Stocking Up On Milk
You can begin preparing to pump at work about 6 weeks before your return date by pumping and freezing milk. Ignore the photos on social media of freezers full of hundreds of ounces of pumped milk. You really only need enough milk for the first day you and your baby are separated, plus some extra as a cushion!
There are a couple ways to stock up on frozen milk:
Incorporate one pumping session into your day, most days. Milk production tends to be highest in the morning. Pump 20-30 minutes after a feed. The first couple of times you do this, you may not see much more than a few drops—it’s OK! Keep at it. Your body will catch on within a few days and begin expressing more milk, especially if you pump around the same time every day.
If you leak quite a bit during feedings, you can also store up a few ounces at a time by using a passive milk collection tool. There are many on the market, examples include the Hakkaa silicone breast pump, Hakkaa Ladybug, and Elvie Catch.
How much milk should you store?
Most families only need about 2 full days worth of a milk stash (around 50 oz/1,500 ml). This gives you some wiggle room once you go back to work or to handle unforeseen separation from baby. There is no reason to save more milk than this, unless you:
Travel away from baby (in which case, have ~25 oz/750 ml per day for each day you’ll be gone and pump while you’re separated to protect your milk supply)
Are expecting to be unable to breastfeed for a set amount of time (surgery, for example, you’ll need ~25 oz/750 ml per day for each day and pump while you’re separated to protect your milk supply)
Are exclusively pumping (and then you’ll need… you guessed it… ~25 oz/750 ml per day!)
A Free Toolkit to Help You Return to Work After Having a Baby
Our toolkit includes guidance and checklists to help pumping or breastfeeding/chestfeeding parents navigate this challenging time with more ease.
