FTWM who pump

My DD is EBF, since I will be going back :( , I have to start building my stockpile, any good tips for doing this?

When do you normally pump? I was thinking if she only takes one side, pump the other, one side I can get 5 ounces out of, and that's the second one I offer because the other is not the good producer, so usually I offer the smaller one first, then sometimes she goes to the other. Or do you pump after she finishes, like when she pops herself off, do I then pump for a little more to get it to produce more milk that I can then pump and store?

Also, how do you send the BM to daycare? Do you send frozen bags or do you send it in bottles? If I defrost it in the morning and make bottles, is it going to be bad by time she needs them later in the day? How much do you put in the bottles? She is 6 weeks old, I am going back in about 3 weeks, so I am going to start pumping and storing now, I am just so confused as to how to send it!

FTWM who pump

When I was trying to stockpile, I would pump while he napped in the AM. Other people have had success with pumping first thing in the morning, but that didn't work for me, b/c (1) I am not an early riser, and (2) I had other stuff to do in the morning! Sometimes I would also pump one side while he was nursing on the other. the advantage to that is that I could pump more that way than pumping alone.
As far as sending to DC, my DC does not fix any BM or formula from home, so I had to send it in in bottles, which meant it had to be thawed. So what I would usually do is put the frozen milk in the fridge the night before, and then put it in bottles in the AM once it was thawed. In a pinch, (if I forgot or something) I would defrost the milk enough that it was at least a little liquidy, and then put it in the bottles like that.
It won't go bad in that short amount of time, don't worry! It will be refrigerated at DC, remember!
GL with returning to work! Hope it goes smoothly for you

Re: FTWM who pump

I really didn't stockpile. I usually pumped 3 x a day at work and then gave him that pumped milk the next day. I always made him 3 bottles of 5 oz each, I didn't send it in bags. Again, I usually used fresh milk to make the bottles. If I was using frozen, I prepared them the night before anyway.

ETA: My advice to you is to get extra pump parts and keep at work. I had an occasion or two where I couldn't pump a day because I left pieces at home.

Message edited 8/12/2013 5:22:25 PM.

FTWM who pump

I would feed then pump. I wouldn't worry about a huge stockpile if you plan to pump at work. My dd went to daycare at 12 weeks and is there from 630-430. I started her off with 4 4oz bottles and an extra bag of BM they keep in the freezer at daycare. I pull out the milksicles before I go to work in the am, thaw them in the fridge and make the bottles when I get home for the next day.