Help needed to manage a days work when ebf at 6 wks

[sleepdodger]

I am ebf my 2.5 week baby, which is going well bar evening colic
at 6 weeks for complicated reasons I HAVE to do a days work, I committed to it ages ago and can't change it - it's event photography and will be from 11-5 ish
my husband will be able to bring our son to me to be fed at least once but it's not a job I can break from when I want to incase I miss the event
so
what do you recommend re introducing some expressed bottle feeding, how much in advance would I need to start introducing it? I plan to express whilst there are quiet points during day to not interior supply as will continue bf afterwards
I have got help from other people on day too, but as it us a new business I unfortunately need to do most of the work
ds doesn't have routine yet & feeding in demand but daytime usually feeding 8ish/10 ish/1ish/4ish then hourly till 9ish, fir about 40 mins feed + 15 winding
thanks

If you have time to express you have time to feed the baby as it's a right faff.

11-5 isn't too long if needs be. Although he may be having a growth spurt at the time. If you want to give bottles I would suggest if you feel like you're doing OK to start expressing at 3-4 weeks, offering a small bottle every other day.

Don't try and express too much in one go as you could encourage over supply. You could get away with 6oz, but I'd probably shoot for 10oz to give you some leeway in case you over run etc., so you only need to get 1-2oz out at a time. The freeze in 2oz batches. If your son feeds at least once, then assume that's a 2-3oz meal and reduce expressed amount accordingly. BM lasts in the fridge for up to a week so anything expressed in the last week doesn't have to be frozen. Also check your milk doesn't go off when freezing by defrosting one quite soon and smelling it. (That's how you tell if BM is OK or not, just like cows milk)

Often a baby will take a whole bottle regardless of amount so don't worry about limiting feeds. Normally babies takes 1oz per hour, so if 3 hours between feeds a 3oz bottle would be about right.

I worked half days from this stage as well. If you're only away for 5 hours he doesn't need a lot and you can let him catch up when you get home.

I find that babies will often go on hunger strike in this sort of situation. So even with expressing, you may find that DS refuses to take a bottle from DH. If DS does take the bottle he may only have 1 to 2oz.

So on the day itself, I would suggest:

Feed DS as per usual. When close to leaving home, feed him again - top him up.
Be prepared to feed DS immediately upon your return home.

Having DH bring DS to you at work, I wouldn't bother. It's hassle for you, for DH and confusing for DS. If DS is to be able to take a bottle from someone else at times (can be handy if you and DH want an evening out and you leave DS with a babysitter), then you need DS to realise that the bottle is the only thing on offer.

So that DH has a supply of EBF to use for a bottle, build up a supply over about 2 weeks prior to the event. Find a time that suits you to express, a time when you are not stressed and say about midway between DS's usual feed times. You won't express much but by getting into a routine it should stimulate more milk to be produced for that time. DH can also start to try doing some feeds, by giving a bottle with say 1oz of EBF in it (or however much was in one of the early frozen expressed pouchs - remember to date them) with you then giving a BF as per usual immediately afterwards. A good time might be in the early evening, when you might want a rest and DH is around and able to have some cuddle time with DS.

After the event, DS could have a feed at the time you would have pumped, or you could do nothing, or if you feel the need to release milk, then pump off a bit and freeze it, thus building up a supply for when you leave DS with DH or someone else.

Take the pump to the event, so that you can relieve any pressure you feel in the breasts. Dump the milk, it's probably far easier than finding some way to keep it in a cool place. As DS will be wanting a feed immediately upon your return, you only need to relieve pressure rather than pump lots off.

Above is based on my experience as a childcarer who has to give babies a bottle and on what mothers have told me of their experience pumping.

Often a baby will take a whole bottle regardless of amount so don't worry about limiting feeds.
As a childcarer, that is not my experience. Babies can be very fussy and will take time to adjust to sucking from a bottle, plus whomever is preparing the bottle will take time to get the temperature right for how that particular baby will tolerate the bottle. The baby I currently care for certainly would refuse to take the entire bottle and even now at 5 months old, she still has times when she won't take a whole bottle.