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Are you looking to build your milk stash? If so, you’re in luck! This guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to get the most milk out of your pumping sessions. Follow these tips and before you know it, you’ll have a nice stockpile of milk saved up! It can be hard to stockpile enough breast milk while breastfeeding or exclusively pumping. While a stockpile is not necessary for most moms, many mothers desire to have some extra milk in the freezer. You may want to have a stockpile of breast milk ready for when your maternity leave ends. Or maybe you had a rough day pumping and don’t want to have to do it again the next day or you just want some extra milk “just in case” Follow these tips to help you build a milk stash and avoid any potential stress down the road.
When to Start Pumping for StorageThis answer will be different for everyone, but in general, I would recommend pumping for storage when:
Many mothers have an excess of milk in the first few weeks after giving birth, so it can be tempting to try and collect all of that extra milk while you have it. However, this is not something I would recommend doing unless you absolutely have to, as it can lead to creating an oversupply, which isn’t ideal. There are some ways that you can collect some of this milk without impact your supply, which I’ll talk about in the next section. Do you need a milk stash?This is the question I always get – do I NEED a milk stash? And honestly – no, most moms don’t need a huge freezer stash, and the expectation to do leads to unneeded stress, overpumping, and often, it causes moms to stop breastfeeding altogether because they feel they will never have “enough”. Here are a few situations where a milk stash would be helpful:
How to Build a Breast Milk Stash While Breastfeeding Full-TimeWhen you are nursing from the breast full-time, it can be tricky to know how and when you can collect extra milk. One thing to keep in mind is that small amounts build up over time. Even if you are just getting an ounce (or less!) from these efforts, you can store them in a fridge (or a Ceres Breast Milk Chiller) and then pool them all together when you are ready to freeze them. You can also use something like the Ceres Chill Milkstache, which is a great way to store milk in smaller amounts. Here are a few tips for building a breast milk stash: Use a Passive CollectorPassive collectors are designed to sit in your bra throughout the day and collect drip milk. These are fantastic for the early days of breastfeeding when you might be leaking more. Make sure you empty these frequently to ensure bacteria doesn’t grow Here are a few options:
Use a Silicone Suction PumpThis is one of the most popular ways for moms to collect extra milk. The most commonly recommended brand is Haakaa. This suctions to the opposite breast from where you are nursing. It collects drip milk, as well as stimulates the breast to collect a little bit of extra milk throughout a feeding. Many moms say that this is how they built up a nice freezer stash in the early weeks and months of breastfeeding. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Here is a great article about the Haakaa. Pump After FeedingThis is one of the most classic ways to get a little bit of extra milk – pump after a feeding. I generally recommend waiting about 15-20 minutes. While your breasts are never truly empty, sometimes when you pump too close when your baby wants to breastfeed again, it can make your flow a little slower which babies don’t always love. You may not get a lot of milk from pumping after a feed, but it ⭐️ Pro Tip – use a hands-free breast pump to make this process a little easier. At the very least, invest in a good hands-free pumping bra. Prioritize Morning CollectionThe morning hours are when your supply will typically be at its highest – so make your prioritize your extra pumping during this time. Fictitious Feed at NightIf your baby sleeps for a longer period of time at night, you may want to consider adding in a “fictitious feed”. This is where you pump at the same time every night Hand ExpressHand expression is a great tool, and it can help you get a little extra milk after nursing OR pumping. I always recommend doing a little bit of hand expression to get extra milk. Here is more information! Use What You NeedIf you are pumping a lot of milk, it doesn’t mean you need to use all of it! Breastfed babies need about 24-30 ounces in 24 hours, which ends up being about 1-1.5 ounces per hour. Store whatever your baby doesn’t need – start with a smaller bottle and add more if needed (rather than feeding all that you pumped and having to discard the rest). Add in massage and compressionsMassage and compressions are SO beneficial for helping with milk output. By adding these into your routine, you might be able to get a little bit of extra milk to store. Your hands are always your best tool, but if you want a little bit of help, here are a few helpful tools:
Pumping Starter KitGrab this MUST-HAVE Pumping Starter Kit to help making pumping a little easier! How to Build a Breast Milk Stash While Exclusively PumpingBuilding a milk stash while you are exclusively pumping can be tricky, since often you are pumping milk for the feed you are about to feed. However, if you plan ahead, you can make it work. You can use several of the tips I mentioned above, but here are a couple of additional ones: Many pumping moms end up with a pretty reliable routine of pumping. If you find you are making “just enough”, you could try and add in an additional pump session. Increase your supplyI know, this is easier said than done. However, if you are able to increase your supply just by a marginal amount, you might be able to store a little bit extra from each pump session. Here are some tips for increasing milk supply. Use FormulaSome moms would rather stretch out the length of time they offer breast milk – even if they combine it with formula – than just feed breast milk for as long as possible. If you fall in this camp, you could try offering formula for 1-2 feeds during the day and store the milk that you pump during that time for another time. Storing Your Breast Milk StashOnce you’ve pumped enough milk to cover your baby’s needs while you’re away, you’ll need to store it properly. Here are a few tips:
Here are a couple of posts on storage you might find helpful:
Building a milk stash can be tricky if you’re exclusively pumping. However, by following these tips, it’s possible to build up your stockpile of breast milk with ease and feel more confident returning to work while knowing that your baby will have enough food while you’re away. If all this seems like too much work or you need help figuring out how More Breastfeeding Articles You Might Enjoy:
Katie Clark is a Certified Lactation Educator, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, and IBCLC student. She has helped thousands of mothers and families around the globe navigate breastfeeding challenges and questions since 2015. She has a passion for creating research-based, helpful breastfeeding education and helping parents find a way to make breastfeeding work for them. Katie is a mom of three little boys and lives in the great state of Colorado. She also has a degree in Communications with an emphasis in print journalism. How often should you pump to build a stash?Aim for about five times a week, says Kaznelson. See how comfortable baby feels with it and how much they might consume from it each session. Have your partner, friend or potential caregiver give the bottle so you can pump at the same time.
How long does it take to build a breastmilk stash?Tips to Create Your Stockpile
Wait 3-4 weeks if you can. If you must return to work within 3-4 weeks, start pumping sooner. If you know you'll eventually be returning to work, start pumping then to build up your freezer stash. Remember, breastmilk lasts 6-12 months in the freezer.
How much milk should I be producing when exclusively pumping?If you're exclusively pumping, on average, you should try maintain full milk production of about 25-35 oz. (750-1,035 mL) per 24 hours. It may take some time to achieve this target, do not worry about hitting this on day one! Babies may take more milk from the bottle than when breastfeeding.
Can I keep my milk supply up by just pumping?The amount of milk your body makes depends on the number of times your breasts are emptied throughout the day. Draining the breast by pumping often, like your baby would be nursing, will build or maintain a good supply of pumped milk. Most babies breastfeed about eight to 12 times every day.
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