How much breast milk does a 8 month old baby need?

[sas85]

Hi,

My bub has been going through a terrible teething week with her top teeth just erupting, I'm assuming it's related but she has stopped accepting bottles. She just flips out if she even sees the bottle, DH hasn't been able to get her to have a bottle all week while I was at work between 8-4 (I work 3 days). But she'd still drink from me in the morning, when I got home, and unfortunately more through the night to make up for it and was demanding a bottle but only from me in the evening.

(The reason she has a bottle of formula is I've got chronic low supply, needed motillium to bring my milk in properly and at my max on 120g I was getting 600ml max a day, now that I've weaned off at last check I could get about 500ml over 24hrs) So she's always had a top up.

She has started eating again (yep, went off that too for a couple of days) and so I've been feeding her a lot more since she won't take a bottle. I'm just worried this isn't ok at her age yet? My plan was to lose the top-ups as she got older if she would cooperate but is it ok for her to go all day with just food and a bit of water when I'm at work? Is it ok for her to only have what I'm producing plus food at her age, or should she be drinking more milk? She still arches and screeches often when I put her into 'breastfeeding' position (except at night) but once she attatches if I walk around she's happy as larry and relaxes into it. But she will NOT take the bottle, she'll take a few sips of water or juice from a straw or sippy cup, that's it. Can anyone help?

PS - I accidentally posted this in the express section first, can a moderator please delete that, sorry.

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Breastmilk and solids will be fine for your baby - she doesn't need anything else. She's undoubtably getting more than you think. So, enjoy your new fully breastfeeding relationship. Feed her when you are home, nights and weekends and she will be fine with food and water at other times

[human bean]

My DD dropped to 3, sometimes 4 feeds, a day, just after Christmas when she hit about 8.5months old. We had heaps of breast refusal and at the same time she started eating heaps more and drinking more water. I continued to offer but she simply refused. Since then we have been feeding on wake up, after lunch and to go to bed. The odd mid morning or mid afternoon feed if she wants it. Rarely does. And now she's in child care 3 days a week the mid morning and afternoon feeds aren't offered at all those days, I'm lucky I can drop by for the after lunch one.

She is fine. Growing healthily in leaps and bounds. I have done nothing but stress that she wasn't getting enough BM, but have finally let it go as I can see she's getting what she wants. I think sometimes we have to just have faith that if everything seems right, it very well could be. And not to doubt ourselves too much.

Hope the teeth settle down soon!