Need to be away for an evening from a BF 8 week old - advice needed please

[angeltattoo]

Hi All,

I have a 7 week old DD who is EBF. Next week, when she wll be 8 weeks I have to be away for her for an evening from 6pm to 11/midnight ish, and I would really appreciate some advice on what to do to ensure she is fed and okay, while not affecting my supply.

MY DH will be with the baby so will need to give her a bottle. I will feed her as normal throughout the day. She is still feeding much more in the evening than in the daytime.

Shoud I express between now and then to ensure she has enough? Or should he give formula? She has had 3 bottles of formula since she was born, and has drank these ok.

So, I assume she will be ok to have a bottle, but what's the best way to ensure my supply is ok? I know it's not a long time, but it will be a first, and I am completely new to BF so have no experience and am keen to avoid any problems with BF.

I have a badly damaged nipple on my RHS, so have not previously expressed as I was waiting for this to heal beore attempting it, but my LHS has healed so I could express if formula would not work.

Any advice much apprecited!

I would express and have a back up carton of formula too. Does LO take a bottle ok? If not a regular thing, have cups and other receptacles around so DH has a selection should baby get fussy.

Lots of info. on expressing and storage on kellymom.

Supply won't be really affected in that short time as a obe-off but you may become engorged a bit if you are used to evening cluster feeds. Wear breast pads just in case.

Do you have a pump already? If not, I found it v easy to hand express and saves lugging a pump around if you're out for the evening. Just Google for a video demo, its v easy.

Enjoy :)

PS - you might want DH to practice with a bottle if its not a regular thing baby takes and generally I think milk is estimated at about 1oz per hour you're away will be needed, plus extra obviously.

1oz per hour, that's really useful to know, thank you!!!

An ounce an hour sounds small to me... I have a very hungry DD who, like yours, wants to feed a LOT at night, and when we planned an evening out recently for our wedding anniversary I left my DM with 6oz of expressed milk.

We were out between 8.30 and 11pm and DD was apoplectic when we got back having finished the lot and wanted more.

By the 1oz/hour rule, I would only have left 2.5oz - which would never have covered it!

As a guide, I find my DD goes through a little over 3oz in an expressed BM feed. So work out how many feeds your LO is likely to have in an evening and express accordingly... Good luck and enjoy the break xx

I hate hand expressing. Give it a go though. I struggle to pump. In order for me to get a decent amount I do it 1st thing in morning while DD is feeding on other breast. That stimulates the milk to flow more. I'd try to pump every day. It'll be best to have to much then too little. Check she's alright on the bottle. Some reject it. And check that your husband it ok doing it

Try the formula first before you go. My two were intolerant to formula making them sick.

Thanks everyone. I tried expressing yesterday, with no success. I really hate it!

Will try some formula this evening, if DH is home early enough. I am dreading it, I can't imagine her going that long without BF!