extended breastfeeding

[mickey]

hi there,

who is breastfeeding beyond a year and what are your experiences?

I love to breastfeed my LO, but now people start to ask me - with this specific tune in their voice -: do you still breastfeed???

all them are still without children, and they even think they know already what they would do in my situation and want to give me advice

it starts to p*** me off a lot!!!

think they should mind their own business!

I don't want to justify what I am doing, 'cos I know that it is the best for her and me!!!

we have a wonderful breastfeeding relationship

 

[sam's mum]

Sam's still under 10 months and people ask me in that way too - makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong I plan to carry on after he's 1 if he still wants to feed too. I'd just tell them it's got nothing to do with them! x

 

[cherylanne]

I breastfed Grace until she was 14 months ish. I would have carried on a bit longer, but she weaned herself off. People used to ask why i was still feeding her and i just told them 'because it's what she wants'. People can be a bit narrow minded and think you should stop at 6 months. I think if you want to carry on, then go for it. It is the best for you and you LO xxx

 

[Hevz]

People always asked me "how long are you gonna breastfeed for?"....erm why???? What's it to you? I might sound defensive but it was always those who aren't keen on the breastfeeding idea who asked not people who were pro-breastfeeding if that makes sense?


I fed Lauren for 12months and stopped as I wanted to try for another baby.

I fed Abi for about 15months.

I fed Toby for 9months and had to stop as I am pregnant and was getting really bad cramps when I fed and have a poor obstetric history and was terrified I'd miscarry or go into prem labour.

This will be my final addition to the family and will see how I go but I always aim for the 1year mark at least. I may feed this one till it's 3 just to freak the MIL out....she said she finds breastfeeding sort of perverse

 

[Samantha675]

I plan to carry on. Brennan is now 7 months. To be honest, 1 year, isn't really extended BFing. The WHO recommends 2 years, and the world average is something like 4-5 years. It is only the West that has a problem with long term BFing. It is just sad.

 

[Serene123]

People are already asking me. I will breast feed for aslong as me and Caitlyn want to.

 

[Whisper]

I plan on breastfeeding for as long as Amelia wants to, i can't see us stopping when she is 6mnths old.

I am often asked when i'm going to stop b/fing and switch over to formula?! Why do people assume this is what i am going to do?

I also get those snidey (sp?) remarks 'oh you won't be b/fing when she has teeth', actually erm yes i do plan on feeding her even if she does have teeth. I always say to them how do you think some women manage to feed until their child it is 3 or 4yrs old!

It does make you feel like you are doing something wrong, i think the next person to ask me about it i will tell them its none of their business.

 

[trace123]

i plan to breastfeed , if i can, until the baby is weaned onto solids fully. hopefully, ill be able to top up with regular breast milk where i can, but by 6 months ill be back at work so will have to have some alternative. im out of the house for 14 hours a day, two days a week. dont think i could pump off that enoufgh milk for that amount of time?

 

[mommyof3co]

Hayden will be 16mo on the 15th and we are still breastfeeding and will continue until he self weans. He has stopped alot of his feeding though, right now it's almost always just first thing in the morning and right before bed. I don't think he will be giving up those for awhile but my goal is to get to atleast 18mo, get him through cold and flu season. I really don't get the "your still breastfeeding" crap because luckily my MIL nursed my hubby until he was about 2 and my mom nursed all of us for awhile too so it's the norm in my family. As for online and stuff I run my own parenting forum and everyone there know exactly how pro breastfeeding I am haha. But for anyone that has made comments I mention that the worldwide norm is 4-5yrs, and say a few benefits of nursing into the 2nd year and that we will wean when both me and Hayden are ready.

 

[Chel]

People really need to mind their own business, breast feeding is so unique and individual.

I want to breast feed until 1 year and then assess it from there, if Jasper still needs it, then I'll meet his needs absolutely.

With people thinking you supposed to stop at 6 months, even my hubby doesn't seem to quite understand that even though your introducing solids, they absolutely still need the milk. If you stopped breast feeding at 6 months you'd have to introduce a bottle... and so whats the point of that!

 

[mickey]

I got very upset last time and since I have my child I seem to be even more sensitive than before.

it is not the first time since I am a mother that I have a problem with a friend with whom I was going on very well before!!!

I want to point out that those friends don't have children themselves yet, but obviously they know what to do

it makes me so angry

so, I spoke to this friend on the phone last time and she asked (as Juleika wanted "nana") whether I still breastfeed. I said "yes" and she asked then for how long I still want to breastfeed for! I said well, the natural weaning time is about 4 years. she then replied: BUT YOU CAN'T BREASTFEED A FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD!!!

so why not, and what the heck is it her business, what I am doing!!!

she is together with her bloke since five years and the same age than me (32) and I also don't asked her, when are you finally getting married and get kids, do I???

so why people always want to put their nose in your stuff when it is regarding a baby or child!!!

and how would she know if you can breastfeed or can't breastfeed a four year old child, if she doesn't have children her own???

I am so angry

I start to feel like, I want to cut contact with my friends as it annoys me so much what they always have in their mind since I have had my baby...

 

[mommyof3co]

I'm sorry she was acting like that I don't care who you are, if you question what I do with my child you will hear from me lol, I would have gone on about how you CAN and people do, and it's the worldwide average and so on lol...my friends have learned not to question me unless they want a lecture, I know how to raise my kids, I don't need anyone trying to tell me I'm wrong. I think they've learned the are my life, I would never do something that wasn't i ntheir best interest and everything I do do, especially when it comes to their health and feeding and all that I've done tons of research on

 

[Hope 4 Second]

I see nothing wrong with it. My daughter is strong and healthy. She isn't a picky eater. She hardly ever gets sick and when she does, she is over it in a day or two. I plan to let my daughter nurse as long as she wants. She only nurses at night and not every night. But she says milk only comes out of my left breast now, so I suppose it will be over soon.

 

[mickey]

thanks a lot for your answers guys

sometimes you just need a little bit of support with your own parenting ideas, when other people come along like this

I just can't understand why people have to put their nose into sth where they don't have even experience with???

 

[JayleighAnn]

I'm planning to bf and when people have asked me if we've got bottles and which formula were going with (as in the make) and I tell them I'm breastfeeding, they look at me and go "oh right, erm, so you'll be doing the first couple weeks to get the colostrum into the baby and then go onto formula right???" and when I say no I plan to bf for the first year, they look at me like I have a green head!

My MIL is the worse, she told me that by feeling my lo past 6 months I'll be making it into a pervert who is addicted to boobs!!

 

[milkmachine]

people have already asked me how long i plan on bfeeding for ive only been doing it for 4 weeks!

 

[Chel]

I'm planning to bf and when people have asked me if we've got bottles and which formula were going with (as in the make) and I tell them I'm breastfeeding, they look at me and go "oh right, erm, so you'll be doing the first couple weeks to get the colostrum into the baby and then go onto formula right???" and when I say no I plan to bf for the first year, they look at me like I have a green head!

My MIL is the worse, she told me that by feeling my lo past 6 months I'll be making it into a pervert who is addicted to boobs!![/QUOTE]

WHAT that is so ignorant!

Do people not realise what boobs are for in the first place? They're for feeding babies, its really their only significant purpose! We have these breasts for all of our adult life and yet we only have a few years in which they're actually useful. If you're chosing to breast feed I think it makes a lot of sense to feed for as long as 'possible'.

 

[mickey]

I think that is exactly the problem of our society!

they don't see breasts in their natural purpose anymore as they got highly sexualised by the medias, although when you ask a man, they are more attracted by bums than by boobs

I believe nobody would have the idea to see an udder of a cow as a sexual object! and that is what the breast exactly is, just on a different part of the body and looking slightly different

 

[TashaAndBump]

I always wanted to breastfeed Anna until she was two, but I have cut out breastfeeding during the day because Anna was showing no interest in solid foods. Now that she is hungrier due to being refused the breast (which I am sure she would prefer picky so and so!) she is eating her breakfast, lunch and dinner and having snacks and yogurts in between She is drinking well from a cup and so only has my milk at night... I have been doing this for the last week or so...

Sam's mum: what do you reckon the chances are that this is what caused my late ov?? Just thought of that

I would like another baby, though... And if we aren't successful within the first six months (when Anna will be 18 months old) I will be cutting out the breast feeding altogether.

Do babies still need baby milk at that age? i.e. would I have to give her formula bottles? I don't really know - I just assumed that when I stopped breastfeeding it would be that she was totally onto solids and other drinks. Is that how it works?

 

[sam's mum]

I always wanted to breastfeed Anna until she was two, but I have cut out breastfeeding during the day because Anna was showing no interest in solid foods. Now that she is hungrier due to being refused the breast (which I am sure she would prefer picky so and so!) she is eating her breakfast, lunch and dinner and having snacks and yogurts in between She is drinking well from a cup and so only has my milk at night... I have been doing this for the last week or so...

Sam's mum: what do you reckon the chances are that this is what caused my late ov?? Just thought of that

I would like another baby, though... And if we aren't successful within the first six months (when Anna will be 18 months old) I will be cutting out the breast feeding altogether.

Do babies still need baby milk at that age? i.e. would I have to give her formula bottles? I don't really know - I just assumed that when I stopped breastfeeding it would be that she was totally onto solids and other drinks. Is that how it works?

Could be...I thought my cycles were back to normal as they were always quite regular before but they haven't been while I've been breastfeeding!

Babies don't need baby milk at 18 months - only until 12 months, then they can have cows milk. You can buy formula for older babies with added nutrients etc. but it's not essential if they're having a well-balanced diet x