How much expresses milk to leave?

[QueenSconetta]

I have to leave my, by then, 8 week old DD with my Mum to go to a funeral on Saturday and I'm not sure how much expressed milk to leave for her?

I will be away for 2-3 hours and I'm hoping I can time it right so she won't need feeding.

She has a very stong suck and normally will feed for around 10 mins. I have 7oz stored in the freezer but I'm not sure that will be enough.

Can you gauge it on expressing for the same length of time she feeds for? I wouldn't have thought so because you can presume the same 'efficiency' if you see what I mean.

She is fine with a bottle as she had reflux and took her Gaviscon from a bottle.

Thanks in advance.

For 2-3 hours I'd leave two x 7 oz bottles if you can. So the freezer one (just leave it in freezer with instructions for your mum on how to thaw it (ie in cold water not microwave or hot water)) and express enough in the day or so running up to the funeral (ie tomorrow and Friday) to make up a second 7 oz bottle. Have you expressed before? Do you find it easy or hard?

For 3 hours, I'd leave a 4oz bottle with the rest in the freezer - ds never took more than 4oz of EBM at a time as bm changes over time so they don't take as much as formula

I have expressed before and find it ok. I usually get 3-4oz before I get bored it slows down to a near stop.

I would have thought that if you fed her before you left that your one 7 oz bottle would be fine. and that she mightn't even need it. Is it 7oz all in one container or split? If it's split up I would ask your Mum only to defrost 5oz and that should be enough till you get back.

It's split in a 3oz and a 4oz in storage bags.

I'm just thinking that OP won't feel the need to rush back if there's enough milk on tap so to speak. There might be a wake etc, people to speak to... Also feeding a tiny baby is a good way of keeping them occupied if they're upset, so maybe better to err on the side of caution in case of delay. At 8 weeks chances are she'll only take 3-4 oz at a time but might be time for 2 feeds depending on how settled she is.

Ds4 was a very big baby but he never took more than 5 oz. I think bf babies take a "little and often" approach.
I agree it would be no harm to have extra expressed but if it really is only 2-3 hours then what she has expressed should be enough?