Formula feed for a few hours once a week

[blueberrypudding]

I've got a 5 week old that's EBF. I'm involved in a music group and am hoping to go back to rehearsals (once a week for a couple of hours) sometime in the next few weeks.

I initially wanted to express so DH could have enough to feed her by bottle if he needed to while I was out, but have started block feeding to regulate supply as I have a really quick letdown and it's making her choke and giving her really bad gas. I wasn't sure if I could express while block feeding or if that would mess up the supply regulation.

Would it mess with supply and BFing if he gave her formula instead, just for that short period each week? I wouldn't be too worried usually but she's cluster feeding at the moment and feeds like every 40 mins to an hour. Not sure what to do! Does anyone have any advice?

[StretchyCat]

Not sure about the block feeding but I I wouldn't think that expressing once in a while will mess things up. Or if you really didn't want to, and you just need a few oz per week you could use breast collection shells which can collect quite a bit, especially if you have a fast let down. You could freeze what you collect then make up a bottle.

Have you checked to see if they will take a bottle? I left my ds until 8 weeks before trying a bottle and now he won't take one

[blueberrypudding]

Thanks StretchyCat!

We're having a 'trial run' today with expressed breast milk - DH is taking care of her for the two hours I'm meant to be out. So I'm not supposed to hold her or comfort her! :(

She's crying despite taking the bottle and DH is complaining about my 'backseat parenting' as I shout instructions and 'advice' from across the room.

How do people go back to work/other activities without feeling horrible? It's hard!

[EatsCakeForNoReasonWhatsoever]

I've not heard of Block feeding for fast let down. Have you found that it helps?

And I hear you about how hard it is to get away from them. Biology can really sick because it's just nature's way to make mums and babies not want to be apart.

What kind of music group is it? babies are pretty portable when they're tiny, would it be feasible to just take her with?

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

Hi OP - how did it go on Tuesday?

No advice really other than to say that I went back to my dog training class when my DS was 3 weeks old. I never had much luck expressing (despite having plenty of milk) so left DH with formula. It never caused a problem (though 9 times out of 10 DS would rather wait for me to come home). We are still BFing at 15 months.

It was an evening class so he was usually asleep. We did have some nights where I'd come home and he'd be screaming, but they were rare and that could happen whether I was there or not. Getting out for a couple of hours a week did wonders for my sanity though!

[blueberrypudding]

Hi both - thanks for your advice! Tuesday was okay - although DH said she was crying on and off all night and was a bit fussy with the bottle. We're going to stick to EBM for the moment - although expressing seems to have given me a bit of an oversupply!

It makes me feel like a horrible mother but I did enjoy the time away. When I came back I appreciated her so much more.