Formula or pump?

[StJuniper]

So, tomorrow I have a desperately needed haircut booked and I'll feed Tumbleweed right before I leave, but she'll probably still want to eat before I get back. I was going to pump a bottle, but I hate pumping, and the formula companies sent me a bunch of samples. So is there a reason not to give her that? Breastfeeding is going fine and she's never had any latch issues or anything, and it'd just be a one off. I'll keep my phone on do if she refused it, I could skip the blow dry and just head home...

[Kitcameron]

I don't think there's any harm in trying it if you've got breastfeeding established etc. There no saying she'd be any more likely to take expressed milk from a bottle than formula really.

[emzit]

If you're comfortable with giving her formula, there's no reason at all why not. Whatever works!

[EnigmaFish]

I'm with you on hating pumping.
I've always viewed formula as the baby equivalent of fast food or convenience food: you wouldn't want to eat it every day, but it's nice every once in a while. So yeah, if you have some to hand, that's going to be a lot simpler for you.
There's a good article someone posted on one of my Facebook breastfeeding groups about paced bottle feeding. I'll try to find it for you. It's a method to use when bottle feeding a newborn in order to make the bottle as much like a breastfeed as possible.

[busmother]

Formula! I taught an evening class when No3 was 5 months. It was one night a week and I spent so much time desperately pumping to begin with. It took about 6 sessions to dribble out enough for one feed. I think if you're not pumping regularly so your body gets used to it (which I did with the twins to begin with and happily produced the goods - so I knew I could in principle), it's really not worth it.

[busmother]

Plus you can buy a ready-made carton so it's dead easy for whoever's minding Tumbleweed, and if she doesn't need it it's always there for emergencies.

[junglewonderland]

Can you get some donor milk easily? Might not be your style, but that is what I turn to if I can't pump enough.

[StJuniper]

Tumbleweed, in DH's words, "devoured the formula like it was her last meal." She was pretty ready to nurse again when I got home, but she made it through the hour and a half, and it feels great to have my hair cut for the first time in almost six months...

[Kitcameron]

I'm so desperate to get my hair cut StJ. Had it booked then didn't want to leave kids with someone else whilst they were grumpy with pox. Didn't seem fair on my neighbour lol.

[junglewonderland]

Sounds like it went well! Enjoy the feeling.