I'd appreciate some help from someone who knows a bit more about the science of boobs than I do!
My baby is nearly 8 months old and started nursery at the beginning of this month. I had been pumping and freezing milk for a few weeks and now have a big stash. After a bit of trial and error we have settled on the amount she needs: 2 x 80ml to complement her two solid meals at nursery (I feed her in the morning, after nursery and before bed plus in the night if she wakes up but she usually sleeps through). I have found I can easily pump the 160ml she needs for the next day and as a result have not touched the freezer stash, plus occasionally I add to the freezer if I've misestimated and pumped too much.
Now, since there is quite frankly a ridiculous amount of milk in the freezer (and I could do with freeing up some space), could I just stop pumping and use the frozen milk for the foreseeable future? Will I be uncomfortable/engorged? Will I be able to restart pumping once I've depleted the stocks? I remember at the beginning I got very little out so I'm guessing my body might 'forget' how to work with the pump and have to 'relearn'? Will the stopping and starting cause havoc with my supply? In case it's relevant, at the moment I'm pumping during the morning and post-nursery feeds (baby on one breast, pump on the other).
Thanks in advance!