Leaving 4.5mth ebf baby for long day without being able to express much while I'm gone

[IceCreamCastles]

have been offered a ticket for one of the Olympic events this summer and would love to go. It is one of the events where babies aren't allowed and I'll be gone from approx 6am until midnight. Dh will be looking after ds who will be 4.5 months by then.

I'm not great at expressing but will start now and build up a stash of ebm and I'm not too bothered if he needs a bit of formula if there's not enough.

Ds took a bottle of ebm fine the other day so i'm planning on giving him one or two a week until the event.

Main problem is that I can't see how I'll get many opportunities to express while I'm away from ds- maybe in the train toilet on the way there and back and a couple of breaks during the event but I don't want to spend all the time there either queuing for, or hiding in the loos!

How much/ often do you think I'd need to express both for comfort and to maintain supply?

Congrats. I hope you enjoy the games. For one day, your supply will not get affected at all. After all, real life babies teethe or have colds that put them off their milk for a short period without mum going dry.

In terms of comfort, not sure, but I imagine a couple of times should do it. My DS was I'll a few days back and could not nurse well and had to express for comfort about that often. You will have a clearer picture closer to the time as DS will have a bigger baby nursing pattern.

Maybe feed just before leaving and tell DH not to fill up baby to the brim just before you are due back, and you should be able to have a nice long feed then.

Enjoy the game!

Oh good - it sounds do-able then?

YY to knowing feeding pattern better by then. He is currently feeding fairly frequently during the day but only having one feed between 11pm and morning (although I realise that this could well change by then).

Hum not sure that is a very long time to be away from a EBF baby who will still be fully breastfed at that age.

As long as baby takes a bottle she'll be fine, but you do need to plan on expressing at lest every time she would normaly feed (you may get away with a little less often then this) I'd say just for your comfort. The last thing you want to happen is end up soure and with mastitess from leaving her for so long.

Yes some can go longer then this without a problem and other have problems just missing one feed. Possibly worth trying before hand to see how you feel after missing a feed.

Could your DH traveled with you and reduce the length of time your away?

No, Dh can't come travel with me but I've just looked at the suggested route and think I can shave an hour off each end of the journey by using taxis instead of buses so that should mean I can fit in another morning and evening feed.

I've looked at the venue info and it says there's plenty of toilets so will just have to nip off there.

If supply will be ok, would it work just to express v quickly if necessary to take the edge off?

I have not tried a whole day but had to do this for 1/2 day with DD1 and it worked. It was hard emotionally for me I must confess. DD1 cried too but also slept, had pram rides, etc. Maybe worth doing a shorter dry run to see if you, DH and DS are all happy and prepared.
Worth checking you are comfortable expressing in advance too. Some mums can express easily, some cannot. Nothing wrong with either but the pump doesnot suit everyone. Alternative is hand expressing, there must be some sites with info on this... La Leche maybe.

Yes will definitely do a shorter dry run .

We did a 3 hour stint last week as I was at the hairdressers which went very well but that was only round the corner. Can imagine that being so far away for so long will be hard but hope I can make it work as I am so excited about the opportunity.

10am til midnight is a long time so you would have to express at least twice I would imagine. Your boobs will feel massive I reckon! Take lots of breast pads! I bet you will dive home at the end of the night, desperate for the baby to feed! The relief!