First night away from DS, how much milk to leave?

[BelinaTheChicken]

Its my birthday on Sunday and DH has organised something for Saturday night, my parents are having DS2 over night. I've been expressing frantically to try and make sure I have enough to see him through the night, but as he is breastfed I've no idea how much he takes. Any ideas what is average? He's a big boy (15lb ish)

My friends ds who I look after once a week is 6 months and very big, he takes 6ozs ish a feed. Maybe leave an emergency carton of formula.

My DS (18 weeks and 14lb) takes 4-5oz every 3hrs or so, the one time I've left him overnight so far he got through 30oz (but that could be granny over feeding him!). I left some emergency cartons of formula too but he didn't need those.

I've got about 26oz in the freezer and should be able to get another 6oz before then. hopefully will be enough, but parents live near so even if they gave to drop him off really early should be ok. Just will have to make sure any alcohol is out of my system, want to have a few beers!

Hoping he doesn't take too much, as this is a test run for when I start back on night shifts in a few weeks, so I'll have some idea of how mum I need to express. I'm hoping he'll have one bottle at ten and then sleep blissfully through. Very unlikely, but the less he drinks the more likely I am to be able to keep up with bf when I'm back at work

You could always mix feed when you go back to work.

How many hours are you actually away from your DS? BF babies between 1m-6m take an average of 25oz per day (with a range of 19-30oz - each baby having their own level be it 19ish oz a day or 27ish oz) so unless you are going away for more than a day 32oz should be plenty.

I'd rather stay exclusively breastfeeding as I'm only on night shifts till I stop breastfeeding and they are a lot easier for sorting out childcare, so I'm planning on feeding for as long as possible, hopefully till he's at least a year then DS1 will be at nursery for 20hrs a week

Truth I will be away from 7.30pm until about 11am, though he can be brought back earlier if necessary, it just means a shorter lie in. Though I doubt I'll be able to sleep past 8.30 anyway, stupid body clock

In that case 32oz is overkill! Still nice to have some extra in case you get held up in traffic or as the start of a freezer stash (just tell the inlaws not to defrost the lot in one go!).

Hope you have a great night out (don't you might need to express when you get home so you don't wake up with rock hard breasts).

I've got the batteries in the pump ready and waiting! It's my parents that are having him, and she's seen how long it takes me to express, so she knows not to waste any. Definitely want to get a freezer stash ready, want to start having a few hours away from him every few days so it's not too much of a shock when I'm back at work. Plus, gives DH a chance to bond properly with him, as when I'm around he tends to be stuck to my boob (DS not DH) so be doesn't get much of a look in

Very much looking forward to beer, mmm

I expressed both sides when full so could work out how much DS ate each feed and kept a note of how many feeds I did over 24 hour periods so left that much plus some extra. Enjoy your night away but take a pump or you will burst x