When do I have to start expressing?

[Superslinger]

I need baby to take milk from a bottle from DH on occasion in the future (I'm returning to work p/t before she's 6 months). She's now 5 weeks and breastfeeds really well. Do I need to start introducing expressed milk now, or can I wait til closer to the time I actually need her to take it (prob at 3/4 months). Also, how often do we need to give her bottles to establish and sustain her ability to take one when needed?

Hope that makes sense, to be honest, I'm dreading introducing the bottle as feel such a close connection through bf. Selfish I know - sure I'll get over it - though part of me worries what if she prefers the bottle! That would be awful, not just for my hormonal emotions, but also just because i find bf so (relatively!) easy - don't think I could cope with all that bottle prep on a regular basis!

I think from personal experience and that of several friends that bottle refusal is WAY more common than breast refusal. My dd1 had a bottle of em daily from 4 weeks, we forgot f a week and she then refused bottles for ages (solved by my mum and feeding her sat up in her bouncy chair not holding her). Dd2 is 10 weeks and has a bottle every 2-3 days she's altogether different. Have several friends with total bottle refuses so start soon and do often