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I think you should start supplementing now if you know you will have to down the line. I know of many baby who rejected formula when it was introduced late in the BFing game (like, 7+ months old) because they were so used to BM. You might as well get your baby used to a bit of formula now to (1) alleviate the stress pumping is putting on you, and (2) set your baby up for supplementing down the line. I EBF my 10.5 mo the cost of my sanity some days. Next baby, I plan to introduce a bottle of formula every now and again so they will take it if I need to supplement (I am *not* repeating the pumping stress I have had with DD).

In terms of benefits, I think the longer you can give some BM, the better. Even if you aren't EBFing, your baby will be getting immunities and BM goodness from your milk.

I've always had a low supply so we supplemented from the start. But I looked as formula as a back up. We kept a tub of powdered at daycare and they knew that if we didn't send enough bm that day to give formula as the last bottle of the day.

Is that an option for you? That way you are less stressed about pumping enough. Because let's face it; stress = less output.
But I would try to keep up at least 2 pump sessions a day. Only because at that age she is still eating more than 2x while you're away from her. So if you take it down to 1x your supply might take a hit. Is she a good sleeper? Is pumping after she goes to bed an option?

I've heard at least that baby reaps the benefits from getting some breastmilk, that it's not an all or nothing sort of thing, so in your situation I would do what I could to prolong providing some breastmilk - which sounds like it's maybe supplementing now and then dropping to one pump in January? The pump before bed is also a good plan to keep up your supply, particularly since your LO STTN.

agreed with all the PP - our birth class teacher, who was also a breastfeeding support leader, told us something like one BM feeding a day was enough to provide immunological benefits and such