My 10 month baby is IUGR - born at 37 weeks but looked like 34 (4lbs 14oz), now he is 14lbs. My doc has been concerned with weight gain all along. She told me to wean at 4 mos too. My LLL leader and a public health nurse helped me get him nursing better and his weight gain improved. (I was so proud to say he had such good weight gain with no bottles or formula - doc was surprised).
Now at 10 months, he's dropped a little on his growth curve, and doc says I have to wean. I need to bring him back in 4 weeks and show her how many oz of formula he can take per day. (Yes you read right, no breast-milk allowed, regular over the counter formula is apparently better) I could scream!! I am going to start pumping again. I'm going to try and get him on the bottle, but unless they start prescribing a duocal type of formula, I'm not dumping my breast-milk. I don't feel I have a choice this time. If he doesn't improve at next visit (and IUGR babies often stay on a slow growth curve), then I do need to prove that I am feeding him so that they don't label him with failure to thrive or me with neglect.
Here's where we need help though. How can I gently wean him? He still will only take 1 oz from a bottle. I don't want to starve him out, and I don't want to force feed. (both options my doctor approves of...yeah, don't like her!).
Help!