How much EBM for one feed?

[MegBusset]

I am being brave and going out for the evening with my DH on Tuesday while my mum babysits DS, and want to leave a bottle of EBM in case of emergencies. But as he's never had a bottle before I don't know how much he'll need at a feed. Expressing takes me forever so don't want to do more than I have to, I have just spent 45 mins getting 3.5fl oz, do y'all think this will be OK for one feed if he wakes in the evening for it?

[MegBusset]

Should mention he is 7mo.

[StrawberryMartini]

You haven't said how old your DS is? They say generally 1oz per hour, i.e. if it's a two hourly feed they will need 2oz etc. However my DS always drank more than that. I think you'll be fine with that amount if you feed him before you go. Does he usually wake for a feed in the evening?

[StrawberryMartini]

Oh right 7 months - may well need more than that but I guess he usually sleeps through? In which case a small amount should send him back off to sleep. May want to try him with a bottle before you go out? Also at that age they don't need a bottle at all - could try a beaker or doidy cup?

[StrawberryMartini]

Oh and also I always found that if I expressed for 10 min, then had a break for 5 min, I could express again and get another let-down - might help you get more milk.

[MegBusset]

Sleeps through? I wish! He often has a feed around 11pm so it's just in case he wakes early for that, really.

He refuses to drink from a lidded cup, has an open cup for water but makes a right mess with it so think a bottle would be less messy.

[StrawberryMartini]

I think I was still dreamfeeding ds at that age at around 11pm! Good luck and I hope you have a lovely evening.