Please help - worried about 8mo weaned off bf

[musicmaiden]

My DS was weaned off the breast last weekend. Unfortunately we had to go cold turkey as he wouldn't take any form of bottle willingly and I was suffering from PND as a result of feeling very trapped and not having time to myself for 8 months. He is an all-or-nothing boy I think, so even though I was happy to mix feed a little longer I don't think I can.

He eventually accepted formula milk from a Tommee Tippee hard spout cup (not a bottle, fine by me) but is currently not drinking nearly enough, at least according to the formula pack. In the past 3 days he has 150ml exactly in the morning and bedtime and two other feeds of max 50ml. He also has 3 'meals' a day (which include cream cheese, yoghurt and porridge), which he will sometimes eat reasonably well and sometimes not.

Obviously I still smell of breastmilk which doesn't help (I am still having to express to ward off engorgement/mastitis) and that might be upsetting/confusing him, but I am really, really worried about him. He loved bf so I don't understand why he won't drink more.

Anyone any thoughts/advice/reassurance?

It sounds to me like he's getting plenty. Ignore the formula pack. Bottle fed babies do drink more milk than bf babies once weaned off breast. All you can do is (as you have been doing) keep offering him milk 3 -4 times a day and include all the other dairy solids. He will naturally take all that his body needs.
He won't be upset by the stopping of bf. He'll be happy with cuddles. In a few weeks he won't even remember what breasts are for!!
You've done really well to bf for so long. It is a huge weight on a mothers shoulders to be their babies only source of nourishment. I hope you can enjoy motherhood more now that you will have a bit more freedom.

At eight months, he can get most of his nutrition from his food (as advised by a health visitor). Ensure he is adequately hydrated by offering water too. It sounds like he is eating well and getting milk from lots of sources. My DD refused milk from about 9 months and I eventually had to offer her non dairy alternatives. She's a happy and healthy three year old now and it turns out that she has a mild milk intolerence (not saying that yours does) just that she's fine with milk in food but doesn't want to drink it and seemed to know that from an early age.