Back to work at 5.5mo - will we have to supplement with formula?

[JMacks]

So I'm back to work full time in a few weeks when ds is 5.5months, and had planned to express enough to cover feeds while I'm away, though have found it hard to find the time and so have nowhere near enough. I should be able to express 100-150ml before work, and also on days off. I have read other threads where mum has gone back to work and lo has gone without and made up with extra feeds when mum's around, but seems to be older babies who are well established on solids, which ds will just be starting on around the time I go back. Will he be OK on a couple of small expressed feeds/one large one while I'm away? Or will we need to add some formula to the equation?

Don't have a problem with formula in itself, though want to continue bf, just worried it may prove problematic as in desperationof early days we tried a bottle a ccouple of times and he refused, and also has possible dairy intolerance.

Cheeky extra question. He also feeds to sleep (which is great, for me!) but i work shifts and will often be away at bedtime - should i be tackling this right now, or will he naturally learn to sleep by another method with dp?

Anyone with any experience/advice, your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I am by no means an expert on this, but have done this before at 7 months with dd1 and about to again with ds (9 months). I will also be working shifts.

With dd1 I pumped in the morning before work as I had lots of milk then and again at lunchtime. I used to get 4 bottles from pumping. She was also taking solids from 5 months so had yoghurt and cheese. DH did have to give the odd bottle of formula if she was teething and refused food. My supply was not affected as she reverse cycled and fed 2 hourly through the night instead. I fed her until she was 2.

With ds I have tried to get him used to bottles earlier than dd1, we have just ordered some with Nuk teats (latex ones more like skin, but don't last as long) and some Vital baby bottles (you can squeeze them tok simulate let down and encourage sucking) as I read this was a good combination for a bf baby. He just chews on the Avent ones. Ds will go to sleep on DH's front just cuddling up or with walking around if especially fractious. I have no idea how he is going to cope when I do nights, but babies adapt so I imagine he will get used to feeding with a bottle and cuddling with DH after a few nights screaming :(

Thanks for the very quick response Another! That's somewhat reassuring, perhaps I should try him with a little yoghurt or something before going back, also to test his reaction to dairy.

When you say you got 4 bottles, what sort of volume are we talking? I'm think I could probably get maybe 250-300ish ml in one session in the morning, but wanted to keep the volume modest for worry about gettingengorged aand sore while at work. Won't have the space or the time to express at work.

Thankfully ds will drink expressed milk, fussily, from a bottle, but had refused formula in the past (he was only 2-3 wks at the time, so nothing to say that would still be the case).

It's going to be interesting for the DP's, isn't it! Ds will sleep in carrier with lots of walking outdoors, but gets agitated and struggles a lot on the shoulder. He's also very heavy! They will work it out between them, I'm sure!