Veronica, (the breast milk bags say they only hold 180mls)
Yep 180mls should be enough for a 5mth old, I used to maybe squeeze 190ml into the bags & that's all Indah ever had & I was back at work when she was 6mths almost so she was having 2 or 3 during the day while I was at work, I'd breastfeed her in the morning, then hand her to my sis with 3 bags of breastmilk & then that night my sis would drop her off & I'd have expressed 3 bags again at work, but would attach her anyways both sides (some days she'd only had 2 lots of milk) to stimulate my boobies again! If she only had 2 lots my sis kept 1 for the following day & then I'd give her 2 (So she always had 3) but 180ml is kinda the amount at the most)
Actually ask those whom are formula feeding what the amount is they are feeding? AS itás kinda the same I think??? so like 120ml now or something...? However I always fill the breastmilk bags & Zyon drinks a full 180ml bottle now too!!! hee hee! maybe thats why he's so chibby!?

Ok Hens night on Friday night, I'd dump Saturdays milk & offer breast on Sunday Morning...
Wedding on Sunday I'd dump for 24hours after last drink & then start offering breast again...
I'f you start pumping now & collecting milk now & have it all stored in the freezer, it will seem less of a stress as it will already be there, but dont forget to pump during the days you are giving EBM, or else you'll be in so much pain... I tried to go once about 8hrs without pumping & OMG they were like canteloupes again & farking killing me! I couldnt get the pump to attach as they were so rock hard!

Then when Indah was about 10mths & maybe only having 4feeds a day we went away 1 night so I expressed for my sis & took my breast pump, we went out for dinner & then to casino & saw a band etc & at about 10pm, we had to go back to the room for me to express as they were swollen again! hee hee


To those with partners away, I can sympathise, prior to DH getting his residency Visa for Aust, I was all alone too & it can be so lonely & so hard!
I cant imagine doing it with the 3 though!!!