FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

I'm going back to work in the city in 2 1/2 weeks and DS2 will be almost 7 weeks old at that point (no FMLA for me ). When you went back to work, how much milk did you have in the fridge/freezer?

I'm paranoid about not having enough milk at the sitter's house while I'm gone. I've started to freeze an extra 4 oz/day after his morning nursing session. At least once a week, I'm away for 12 hours (or 13 if LIRR has delays). That's the day I worry about most! TIA!

FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

I think the rule of thumb is 1-2oz per hour you are away. Depends on your baby.

I had about 100oz before I went back to work. I was continuing to pump 4 bottles a day (4oz each) and save them for the next day. My DS is 6 months now so I just started supplementing with formula if and when needed. I just can't stand pumping anymore :/

Re: FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

I had a little longer to stockpile than you, but my production was low in general so it didn't last long. I had maybe 20 6oz bags frozen, but even with keeping the pumping up we started formula supplementing soon after I went back to work.
My output dropped b/c pumping at work was a B^&**&^^%%&^&^% with commuting too.

FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

Just keep pumping - pump for 5 min after each feeding. Get your body used to making more and pumping so you can produce enough each day so that you won't generally have to go into the stash.

Re: FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

Thanks for the tips! It looks like I need to start pumping more to build that stash.

FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

When I went back to work my stash was about 130 oz. I pumped for DS till he was almost 14 months and never once had to supplement with formula. I even still have 12 oz left over in my freezer! My body was able to keep up with his needs each day for the next day's bottles and I would dip into the stash when I had to skip a pump because of meetings or a super busy schedule. I don't think its necessary to have a huge stash for it to work. Only difference is I don't commute to the city so the longest I was away from DS was about 10 hours a day.

Re: FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

I would not stress about a stash. My per said to actually be careful because when it freezes it can change the taste of your milk, and you don't even know if your LO will take it. I did build a small stash for emergencies, but honestly I gave him what I pumped the day before. Most days I pumped 3 times at work making about 15 oz, so I packed that up each evening and that is what he took to babysitters the next day. I focused mainly on nursing in morning and night anyway. Don't stress about it, LO will get what they need. If they don't take a ton of calories during the day, they will get them when you get home. My only word of caution is to pay attention to your body. Because I was nursing less and pumping in a rushed situation all the time, I wasn't draining enough. I ended up developing mastitis. I ignored it bc I didn't have time to go to drs, didn't want to leave LO, etc… and ended up in the ER. So that's it. Otherwise, don't stress I work full time and nursed till he was 2, they adapt.

Re: FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

I went back at 13 weeks and had an oversupply. I had close to 400 oz. I knew I wouldn't always be able to pump 3x per day at work and I knew from my first experience how much my supply tanked once AF came back. I only pumped once per day on maternity leave starting around 6 weeks, but DS2 started STTN at 10 weeks, which helped. Between the sleeping and my oversupply, it wasn't difficult to build up a huge stash. It also allowed me to cut back on pumping earlier and I didn't struggle to make it to 12 months like I did with my first. I rotated the milk and used a combination of fresh and frozen milk throughout the first year.

I know other people who barely had a freezer stash and we're able to produce enough during the day. I didn't want to stress out about how much I pumped each session so having the extra stash helped.

Re: FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

I think when I went back I had about 200oz stashed. I also started pumping when DC was 2 weeks . I was lucky with my 2nd that what I pumped at work was enough for DC the next day. My goal was one year of BM and I did it.

FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

I pumped all the time. I don't remember how many oz's I had when I went back to work but I would feed in the AM and then pump. Pump as soon as I got to work and then 2x more time that day. I came home and would nurse, then pump. And then I would pump again before i went to sleep. In the early stages I would wake up in the middle of the night when DH would give a bottle and I would pump. I ended up having milk for triplets but I was nervous about not having enough milk (especially with being gone all day and commuiting)....

FTWMs who BF and Freezing Milk Before Going Back

I went back to work when DD was 12 wks, I had maybe 24oz in the freezer? I just couldn't get that much pumping at home and only pumped after her morning feeding. I basically made sure I had enough for her first day of daycare and then that was about it. I figured whatever I pumped at work would be enough for her to take to daycare, so my first day of work pumping would provide for her the next day, so on and so forth. I was out of the house 6-6 every day and never supplemented. I pumped 3x a day at work and that was it. I did manage to freeze 4-8 oz at the end of each week, since I seemed to pump a little more than she'd take at daycare, so it helped having some extra just in case I missed a pumping session at work.