Seeking advice on being away from bf baby

[MummyOC]

I am going to be away from my 15wo bf dd for 3 hours, during which time she will need a feed. I already have enough ebm in the freezer for that feed but am wondering what is the best thing to do:

1. Express before I go out and have sufficient milk ready for my dh to feed her when she's hungry
2. Feed her just before going out even if she's not particularly hungry and still leave enough ebm for a full feed.

My dd needs to be sufficiently hungry to take from a bottle so with option 2, there's a risk the ebm will go to waste. The other considerations, however, are my own comfort while away from her and my milk supply.

What do you think is the best thing to do?

I would try to time a feed to be due before you leave (so you don't have exploding boobs while out) and I would have expressed some earlier in the day so dh has some spare.

Don't get why it's a problem for ebm to go to waste, it's not like you'll have to buy more! If dd doesn't want it then chuck it away. If she's hungry but won't take it from a bottle then dh could use a small cup or a tea spoon to give it to her. My dd wouldn't take a bottle until 8 months so this did work on the rare occasions I left her.

3 hours isn't a long time for a 15wk bf baby. If you feed before you go she may not need anything untill you get back.

I'd go for option 2. But if you can use milk you've expressed that day, if it's not needed it could go in the freezer for another time.

If it's only 3 hours then you may feel a bit full when you get back (wear breastpads while out) but it shouldn't cause any problems with your milk supply. It's not really long enough to be an issue. Even baby's who feed more offtern then this will sometimes go longer between feed's when mum isn't there.

I'd go for option 2 as well. Feeding her just before you leave will mean you will be as comfy as you can be and you will cover all bases by leaving some ebm too.

Option 2. Then as soon as you are back, feed again.
Babies won't take full feed in my experience on the first few times they are left with anyone, especially if not used to taking milk from a bottle.
Make sure DH knows to use the smallest EBM quantity as possible (say 1 or 2 oz) in a bottle, as your DD probably won't take much if any instead using it as a comfort suck whilst awaiting your return.

I've nannied for babies of this age who could go 6+ hours without much of a feed, as their way of protesting that mummy has left them with someone else (even if they have known me from very young).

Thanks for all the replies. Option 2 it is! This is my first time away from my dd since she was born so, many thanks for the advice.

Princess, I never feel that my milk supply is very abundant and I hate throwing any ebm away. It's partly because when we first introduced a bottle, we would end up chucking a full bottle of ebm away because it was untouched by our dd. Will use 1-2oz as nannywick suggests.

Thanks again.