Another pumping question...

[todzwife]

So how much should I pump??? I would like to have a little bit of a freezer stash just in case, but I read that since a baby's nutritional needs change that it isn't as beneficial to give them pumped milk that is say a month old...I have plenty of milk right now, and would like to "take advantage" of my supply...so should I pump and freeze a days worth? 2 days? I plan on introducing a bottle around 5 weeks just to get him familiar with it, I would just assume pumping right before the time when he would be getting hungry to give hime a bottle of nice warm fresh milk, but a freezer "stash" sounds like a good idea...oh! And I won't be working, I get to stay home with my little one! So I don't need a huge stash. And how long can I keep it in the fridge? Thanks!

[C99]

Every book/site I've read recommends different numbers, but I go by these guidelines for keeping an EBM stash: up to 8 hours freshly pumped and outside, up to 1 week in the fridge, up to 3 months in the freezer.

While it's true that breastmilk changes over time as your baby grows, it's better than formula. Until your baby is 6-weeks-old or so, your milk supply is still regulating itself. Dallin is about 3-weeks-old now, so that is about time for a growth spurt -- he'll eat all the time to increase your supply. If you find yourself with full breasts just after he's eaten, go ahead and pump a bit out for your "freezer stash." But really, at this point, I wouldn't worry too much about pumping.

[stillplayswithbarbies]

you don't want to pump too much, or it will stimulate you to have an oversupply. But I think you should take advantage of it and get some in the freezer now. You never know when something will come up and having a freezer stash may let you go visit a sick friend or something.

Yes, breastmilk does change as the baby grows, and even adjusts to what they need that very day as far as antibodies etc. When I feed Logan from the freezer stash (three days a week at the babysitter), I also make sure to send a freshly pumped bottle from that morning. Three month old breastmilk is still better for her than formula. :)

If you have a deep freeze, it will keep 6 months. You'll want to have some later when he starts solids for mixing with cereal and thinning the pureed fruits and veggies.

...Karen
Jacob Nathaniel Feb 91
Logan Elizabeth Mar 03

[Momof3Labs]

I've had no problem keeping EBM in my regular freezer for 4-5 months. The 3 month date is on the conservative side, IMO... I've heard 6 months, too, and that seems more consistent with my experience.

I think that the changes in nutritional composition becomes much more of an issue if you are pumping exclusively or the majority of the time. For an occasional bottle (or even a few bottles), it won't make a bit of difference, and as everyone else said, it is still better than formula!