How much expressed milk does DC need?

[MrsWhirling]

Hi all, DS is 4 months and EBF. Not expressed before & need to leave him for the afternoon. How many Oz is he likely to drink from a bottle? Thanks x

[cassell]

Both mine at that age would have taken anywhere between 2-4oz per feed depending on how hungry they were.

[5eggstremelychocaletymadeggs]

How long are you leaving him for? I read a rule of yhumb is an ounce and a half per hour?

But prob no more than 4/5oz and you may want to split that into two smaller amounts incase it doesnt get drunk all in one go.

[MrsWhirling]

For at least 4 hours.

Perhaps two lots of 3oz?

[5eggstremelychocaletymadeggs]

Yep that sounds fine :)

[MsElisaDay]

On days that I work, my DS takes around 5oz of EBM every three hours. He's five months old now, but has been taking that amount for the past few weeks.
There's occasionally some left, though he's only taken more than that on one occasion (MIL had to buy a ready mix Aptamil to placate him til I got home!)

[RedKites]

What everyone else said, but there is also a calculator on Kellymom.

[MrsWhirling]

Thanks everyone. Is there a best time of day to express?

[cassell]

I definitely find morning the best. Do you have an electric pump or a hand one? If a hand one and you haven't expressed before be prepared that it may take a good few days to build up enough for a couple of feeds. I found it easiest with the hand one to have ds on one side and express on the other side as otherwise I didn't get the letdown, the electric one this time is much easier. Some people can express very easily though.

[MrsWhirling]

I have the tommy tipee hand pump. I'll try the morning... Was thinking of hiring a hospital grade one actually as I am going to need to express more often.