepared to exist Exhausted!

The beginning few months of pumping crave yous to pump every few hours around the clock – that is, if yous want to build a solid milk supply.

I followed a strict pumping schedule and equally a result, I had over 100oz frozen past the time he was two weeks old.

Another huge reward of pumping consistently during those early weeks is that infant doesn't eat as much since he's sleeping most of the fourth dimension.

As a result, y'all become to save a large chunk of the milk that you pump.

Consume Foods That Help With Supply

I accept an entire post on the dissimilar foods and supplements that are essential for a healthy milk supply.

I will say though, it'due south SUPER important to be sure that yous are eating enough and staying properly hydrated.

If non, you may begin to run into a decrease in your supply.

If y'all do start seeing a decrease this early on, don't panic!

Brand certain that you're pumping consistently.

You could also try upping your calories and h2o intake to see if that helps.

As a terminal resort, you could effort making one of these lactation recipes to give your supply a heave!

Alternate Between Pumping To Feed & Pumping To Save

Okay soo, this is crucial as well!

Past alternate what yous allocate your milk to from each session, you lot ensure that yous're freezing milk multiple times each twenty-four hours.

Since the actual amount of milk pumped volition vary from woman to women, I tin can't lay out an exact template that you should follow, nonetheless, I'll share exactly what I do to requite yous an idea of what this could await like for you.

I should as well notation that I pump about 6-9oz (sometimes ten) during each session.

I'thou not entirely sure if this ways that I have an crowd buuut I figured that was important to note.

I also pump the almost milk during my early morning session and I pump the to the lowest degree milk during my late night session.

---

Okay, Hither'southward The Freezer Stash Scenario…

3am – Pump for 20mins & make 10oz

I pocketbook and freeze 6oz and have a 3oz bottle set up when he wakes upward.

I take the remaining 1oz of milk and place information technology in a bottle in the fridge.

-i canteen (3oz) and 1oz (in refrigerator) on hand

–6oz frozen

6am – Pump for 20mins and brand 8oz

Baby woke up at 5am to eat the 3oz bottle from 3am.

I make 2 3oz bottles and add the remaining 2oz of milk to the 1oz bottle in the fridge from before.

-3 bottles(9oz) on manus

-6oz frozen

9am – Pump for 20mins and make 7oz

Baby had 3oz canteen at 7am.

I freeze 3oz, salve 3oz, and salvage 1oz in refrigerator.

-I now have a total of 3 bottles (9oz) in the refrigerator

-I now have 9oz frozen

12pm – Pump for 20mins and make 7oz

Babe had bottle at 9am and 11am.

I save 6oz (ii 3oz bottles) and add 1oz to the 1oz bottle in the refrigerator  (2oz).

-I accept 3 bottles (9oz) in the fridge along with a 2oz canteen that I will add to afterward.

-Nonetheless have 9oz frozen

3pm – Pump for 20 mins and make 6oz

Baby ate at 1pm and will eat once again afterwards 3pm pumping session.

I save 6oz (two 3oz bottles).

-I have 3 bottles (9oz) in the refrigerator & the 2oz canteen that I will add together to.

-9oz frozen

6pm – Pump for 20mins and brand 6oz

Babe had bottle at 5pm

I save 3oz and freeze 3oz

-I take three bottles (9oz) in the refrigerator

-I at present have 12oz frozen

9pm – Pump for 20mins make 6oz

Infant ate at 7pm and volition eat again subsequently 9pm pumping session.

I save 6oz (ii bottles)

-I take 9oz in fridge along with 2oz bottle that I will add to.

-12oz in freezer

Midnight – Pump for 20mins make 5oz

Baby will eat over again after pumping session and volition slumber until 6am.

I freeze 3oz, add 1oz to 2oz bottle in fridge and salve 1oz to add to afterward.

-I take 9oz in fridge and a 1oz canteen that I will add to

-12oz frozen

Quick note…

If yous noticed, I effort to proceed at to the lowest degree 9oz on hand (in fridge) and I simply freeze and make bottles in 3oz increments.

I know that this may seem confusing, and it volition vary depending on your supply, but if y'all're exclusively pumping, information technology's so important to brand sure that you are delegate how you shop your milk in order to build your stash FAST!

Strive To Save The Same Amount Each Time

As stated earlier, I only freeze and make bottles in 3oz increments.

While yous tin always save more or less, I've found that 3oz works best for me.

Freezer bags lay perfectly apartment with 3oz vs. the 4oz that I saved with my oldest.

I institute that I wasted a lot of milk when I was saving and storing milk in 4oz increments.

I'd always end upwards with 1oz that went in the trash.

Then this time around I decided to only bottle and salvage 3oz at a time and it's been working like a amuse.

3oz is besides perfect for when I take a pumping session where I pump an odd number (ex. 7oz).

I'chiliad able to make 2 bottles or save 2 freezer bags of milk.

Then I'm able to utilise the leftover oz to add to if baby wants more or if I pump another odd amount.

RELATED: seven Foods That Will Boost Your Milk Supply

& that'south how I saved over 100oz of breast milk in 2 weeks.

I now have well over that amount but I've stopped counting.

To give you some perspective though, I went out of town recently and was able to leave behind 10 bottles (30oz) and an entire deep freezer worth of milk for my little one.

To say that I'm grateful is an understatement.

Anyone who pumps exclusively knows how exhausting it tin be.

However, I'one thousand here to tell you that those late nights volition pay off!

I hope these tips were helpful and that your freezer stash is coming along nicely!

Practice you take a freezer stash?

If and then, how much practice y'all accept saved so far?

Hey Girl, Hey!

Thanks for dropping by to bank check out my little corner of the internet. I'thousand Kermilia! I'm a Christian, introverted millennial, married to the dearest of my life, and a SAHM to two amazing fiddling boys and a spunky infant girl. I started The Millennial Stay-At-Home-Mom to share my journey as a young mom on a mission to find purpose in every season of motherhood.

Now that you lot're here, stay awhile.

Source: https://www.themillennialsahm.com/freezer-stash/

Share this post