Formula for when left with others

[makeitpretty]

My ds is six weeks old and ebf. Has anyone given their lo a bottle of formula when they are left with others? I struggle to get any more than 3-4oz when I pump and I'm worried about causing an over supply issue by pumping? It will only be once or twice a month when I'm leaving him. My only worry is he may develop a taste for the formula! Would be great to hear what other ebf mums do when they leave their babies with others!

[Mouthfulofquiz]

Yep, that's whaf I used to do when I would pop out for an hour at the weekend from time to time... More often than not, he would have a sip then just wait until I was back!

[SurfsUp1]

I used to pump. You can always freeze it and combine to get a bigger feed if necessary?

[ClearlyMoo]

You don't need to pump a lot if you want your DC to have EBM when you go out twice a month.. Remember breastmilk is more nutritious than formula and volume doesn't necessarily increase as baby gets older, unlike formula. Could you pump after a feed (or pump the other side if baby feeds from just one)? Many women find hand expressing better than pumping once they get the hang of it and no pump to sterilise.. Just once a day getting 2-3oz, and store in freezer in BM freezer bags.. Would be cheaper than formula and you know baby will like it! Just 2oz a day would be 60oz in freezer in a month. If baby takes 5oz a feed (I'd be surprised if baby took much more) then that's 12 feeds worth!

On the formula note though, we had to give my daughter formula top ups when very small and she didn't get a taste for it at all... Always came back to the boob!!

[TiredandGrumpy2014]

I did this and no problems continuing to mainly bf at all. She never preferred formula but was always happy to drink it- and happy to bf when I got back.

[makeitpretty]

Thank you for your replies. How much expressed breast milk should he be taking per feed if I do decide to go down that route?

I feed my ds every 2-3 hours at the moment. If I'm away from him longer than this time will my breasts become really engorged? Will I need to take my pump out with me?

[squizita]

I express for my 2 month old (dh feeds her if I'm at the Drs or whatever), she only takes 2-3 oz per feed (but more frequently than a ff baby) so I plan for 2-3 oz per hour to ninety min. I don't even pump every day, but it builds up in the fridge/freezer! Soon you have plenty.
I understand from my nct group 2-3 oz per hour is perfectly adequate for a bf baby especially now and then.

I have 2 ready made bottles of cow and gate for complete emergencies (eg if I was delayed and the freezer broken) but haven't used them.

[Rockchick1984]

I tried to leave formula but she wouldn't drink it - clearly not as tasty

You will probably get quite engorged, although I didn't take a pump out personally but it was only a few hours so I just hand expressed to relieve myself a bit. The one time I left her longer (unplanned) I developed mastitis so if I was leaving her regularly then yes I'd be taking a pump out with me I think.