BF/Pumping Moms - When did you start a freezer stash?

DD is 2.5 weeks old. Not sure why, but I'm putting tremendous pressure on myself to start a freezer stash, but as of now, I'm not producing enough to do so. I BF about 3-4x a day and pump the rest <making sure I do a BF or pump every 2-3 hours>. I make just about enough to feed her <I occasionally throw in a formula bottle here and there>

Should I be taking some measures to increase my supply? Or is it a pipe dream that I would be starting a freezer stash this early? Eta when i give her a formula bottle i make sure to pump at the same time

Message edited 9/24/2010 2:40:51 AM.

Re: BF/Pumping Moms - When did you start a freezer stash?

The more you pump in the first 3-4 weeks, the more you establish a good supply. If it were me, I wouldn't throw in any formula at all because that's telling your body to make that much less milk. KWIM? You can pump after every nursing session and that will tell your body to make more milk, and that extra that you get can start your freezer stash.

I wish I would've started pumping in the first month. I kind of missed my opportunity to get a better supply established because I didn't start pumping until after the first month.

Re: BF/Pumping Moms - When did you start a freezer stash?

I started pumping around 2.5 weeks, but didn't even come close to starting a freezer stash until a few months later. He did need to have about 2-3 bottles of pumped BM a week though, so it took a while to build some reserves, you know? But I agree with Crissy, I would avoid formula right now, because you are at the point where you are training your breasts still. The more formula you give, the less milk you will produce. If you want to build up a freezer supply, I would recommend pumping and nursing as often as possible. GL!

Re: BF/Pumping Moms - When did you start a freezer stash?

I was able to put away more milk earlier. Now that mine is 4 weeks, he needs what I give him and what I pumped earlier during the late feeding... and then I give him formula. He eats a lot. Every kid is different.

I figure as he eats more and my supply goes up, I'll get more. This last week, he's been drying me out.

Re: BF/Pumping Moms - When did you start a freezer stash?

If your supply is low, I would not worry about a freezer stash this early in the game. Just keep pumping. When you start noticing you have more than what you need, freeze it. I started to freeze around 4 weeks and had a great stash-until DD was diagnosed with a milk allergy . Now I have about 35 ozs

I would make sure you are drinking enough water, eating enough. Try oatmeal, dark beer, fenugreek, Mother's Milk Tea, and if you are desperate, More Milk Plus is supposed to be good.

Re: BF/Pumping Moms - When did you start a freezer stash?

I agree with PPers..never replace a nursing session with a pump or formula IF you want to increase your supply..you baby tells your body best what amount of milk to make! Thant being said within the first 6-8 weeks your supply isn't established yet so this is the best time to nurse AND pump to teach your body to make more...I would pump after each nursing session even if it is only an oz that is fine...they only drink 2 oz in the beginning anyway...then when they start sleeping longer stretches pump in between feeds like if your baby nurses at 8 and sleeps til midnight..pump at 10ish....

then when they sleep longer stretches pump before you go to bed...for example I would nurse my DCs to sleep around 9ish and then pump at 11 rt before I went to bed.

I also "taught" my DC and my breast to nurse off one breast first thing in the morning when I was at my fullest and I would pump the other breast and I would get all extra there!

HTH
Good Luck

Re: BF/Pumping Moms - When did you start a freezer stash?

I agree with pp. Just keep pumping and eventually you will build up your supply.

I exclusively pumped. I started freezing when I had enough milk in the fridge for a day or 2 and the rest got frozen. I would replace what she was eating and just keep adding to the freezer stash. Eventually I was pumping more than she was eating at a time, which helped build up the freezer supply.

I ate oatmeal every morning when I was pumping.

Good luck!