Introducing some formula - when?

[MKCH]

Excitingly, it's my hen weekend in a few weeks (last weekend in May) and then my wedding towards the end of June.
I have a currently 3 month old - will be 4.5 months by the hen, and 4.5 ish by the wedding.

He is currently EBF, but I need to introduce a bottle for DP to give him during the hen and for my mum to give him during the night / first thing the morning after the wedding.

I was expressing but my milk is weirdly hit and miss - ok in the fridge the same day or day after, rubbish after that (keep it at 4°c, back of fridge... but still it doesn't seem to keep).

I'm therefore going to introduce some formula so I'm not pumping like a fiend the couple of days before the hen and the wedding and walking out like Madonna in that outfit.

Anyway - in order to keep my supply up, do you think I could feed him the formula at various points - so instead of always giving it to him last thing or first thing, for example, one day I give it to him first thing, next day middle of the night, next day afternoon - etc etc? Would that ensure my supply didn't drop for one specific feed (as long as I pumped at the same time)?

And then during hen weekend I'd pump to relieve, same at wedding (less worried about that as if necessary I can BF).

What do you think?

Duh, 5.5 ish by the wedding. Obviously.

Jeez sorry another point - by giving to him at random hungry points in the day I'm also hoping that for the 48 hours I'm away for the hen he'd be fine with it given to him at all points.

Are you sure your milk is going off? You know that it’s normal for it to separate and change colour? And if it is going off try freezing it. I’m not saying don’t introduce formula, just seems a waste of milk you’re intending to express anyway.

Your plan sounds fine by the way if it is what you want to do.

@BouncingWorms yes sadly it's rancid! Smells and tastes like vomit. Utterly foul. I know it's not the most amazing thing in the world normally but it's totally foul.
With my daughter I froze it and it was the same... to be honest that time I thought it was a high lipase issue but then I just wonder whether I hadn't sterilised properly and so bacteria was forming. But this time I've been following it to an absolute capital T and it still seem rubbish after a couple of days... but it's odd.

I think I'll still pump and freeze over the next few weeks and try it (seeing as I'm going to be pumping anyway, as you say).

But yes, I mean I guess the same thing stands in terms of taking an actual bottle rather than breast, so that's good to hear, thanks!

I'm sorry your milk doesn't keep.

I would add though that as it's for a one off occasion you don't necessarily need to introduce it regularly. You might find that he takes a bottle of formula right away, in which case once a week for reassurance he hasn't changed his mind would be enough. Or it might take perseverance. But he may be fussy being away from you for so long regardless of the milk, so I'd not overly worry about going from the occasional bottle to all day.