I really hope you don't feel angry that I am replying because I have no experience in this myself. I thought I might be some comfort to you by sharing some of my experience from my years as a daycare teacher.

Over the many years I've been working with new mums (I have had babies as young as 8 weeks in my care), there have been quite a few times when the mums have had to wean before they felt they were ready due to sudden changes in work hours, work requirements or workplace. In my observation, although the mums found it understandably very upsetting and disappointing; the babies all went on to thrive as well as they would have with continued breastfeeding. I couldn't ascertain any difference in the bonding between the mum and bub nor could I see any difference in the bub's health or happiness. (In one case the baby even started sleeping better and seemed much less grizzley.)

Most of them found ways to continue that loving skin to skin connection. A few started to give bottle feeds with their shirts off, holding the baby like they were going to breast feed, so the baby was still leant towards them cradled in their arms. Although they said it is not the same, the baby is tilted a bit more towards the bottle, they felt that it helped them still feel connected. A couple of the mums started to (carefully) have baths with their babies, holding them close on to their chest as they lay in the warm water with the babies lower half submerged (this may take a big older style bath or be just for summer, and not all babies would like this!).

I'm sorry I can't help with scientific facts or with first hand experience, I hope that you come up with a way to feel okay about the decisions you are going to make, you sound like a very loving mum and your children will feel that love if they are drinking from you or from a bottle. Apologies if I am speaking out of turn, I know that you really wanted other mums' advice here.