Weaning, BFing, expressing... confusing!

[Mimile]

DD is 26 wks - she was EBF until we started weaning, a couple of weeks ago (a mix of finger foods and purées).
Since going back to work, our routine is as follow:
wake up round 6.30, with BF in bed, and maybe a mini co-nap until time to rush to work at 7am.
Bottle EBM (8oz) at nursery at 10am + snack (bit of pear or banana) at 10.30.
BF at 2.30pm + mini purees (1 to 2 ice cube sized portion) if I look after her (work from home some afternoons), or, if in care, bottle of EBM (6-8 oz) + fruit snack.
BF when i get back home (5.45ish) + mini puree or baby rice.
bedtime bottle EBM (5 oz) at 7pm
I then express at 10.30pm
She then wakes up once during the night, usually around 3am, for a BF.

I rely on what I can express to feed her, plus my stock of frozen EBM, however, I am struggling with matching demand. I express as often as I can at work (usually 10.30 and 2.30), but rarely accumulate more than 13oz / full day.
I am wondering whether I should keep going, supplying whatever volume of EBM I can, or whether I should introduce some formula to avoid DD being given too small volumes of milk.
I reason that this should not affect supply, as I would continue expressing. Bearing this in mind, I am sick of the expressing paraphernalia and schedule, and wouldn't mind swapping BF bras, which I hate, for some nicer, better support. But I love the gummy smiles...
Not sure how to progress from here. More real food, same amount of EBM, or EBM plus formula, and still going gentle on the food?
DD is a ravenous little thing, who loves whatever is fed to her, in whatever form: breast, bottle, finger food, spoon, it's all good.
Hope someone can advise!

Why do EBM last thing when you must be in from work? I'd up the food to 3 small meals- not just fruit and baby rice, she can manage protein and carbs now and do bf when possible and ebm when not.
That's what I'd do, I'm not an expert though.

I actually give EBM at 7pm, as she is still hungry at that point and I haven't got enough to give her after feeding at 5.45 (and I am shattered and starving at that point too).
I wasn't sure whether meat would be ok so early, and she has patches of eczema coming and going, so I try to limit the wheat-based stuff. I include quinoa and rice in her purees though, but maybe this is not enough? I am just a bit worried that the transition from EBF to food at all meals would be too abrupt for her digestive system

I wouldn't up the solids yet - she is only 6 months, take it slowly, especially if she has ezcema etc. From 26 weeks, meat, wheat etc is all ok (barring family allergy concerns) - the only things you should avoid are honey (until 1 year) and too much salt and sugar, and obvious choking risks like whole nuts.

This is what I would do, not saying this is the only way, just suggestions:

Try feeding her yourself at 7 instead of giving a bottle - you might feel "empty" but there will be milk there and your supply should adjust anyway once you have fed her at that time for a few days, so she won't get so frustrated (perhaps start it on a Friday and hopefully they will have adjusted by Monday so the main adjustment is over a weekend when you will be more relaxed) - of course if the idea is your partner gives the bottle at 7 so you get a break then ignore this! I am just wondering whether skipping the 7pm feed and expressing at 10.30 is a bit of a false economy. A pump is good stimulation when you can't have your baby with you, but it's not as efficient as a baby themself, IYSWIM. If you are feeding the bottle yourself, then definitely try feeding her, even if you do it lying down and end up dozing for 20 minutes. If you are starving at that time, could you have a snack with her when she has her tea to take the edge off it?

Thank you for your comments
I am happy to let her have food "just for fun" at the mo, and stick with milk.
I'm going to try the 7pm feed, but not sure how it will work with her already feeding at 5.45 - my worry would be not to have enough expressed at 10.30, which contributes to her bottle at nursery the next day. Unless I cut the 5.45 feed, which she would miss I think, since it gives her comfort as well (she basically goes mad when she sees me walking in). But overall I think she doesn't get much from me in the evenings at all - she is really distressed if I do not give her EBM top-ups when I occasionnally BF her at 7pm on WE. Hardly surprising, since work is hard, nights are hard, eating right is hard... I sometime feels like BF is sucking the life out of me. Expressing is bloody hard, especially at work, between meetings etc.
I just don't want to become stuck with the idea that breastmilk is the only way when I could be depriving her from milk she needs by not topping her up with formula.

It is really driving me mad, my DH doesn't get the pain it is to express (DD feeds in 10 minutes top, while it takes me 45-60 minutes to get 6-8oz out at max).
Anyhow - will give it a go, but I do feel like a dairy cow quite often at the mo...

Could you feed your DD on one side at 5.45 then at 7 the other side. It then might be enough to settle your DD for bed.

I think my DS started dropping milk feeds by about 7 1/2 months (prior to that he liked to feed every 2 hours in the day) but I used to continue expressing at the times he would of fed so I could build up the freezer supply of EBM for when I was at work.

Re the 5.45/7.00/10.30 feeds, yes you might find it harder to express at 10.30, but again your supply will adjust (it takes about 48 hours, I think, on average)

You could try expressing on the opposite side when she feeds at 7pm, rather than (or as well as, temporarily) expressing at 10.30. A lot of women find this helps the letdown reflex and helps them get more. Also remember if you breastfeed her at 7pm that 5oz bottle she would have had can go towards the next day's milk for nursery. Don't worry about not having enough milk - she can't completely empty the breast, more will always be produced. It's a bit like a combi boiler with a back up tank - you can't run out of hot water, because the boiler will just heat the water up as it comes through, but when you are not using it it builds up in a back up tank, which means you have instant hot water and don't have to wait for the boiler to kick in. It is similar with breastfeeding - you won't physically run out of milk, as more will be produced according to the immediate demand, but if your DD is used to having a bottle at that time and your breasts are not used to producing at that time, then she might find the flow a bit slow and frustrating. You can try breast compressions to increase the flow. Diet, and stress, won't affect your milk supply BTW if you are worrying about that. It is probably just frustration that she is used to the more immediate satisfaction of a bottle.

You could always give her just a little bit of formula while she is at nursery as a temporary measure while your supply adjusts. It doesn't have to be a permanent change, if you decide to give some. Or you could even just send as much expressed milk as you have got, ask them to use that first, and a small quantity of formula, to be given only if she asks for more milk. And also - if you do want to stop expressing and just feed when you are with her, that could work too, but take it slowly as a sudden drop in demand can be bad for your overall milk supply. It's worth remembering that it won't be too long before she starts to drop feeds and that may mean that you can begin to ramp the expressing down a bit anyway. But take it one day at a time - don't put too much pressure on yourself. You have done her a lot of good already.

I hope you can find a combination that works for you. Expressing, working, breastfeeding and looking after a baby IS hard - you are doing really well.

Oh, I didn't mean up the food to 3 meals overnight, that would be crazy!

thks for your replies!
Gave it a go tonight: BF at 5.30pm, which DD did not seem to be totally satisfied from, then a puree and some baby rice and a bit of banana.
BF at 7.15pm, which clearly left her hungry, so topped her up with EBM. Expressing now, waiting to see how long DD will sleep this night