There is nothing more satisfying as a nursing/pumping mommy than a chest freezer full of milk. I’m so proud of us that we have made it this far nursing when others don’t come any wheres close to us. Dean is 6 months old and prefers breast over bottle, but when I’m out working, he really has no choice. He has started eating solid foods, so he is no longer exclusively breast feed (ebf). He has never even taken a sip of formula! I’m a proud mommy about that. I understand that others have struggled with breastfeeding and needed to supplement. That was never the case with us. I had a major oversupply that just recently regulated, hence a freezer full of milk. I still pump more than what he needs while I’m at work. I pump twice at work and at the end of the week, I usually have 30 ounces frozen. He usually eats 16 ounces while I’m at work, sometimes more and sometimes less.

Chest Freezer

I needed to buy a chest freezer for all of that milk. Yes, I still put a few other non-milk items in there, but it was bought for my breast milk. I plan on breast feeding until Dean is 1 years old. I will then take the 6 months to wean him off using the frozen milk. Every Monday that I work, I thaw frozen milk for the day the day before. If I have Monday off, then Tuesday is frozen milk day and so forth. The first work day of the week is always frozen, the rest of the week is fresh from pumping once before work and twice during.

I use the oldest milk first and thaw out the milk in a ring so it thaws out evenly and slowly. I find that this is the best method, since bags do leak sometimes. This catches leaks and condensation. I personally don’t use the bags that leak as food, but I will throw it into his tub for moisturizing purposes.

Bottles do take up space in your fridge, but I only keep a days worth of milk. Never more than 4 or 5 bottles in there at a time. As you can see, I had five dirty bottles one day. Between the bottles, their cap, nipple tops, and pump parts, it makes a whole boiling pot. I boil the bottles and pump parts at the end of the day with soap in the pot. Then, I just scrub and rinse once the pot cools. I wash and prepare the bottles, since my dad does the work of feeding and taking care of him 5 days a week while I work.

I like to organize my milk bags by month and then by days. This ensures that I use the oldest milk first and I found that it organizes my 5.2 cu Haier Chest freezer the best. The gallon freezer bags can fit 10 to 20 frozen bags of milk. Nowadays, I freeze 6 ounce bags, because I feel that freezing any less is wasteful of the bags.

I organize my freezer as follows. I keep the oldest milk that I am going to use immediately in the little white basket. It comes from whichever gallon bag that I opened up for milk that week. It can take a few weeks to use up the milk in the bag, because the milk bags are all different ounces. My oldest milk is from February. I have the oldest milk on top. So, I have two bags of Feb in one corner and three bags of march on the other side of the white basket. Underneath that is two layers of bags with milk from March, April, May, and June. My little bit of July lives on top with March, until I fill it up. I know I am very lucky to have all of this milk. I probably have about 1,000 ounces stored. I rotate through the stash to keep it fresh. I’m saving the milk for when I start to wean him off at a year old. I want him to still have mostly breast milk and slowly wean to almond milk and then to whole milk. If any mothers have any questions, I’m here to help.

With Love ❤

Selena

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

It is so hard to find clothes to fit when you are nursing a two month old. I was shopping for tops for work and at home that would make nursing and pumping easier for me and less of a clothing hassle. I hate shoving his head up my shirt and I fear that the humid air from being trapped in my shirt cuts nursing sessions short, making them more frequent than they have to be. I don’t mind throwing a cover over myself when nursing my son when my dad is around, but I wanted a way to nurse that wouldn’t make my friends uncomfortable. I am fully comfortable nursing my son in front of friends and relatives, but I would never do it in public. That’s just not me. I get limited time to pump at work, so I need clothes that are easy to push aside. I don’t have time to take off layers and put them back on and straighten myself out. That is a few minutes too many. If I have 15 minutes, I want to use twelve minutes on the actual pumping, not ten minutes. At lunch, I’ll be able to pump for 27 minutes and I’ll have 15 minutes left to see my baby. On Mondays, I have an extra 15 minutes to pump as well. The rest of the days, I just have my paid break and lunch.

Let’s get onto the haul!

Macy’s: This baby haul came to $20 USD total, because everything was on clearance. Macy’s is really great for their clearance.

Carter’s Sleepy Sack in 0-9 months:

I love these sleepy sacks! They are great during the Winter time for Dean to sleep in. He can now roll over on his own, so no more swaddling. This is the next best thing and I don’t have to worry about his feet getting cold. It keeps him all warm and snugly. I also love the cute prints as well. The zipper feature is great as well for middle of the morning/night changes.They are ultra soft and Dean seems to enjoy wearing them.

zipper onsie

Carter’s Terry Cloths Onsie in 9 months:

Dean is my little dinosaur and now he can dress like one. I like putting him in this night and day. It soaks up the night sweats and the sweat in the day from the heat in the apartment. We sit on top of the boiler, so it can get hot without the heat on. This is nice and big on him, which helps prevent heat rash from sweating. He has been getting a heat rash/moisture rash from sweat. It is a lot better than it was before. It disappeared off his back and face. It is a bit on his chest, but mostly on his arms. I think it is because he is chubby and the sleeves tend to be a little tight on the arm, resulting in sweat collection. I believe this terry cloth has helped to promote healing of the rash. Again, zippers are my friend.

winter onsie

Carter’s Plush Onsie in 9 months:

My dad spotted this one and it is very plush. This outfit is great for taking your little one out and about. I have a winter blanket thing that attaches to the infant car seat, but when he outgrows the car seat (He is already 11lbs and the car seat only goes up to 20lbs), this would be nice and warm to wear out in the convertible car seat. I also like that it says “Little Guy” on it. I’m always about buying things that fit now and later. He has so much 3 month and 3 to 6 clothes! I have three drawer out of six filled with his clothes! I decided to consign a bunch of my clothes and all the good things that he outgrows. I’m going down with my first batch today. I’ll let you guys know how it goes!

Target: My dad and I both bought clothes here.

denim tunic

Liz Lange Maternity For Target Denim Tunic in Indigo in XXL for $24.99 USD:

I was hesitant to buy this, because I always question buying myself clothes. I knew I needed to buy some new tops though. My boobs made that really apparent. None of my current tops really work for my nursing sized chest. So, new tops was a given. I didn’t get any pants though, because I’m still in my fattest maternity jeans. I get to start an exercise routine tomorrow, so I’m hopefully that I will shed off some pounds in my thighs and butt. I have lost thirty five pounds out of the sixty I gained. I only want to lose twenty pounds. I heard five extra pounds is good for nursing. I’m not in a hurry to lose. I can take my time. It took 10 months to gain. I don’t mind if it takes that long to lose. I really love this top. It is soft and long enough to cover my butt. I plan on wearing this with leggings or skinny pants. I always wanted a denim shirt and this one fits beautifully. I was discouraged at Sears, when none of the tops fit in the Junior section. I guess they think that young people cannot have large chests or something. The button down is a great feature for nursing or pumping at work.

Motherhood Maternity: I spent over $200 USD here. Nursing clothes are EXPENSIVE!

Motherhood Intimates in 36 E in Black and Nude for $24.98 USD Each:

I got one in nude and black. Sorry, I don’t share pictures of my intimates any more. The best basic colors. My older nursing bras that I bought before birth were too small after my milk came in and regulated. I think it was one of the reasons why I got mastitis in my right breast. I love the lacy design and the clip down design. I needed to get a wire supported bra, which leaves marks when I clip the bra down to nurse. It fits comfortably though. I never had a more comfortable wire bra before. There isn’t much more to say, except I miss my bright colored fun bras that I no longer fit into and have to wait over a year to possibly fit back into again. le sigh

Simple Wishes Hands Free Breast Pump Bra in Baby Pink in I/XL for $34.98 USD:

I love the baby pink color and how well this bra works with any pump. I used this with my electric double pump and my electric single handheld pump. It allows me to be hands free to use my lap top or kindle. It is comfortable, but not as supportive as a nursing bra. I would use this one Mondays at work, where I have to pump three times and have to be a real stickler about the time. Mondays are busy where I work. I have no complaints and I see the value in the money.

Motherhood Maternity Nursing Mock Wrap Top in Navy & Gray in Large for $29.98 USD

Yes, I paid thirty dollars for a nursing top. The prices may be a bit insane, but I did purchase large sizes for my large chest and these have special functions that regular tops just don’t have. You can pull down the grey built in undershirt under one breast and put your child underneath the two wrap layers. Nursing is discreet with nothing to see. This also works well for pumping. The material is very soft and overall, this was worth the thirty. It was just a big shock on how expensive this stuff is, but then again, I’ve seen plenty of clothes at other places be just as expensive. I’m just not use to buying items full priced.

Motherhood Maternity Nursing Tang Top in Navy & White in XL for Free!

There was a clearance sale of buy two get one for free, so this was my free item. It was originally $24.98 USD and reduced to $14.99 USD. I like the side ruching detail and the pull down nursing feature. It is great to put underneath other non-nursing clothes to still get a nursing feature out of it. Fifteen dollars for a tang top is still a lot in my opinion. Oh! All these nursing shirts have elastic underneath the girls for support while nursing.

Motherhood Maternity Button Down Tunic in Grey & White Pinstripes in XL for $24.99 USD

This shirt was originally $34.98 USD. Since I paid 25 for that other shirt, I don’t consider this a high price to pay. I wasn’t a big fan of it at first, but I love the way I look in it. It sheds off pounds and is very figure flattering with the tie waist feature. It is prettier on than on the rack, that is for sure! It is a stiffer, starchier material than I am used to. I’m trying to have a more appropriate adult wardrobe to be taken more seriously and hey, I have a son now. This fits right in there. I’m still going to have fun with some cool prints and sexy dresses, but I want a more adult style…or more like a young 24 year old would wear who has a kid. Still young but mature at the same time. If you know what I mean.

Motherhood Maternity Plus in Plaid in 2X for $34.99 USD

I’m noticing that I bought a ton of tunics, but seriously, it is the most flattering on my figure right now and let’s me get away with wearing jeans that right now, are a little too tight to wear with a shorter shirt. I love this cotton soft tunic! It is in a magenta, purple, blue plaid that is simply gorgeous. This originally went for $44.98 USD. It was expensive, but this was the only size that fit my chest comfortably in this style. It may be large, but it fits perfectly on my shoulders and is very comfortable. Again, having a tie waist feature is very figure flattering.

Motherhood Maternity Nursing Cami in Coral Pink in Large for $26.98 USD

Yes, I paid that much for a cami with a built in bra. It is crazy expensive, but very comfortable. It has the clip down feature and is great to wear around the house. I would wear a bra with it, when out and about in it. It isn’t enough support for that. It is the right amount for leisure time at home. This has the ruched siding details on each side as well. I love the bright color and how comfortable it is. I’m all about the comfort these days.

JCPenny’s: I actually found a few regular tops that fit.

St. John’s Bay Short Sleeve Crew in American Navy in Large for $14.00 USD

There was a buy one get one free and I didn’t realize that clearance was excluded from the promotion. So, I will be returning this and buying two again so I can get the second one for free. This way, I can also use my coupon that I earned for 10 USD off of 25 USD on a jewelry purchase. This is a great undershirt to go underneath my navy polka dot shirt.

St. John’s Bay Long Sleeve Crew in Chic Pink in Large for $4.79 USD

This was clearance from $16 USD, which is 70% off. I got this to go underneath the pink shirt. I have started to really love pink, especially bright ones. There is just something special about this color that I love.

St. John’s Bay Polka Dot Blouse in Shocking Pink Dot & Navy Dot in XL for $18 USD Each

I got the same blouses in two different colors that is how much I love them! They fit really great. These were buy one get one free, making them 18 each. These ones makes my stomach look thinner as well. This has been long winded, so I’ll end my haul here.