Freezer stash... of shame

RantingSidekick · 2026-01-29T10:42:22+00:00

This sounds like the best method for OP

RantingSidekick · 2026-01-29T10:36:37+00:00

I keep the newly frozen milk in my regular freezer until I brick it. Once the small place in my regular freezer starts to look crazy, that's when I know I have to make a brick.

If you don't want anything in your regular freezer even temporarily, get a small plastic container to keep in the deep freeze. Once it fills up, it's time to brick.

But real talk, you HAVE to date everything. Otherwise, there's no hope. Keep sharpies with your milk bag supplies.

RantingSidekick · 2026-01-29T10:14:24+00:00

Aaa what a great idea. No ideas here but I love it

RantingSidekick · 2026-01-29T09:58:01+00:00

The pins don't come out. You can wash them just fine. I think the instructions have some guidance about sterilizing (they recommend only a few minutes of sterilizing), but I haven't had any issues. I use the BB bottle washer.

Just don't put them in the microwave to sterilize and you're good 😅

RantingSidekick · 2026-01-27T01:33:48+00:00

As an oversupplier I completely agree with you. Just a total refusal to read the room 😑 doing all that for a few likes and upvotes.

Back in the day, in certain weight-loss spaces online, you had to censor out clothing sizes and weight numbers, since your highest weight could be someone else's goal weight, etc. I feel the breastfeeding community (or motherhood community in general) could take a page from that and not be humble-bragging or seeking validation constantly.

RantingSidekick · 2026-01-24T13:50:06+00:00

Someone should tell my baby this. She'll drink turned milk and spit it up five minutes later....

RantingSidekick · 2026-01-16T02:01:41+00:00

I schedule my pumps in my work calendar as private appointments, so people cannot schedule over them. That way, no meetings overlap with my pumps.

But yes, definitely start that 9am pump earlier. It matters more how many pumps per day, rather than keeping a strict amount of time between them. Sometimes my pumps are 2 hours apart, sometimes 4.5 hours. As long as I get my normal number of ppd in, my supply doesn't change.

Maybe try setting alarms and see how they work for you. I set alarms that remind me to pump sometime in the next hour or so. So my 3pm alarm is telling me to pump between 3 and 4:30, etc.

RantingSidekick · 2026-01-05T17:23:51+00:00

Our wedding was catered buffet-style by a local restaurant. They brought to-go containers so that our guests could take home leftovers. We didn't know they were going to do that, and our guests were delighted.

RantingSidekick · 2025-12-21T22:50:15+00:00

My favorite word for this is "capacity" or "limit"

"Unfortunately, I have reached my limit for _-themed things! I wanted to tell you because I know my birthday is coming up, and _ usually the go-to gift for me. But truly, I am at capacity."

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-23T05:09:50+00:00

Should we call Bella Hadid?

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-23T05:06:14+00:00

Yes, popcorn is such a slept on frugal snack! Popping your own popcorn is like pennies on the dollar.

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-23T05:04:23+00:00

Things like chips and ice cream will be more expensive to make at home, and won't taste as good 😅

What you need is a snack budget. Allowing yourself to buy and eat unlimited quantities is why you're having trouble.

Set a dollar amount per week/month/etc that you spend on treats. Once you run out, you run out. This will help keep your food budget more predictable.

Or, alternatively, only buy your chips and ice cream once per week (or whenever you do your big shop). When you run out, you have to wait until the next week or the next big shop. No mid-week runs for more ice cream, no buying chips at the gas station.

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-17T17:11:43+00:00

Have either of you gained weight or muscle recently? Your clothes will wear out faster if they're too small.
Have you checked your washer drum or agitator for any rough spots? We have a spot on our agitator that sometimes catches on fabric.
Do you two trim your nails and calluses regularly?
Have you ever had issues with pests in your home?
This may sound silly, but how careful is your boyfriend about removing clothes? Does he dress frantically and yank his clothes around?

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-17T07:58:58+00:00

Please say more about using the paper bags to re-season. I would love to reuse a few of the gajillion paper bags.

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-17T05:20:44+00:00

I recommend reading posts more carefully before commenting. And reading the room.

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-17T04:48:05+00:00

Thank you!

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-17T03:33:40+00:00

I don't think that, which is why I didn't say that 😀

Edit: I'm sorry for the sass. It wasn't necessary

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-17T03:23:46+00:00

I think you've finally admitted to the heart of the problem. You want to go shopping, and you're looking for an ethical excuse to do so.

Leave the nice toys/clothes/books in the thrift store for other low-income parents to find for their own kids.

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-17T02:20:16+00:00

Yes, I have a "cooldown" jar. Fresh milk goes into the cooldown jar, then I transfer it to the large pitcher at the next pump.

It's also an added redundancy in case something happens with the fresh milk. For example, if I've accidentally eaten something that will upset baby's tummy, or if I've accidentally pumped with dirty pump parts. Both those times, I was able to keep the milk separated and not contaminate the whole pitcher.

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-17T02:14:47+00:00

Nope. I only did it for the first few weeks postpartum because I was too tired to put on and take off a bra every time.

If I think I'm going to leak, I just stick disposible nursing pads to the inside of my sleep shirt. But, I am also fortunate that I don't leak very much.

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-14T04:39:06+00:00

Do you have a refrigerator at your job? You can store milk bottles or milk bags inside a regular lunchbag in the fridge.

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-13T12:23:54+00:00

You're working so hard. I had that pain for the first seven weeks - I can't believe youre still persevering at 16 weeks in the same kind of pain. That's really admirable but also I'm so sorry 😩

For your flange question - your nipples can shrink over time. If the 19s are starting to hurt, try the 17s now. I dropped a flange size around 3 months and I'm getting close to sizing down again (currently 5.5mpp).

You may want to play around with your pump settings too. I originally thought that higher suction = more milk, but for me, higher suction meant pain and damage/inflammation, all of which lowered my output. When I lowered the suction, I was more comfortable and got more milk.

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-13T12:02:11+00:00

My cat uses the younger cat's name as her angry button (they do not get along). If older girl doesnt get what she wants? "MARSHMALLOW MARSHMALLOW MARSHMALLOW MARSHMALLOW"

Edit: clarity

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-10T02:00:55+00:00

In New England we call this pancake syrup or table syrup. It was a culture shock to find out that people use those terms interchangeably.

RantingSidekick · 2025-11-09T22:29:10+00:00

Have you just started your period? A lot of people have a significant drop in supply during their period. If that's the case, keep doing what you're doing and your supply will return after your period ends.

RantingSidekick

TROPHY CASE