So, I’m not technically a stay at home mom, more of a work at home mom, but the idea is that I am with my baby more often than I am not with him. As a result, that correlates with the ounces in my breastmilk freezer stash.

Here’s the thing:

• I returned to work full time after having Maven and had to build one type of breastmilk freezer stash for her based on the quantity of time I was away from her, therefore pumping instead of breastfeeding. Plus I traveled for work on occasion!
• I returned to work part time after having Sylvie and had to build another type of breastmilk freezer stash for her based on the reduced amount of away time in comparison to Maven.
• I now work from home and am with Rush more than I am not with him. There are approximately two days a week where I am away from him for a stretch of time, so my need to have a freezer stash of breastmilk is far less than with my first two babies.

For more on my three breastfeeding journeys and details on my supply, click + read here.

The Secret

Do you want to know what the big secret is to building a freezer stash of breastmilk for your baby if you stay home? The secret is… you don’t need to build a big one.

I feel far less pressure to have a deep freezer full of frozen breastmilk because my body is fully in tune to the supply + demand cycle my baby and I have created together. And also less pressure because I don’t have to have hundreds and hundreds of ounces available! I am simply with him when he needs to eat, so the key for me is to not stress about the number of stashed breastmilk ounces.

When I am away from him, I pump the number of times he will feed from a bottle. I typically collect a little extra than he consumes, so I consider that a win. It all goes into the freezer.

The Stash

I do, however, have some ounces of breastmilk stored up. As I experienced engorgement early on, I pumped through it for relief + that is where a majority of my frozen milk was generated from.

And, as I mentioned, I collect an extra ounce or two during pumping sessions when I am away from Rush which adds to that stash as well.

Stay tuned for a full detail of pumping schedule coming soon!

The purpose of my stash? Because I don’t really need it as we are most often together, I see the purpose of my stash as a little safety net. If I am away from baby, there’s milk available. If my supply starts diminishing, I have milk available for supplementing while I try to boost my production. Generally, it’s a little tiny safety net + now that I’m a stay / work at home mama, it’s one I don’t worry too much about the size over.

The Pump: Motif Duo

I have used the Medela Pump In Style Advanced since having Maven — up until recently. I didn’t have any problems with it, so I didn’t feel I had to replace it. But, I was extremely excited when Aeroflow, a breast pump supplier that helps mothers qualify for a breast pump through insurance, asked if I would review the Motif Medical’s Motif Duo Double Electric Breast Pump.

I’ve always wanted to try a new pump for comparison sake and because this one is so small + lightweight, it fit my new need that for whatever reason often requires pumping in the car!

I wanted to give this breast pump a solid chance before reviewing, so I’ve used it for several weeks both at home and in the car, so I feel confident I’m providing a good + fair review.

Motif Duo PROS:

• Lightweight and compact
• Rechargeable battery
• Memory feature to save your expression setting based on your own pumping sessions
• 10 expression levels to choose from for your best efficiency + comfort
• Hospital grade vacuum strength

Motif Duo CONSIDERATIONS:

• Read the directions first. If you just hook up and turn it on, you won’t fully understand the expression settings which are key to your pumping sessions.
• Purchase additional parts. The Motif Duo essentially comes with only enough parts for one pumping session. This meant I had to transfer the milk from the collection bottles to other bottles or bags before I could pump again. Not terrible, but if I was gone from my house and required two pumping sessions, that made things slightly challenging.

Motif Duo THOUGHTS:

• I’ve found the Motif Duo Breast Pump to be very convenient. The small size + rechargeable battery make it so easy for me to pack up and take along in the car  if I’m working from a coffee shop for a while. (With my Medela, I most certainly forgot to pack batteries from time to time + it takes an large amount of batteries, and that just adds weight to an already larger than the Motif Duo pump.)
• For whatever reason, the strength of the expression doesn’t feel as strong as my Medela Pump In Style. I tried out different levels of expression + cycles because of that feeling, but ultimately, I was expressing the same amount of milk. My conclusion is just that the Motif Duo feels slightly different than when I pump with my Medela.
• It took me a few sessions to figure out a good expression cycle, but once I did I greatly appreciated the memory feature.
• This is now my go-to pump when I’m leaving the house.

 

It has certainly taken a bit of a mindset shift to remind myself I don’t need a large freezer stash given my stay / work at home mama situation, but I’m grateful to Aeroflow and Motif Duo for allowing me to pump while I am away from my baby! Tell me what pump you use and if you love it. Now I kind of want to try another!

 

XO