My Pump Routine to Build a Peace of Mind Freezer Stash
I was fortunate enough to build a large enough “peace of mind” freezer stash to donate my breastmilk. While I struggled with a massive and uncomfortable oversupply with my first, I was able to build a healthy, consistent surplus with my second. You do not need a massive freezer stash to go back to work/produce enough/be away from your baby. Don’t let the full freezer pictures like the one above make you think *you* are not producing enough.
That being said, while you do not *NEED* a large freezer stash, establishing a slight oversupply helped me have peace of mind. I knew if I got sick and my supply dropped or if my supply dropped when I returned to work, I would still have enough supply for my baby. I’m writing here today to share how I established my Peace of Mind oversupply and the Spectra pump settings I used to make my pump sessions as efficient as possible.
The First Month
The first couple of weeks of baby’s life are filled with sleep deprivation, getting to know each other, and learning nursing. I did not pump during the first month postpartum. I focused on nursing when my baby needed me – basically whenever she cried. To differentiate days and nights, I woke baby to feed approximately every 2.5hrs during the day and woke baby up every three hours at night to feed (per my pediatrician’s advice). I’ve found spacing feedings closer together during the day and giving a little more time at night has helped my babies get days and night’s oriented quickly.
When my milk came in, I did use my trusty Haakaa (one of my favorites as mentioned here) to catch my let down on the other side and waste fewer nursing pads. I collected my Haakaa milk, stored in Madela bottles in the fridge, and then froze in 3oz increments in milk storage bags.
The Morning Feed and a Peace of Mind Pump
After that first month, I pumped once (or twice) a day depending on how well my baby slept that night. Because milk supply peaks in the early morning hours, I tried to make my pump after my first morning feed. Pumping near that hormone driven milk peak helps you get maximum output in a pumping session. Your milk hormones are typically lowest during the evening hours (hence the cluster feeding/witching hours).
If I planned on going out, this meant pumping in the car with my Blue Spectra. After each pumping session, I would hand express for a couple of minutes to make sure my breast was empty. I HATE hand expression BUT it absolutely sends a clear signal to your body that this milk is needed and give my body more! I survived two minutes of hand expression and don’t regret it. 🙂
Before pumping, I would recommend using a Haakaa *at least* for the first morning feed in a day. Because milk supply is highest in the morning hours, a lot of let down milk usually goes to waste. Even active babies that tend to kick off the Haakaa usually are pretty focused on keeping up with that first morning feed. If you happen to have a very active baby/don’t like the Haakaa, some good milk collector options that fit in your bra and won’t be kicked off are the Boon milk collector or the Elvie Curve. Personally, I did not like the feel of the Haakaa ladybug collectors, but that is an affordable option if you would like to catch that let down.
The Daytime Feeds
As mentioned before, I tried to target feeds no more than 2.5hrs apart during the day. If my baby asked for milk sooner, I nursed them, however I tried to keep those daytime feeds close together. If I was home, I tended to still use my Haakaa. I did not worry about using a Haakaa if I was out of the house.
The biggest factor in determining adequate supply (for me) was ensuring I offered the breast anytime my baby asked for it. There was not a need to pump after every feed or take any special supplements. Generally, I would recommend against taking special supplements. Supplements do not always work as intended. Hand expression after a feed gives your body the clearest signals to produce more milk.
The Bedtime Feed and a Peace of Mind Pump
Before my baby was sleeping well, I would offer the last feed of the day before bedtime and I would try to get to sleep as soon after my baby as possible. For most babies, the first sleep stretch tends to be the longest. As a well rested mama, I was better able to produce milk and keep up with my baby’s needs.
After my baby started to sleep longer stretches at night, I would pump once before bed. If I did not pump, I would be too uncomfortably engorged to sleep. I found pumping at night to be draining (pun intended), a sleep disturbance, and sometimes counterproductive if I didn’t know when my baby would wake. Pumping before bed allowed ME to sleep longer stretches at night. I built a single pump before bed into my routine.
Maximizing and a Peace of Mind Pumping
I genuinely can’t believe how little I knew about pumping modes and extracting milk during my first nursing journey. Some lactation consultants in the hospital gave me the advice to pump for a certain amount of time. When I look back on that advice, I still don’t know if it was just because my milk hadn’t come in yet or if it was just bad advice.
Pump Modes
When you power on your Spectra pump, press the “bacon” button once. This initiates the “let down” mode. The let down mode is quick bursts of suction that mimics what your baby does when they are trying to initiate a let down. Some mamas can feel a let down, but even if you can’t, you should be able to see milk being extracted in flows. This typically occurs after about a minute or two.
After you’ve initiated a let down, press that same “bacon” button. This will switch the pump to extraction mode. This mimics the long draws of milk your baby would do after initiating a let down. After a little while (5 to 10 mins), you will notice less milk coming out. This is a great opportunity to hit that “bacon” button again and ask your body for another let down. Try for another two minutes. If you’re not able to get another let down, I would end the pumping session. If you are able to get another let down, extract that milk by pressing the “bacon” button again.
Using these modes helps you make your pumping time as efficient as possible. There is no need to sit on the pump for a certain amount of time – listen to what your body is giving you. After a pumping session, I recommend hand extraction to ensure the breast is as empty as possible. Pumping sessions last longer when you’re more full (like the morning) and can be shorter when you’re less full (like evenings).
Pump Cycles
When you toggle between “let down” mode and “extraction” mode, you will see different numbers pop up in the windows. This indicates how many suctions there are per minute in your mode. You can increase and decrease these with the plus and minus buttons on the right hand side of your pump. I typically like to have a “70” in let down mode and a “38” in extraction mode. Your body may be different than mine. Listen to your body and set the mode that works best for you.
Pumping for Peace of Mind Supply
Pumping and nursing does not have to be all consuming or anxiety inducing. You can build confidence in your supply with a little freezer stash, a simple routine, and the right pump settings. It IS possible to build a manageable oversupply that helps provide peace of mind. Which tips helped you? Did anything else work for you? Let me know in the comments below!