How long did you breastfeed/do you plan on breastfeeding?

Question

and why did you choose to stop?

I swore I would breast feed the first 6 weeks...once I hit 6 weeks I thought...this isn't so bad..I'll do 6 months...6 months came around and I said I'd breastfeed until he had teeth....he's got 2 bottom teeth and I'm still breastfeeding. Ian will be 1 in about 2 weeks and I'm so tired of hearing "when will you wean that boy?" My answer is always "I don't know" or "haven't decided"

Answer 1

With my first child I was only able to breastfeed for 7 weeks. But with my second child I was like you.  I said I'd do it for at least 6 weeks and it went so well, I never really decided to stop.  He really self weaned about 14 months.  By then a lot of people didn't realize I was still breastfeeding since it was just in the morning and at bedtime.  I never really cared what others thought any way.  

Answer 2

I had planned on breastfeeding for around a year. I ended up breastfeeding for around 14 months.

Wean when YOU want to -- and remind those who harrass  you about it that the MINIMUM recommended time for breastfeeding is 12 months. (And there is no maximum, though most mothers/babies opt to wean by 3 or 4 years.)

Answer 3

I couldn't breastfeed my first son because of his birth defect. But I did try pumping but it wasn't for me. So that only lasted one day. Then with my second son. I never know when I was planning to stop breastfeeding him. I know when he was a month old I went back to work. So he had to have a bottle. I think it was formula. Then I found out that my breast milk wasn't filling him up. But when he was almost two months old I had emergency surgery on my appendix.  I was pumping all weekend and had to throw away my breast milk because of it. Then my milk supply was low trying to get it back up but it didn't. From then on he was getting breast milk from the breast and right after that he be getting a bottle of formula. When he was 9 months. He stopped breastfeeding on his own. He didn't want it anymore. He weaned himself. I didn't feel sad or anything. I know my mom kept asking me when I was stop breastfeeding him after he was a month old. It was making me mad but I ignored her. I am pregnant again. I been thinking on and off with breastfeeding and bottle feeding. I might do breastfeeding for 6 weeks. Then see how it goes. If my breast milk doesn't fill the baby up or something else. Then I might stop. But I might change my mind and keep breastfeeding.

Answer 4

I PLAN TO FOR 6 MONTHS WHICH WILL BE IN JANUARY. WE'LL SEE. I PLAN TO START SEEKING EMPLOYMENT THEN IF I CAN'T GET A GOOD WORK FROM HOME JOB.

Answer 5

First of all, don't listen to anyone tell you that you should wean him. You can wean him when you're good and ready, or when he's ready (he'll let you know). I breastfed my first child (who's almost 10) until he was 6 months. I would have gone longer, but at the time I was really young and didn't think I could pull it off with working, so I stopped. With my 2nd (who is 14 months), I wanted to breastfeed as long as possible (maybe until she was 18 months or so) but she decided to wean herself about 11 months. I was pretty bummed, but at that point she wasn't nursing very much anymore anyway, so it was easier to get over than if I had to quit much earlier. I was pregnant again and I know your milk may change to colostrum for the new baby as early as the second trimester, so she may have not liked the taste anymore, or she might have just been too bored with nursing (and having to miss what was going on around her). With the new baby, due in October, I'm hoping to try again with bf'ing until we're both ready to stop. That's so great you're enjoying it so much, it really is best for your baby and you! Keep it up and don't listen to anyone. My mom told me it was weird that I was bf'ing for so long, and some people just think it's weird for some reason...I don't see any problem with it at all. Good luck!

Answer 6

I breastfed my oldest for 18 months. The second for 20 months. The third for 30 months, and I am still breastfeeding my son who is 26 months.

The answer I always give to that "How long are you going to breastfeed?" question is " Oh between 10 and 30 minutes"  then I giggle inside a little.

To whoever said that babies only get antibodies for the first week...Your post sounded terribly misinformed, and I hope you seek out information from more educated sources next time you decide to breastfeed. It will help you be more successful. You cannot "dry up" on the first day as your milk does not even come in for 4-7 days after birth, and you can successfully come through mastitis while nursing.  Perhaps I am misunderstanding your post.

*edit*

I did not mean to insult anyone with my post, if I did, I am sorry.  I am only looking to educate.

Answer 7

he will wean himself. i breastfed my son until he was 16 mos old. and he just weaned himself off. decided he liked the cold cows milk better. i am now BF my daughter (10 weeks old) and plan on going at least to 9 months. but i dont if that is when im going to wean her, or just what for he rto do it by herself. forget those other people i had the same thing happen, my own family didnt like it. NO ONE BF in my family, have no clue why. my husbands mom breastfed all her 4 kids, but out of all her kids only my husbands kids were breastfed, no other grandchildren were. i dont why other people cant shut their mouths.  

Answer 8

My baby is 4 months old now and I have breastfed exclusively the entire time.  My original plan was to breastfeed for at least 6 months preferrably for a year, but now I'd like to do it for as long as my baby would like until she is good and ready to be weaned.  

It seems the older my baby gets the worse the commentary regarding my breastfeeding decision.  

Answer 9

A year is perfectly resonable, some breastfeed until the baby's 3 or more, although then it's usually just at night or for comfort. It's up to you, do it as long as you feel comfortable. Don't let anyone pressure you to stop before you and your baby are ready.

Answer 10

I BF my first for 14 months and only stopped because I had to bo back to work. He is now 6 and has been diagnosed with autism. He was at his happiest when breastfeeding. Great for mommy and baby bonding. To this day we have an extraordinary bond. My youngest was 8 months old and self weaned. Both my children were very small and people always assumed they were younger.  I agree with the comments to do what feels right for you and not to worry about what others think. As they got older, they both breastfed more in the evening and night anyways..

Answer 11

i'm still breastfeeding my 14 month old son but it's getting time to stop now. i haven't set a date or anything or even started but i will soon enough. he's just doing it for comfort at this stage and i think if i wait longer it will be harder to stop. but i feel satisfied. i never thought i would've bf for this long. it's great though isn't it? these days i like it because it means i get to stay in bed for longer while he's feeding away in the mornings. rather selfish reason to continue actually :)

Answer 12

Before having children, I used to think that moms who breastfed past a year were strange.  With my first, I breastfed her for 15 months.  I obviously no longer feel that way.  My daughter weaned herself.  We just very slowly cut back one breastfeeding meal a day until it was only once in a while.  

I'm currently breastfeeding my 4 1/2 month old son and hope to do it for at least a year again and until he weans.  

Just block out the comments from other people who don't get it.  Breastfeed another year if you want.  

Answer 13

I always said I would nurse for AT LEAST two years and after that until my kid(s) were done.  I'm nursing a 2.5 year old and a 9 month old, yes I nursed during pregnancy.  Yes its safe.

I get sick of hearing the weaning comments too, though most people know better than to even bring it up with me.

American Academy of Family Physicians

http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/polic...

If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned

American Academy of Pediatrics

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi...

There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer.197

Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother, especially in delaying return of fertility (thereby promoting optimal intervals between births).196

Extended Breastfeeding Fact Sheet

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/eb...

    *   Nursing toddlers benefit NUTRITIONALLY

    * Nursing toddlers are SICK LESS OFTEN

    * Nursing toddlers have FEWER ALLERGIES

    * Nursing toddlers are SMART

    * Nursing toddlers are WELL ADJUSTED SOCIALLY

    * Nursing a toddler is NORMAL

    * MOTHERS also benefit from nursing past infancy

    * Additional Resources

A Natural Age of Weaning

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.ht...

http://www.prematureoptimism.com/linkBlo...

Breastfeeding and Cancer

    How is Breastfeeding Related to Cancer

    http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/defaul... longer the women had breastfed during their lifetime, the less likely they were to get breast cancer. According to the researchers, this was a very striking finding. They made sure that the women’s age; menopausal status, ethnic origin, number of births and their age at the birth of their first child were all taken into account. Breastfeeding still lowered breast cancer risk by 4.3% for every year of feeding. There is also a 7% reduction in risk of breast cancer for each child born.

    A 4% lowering of risk doesn’t sound much. But, as breast cancer is quite a common disease in developed countries, breast feeding every child for an extra 6 months would mean about 1,000 fewer cases of breast cancer in Britain each year.

    You will have less chance of Breast Cancer and other Cancers

    http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/a...

    If women who do not breastfeed or who breastfed for less than 3months were to do so for 4 to 12 months, breast cancer among parous premenopausal women could be reduce by 11%; if all women with children lactated for 24 months or longer, the incidence might be reduced bynearly 25%.Source: Newcomb,P. etal. “Lactation and reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer.” N Engl J Med 1994; 330(2):81-87.

    Women who were breastfed as infants, even if only for a short time,showed an approximate 25% lower risk of developing premenopausal or postmenopausal breast cancer, compared to women who were bottle-fed as an infant.Source: Freudenheim, J. “Exposure to breast milk in infancy and therisk of breast cancer.” Epidemiology 1994 5:324-331

    An increasing duration of lactation was associated with a statistically significant trend toward a reduced risk of breast cancer. Sources: Newcomb, P.A. et al. 1994 Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine330(2):81-87. (P Byers T, et al. Lactation and breast cancer: evidence for a negative association in premenopausal women. American Journal of Epidemiology Vol 121, pp664-74, 1985)

    Siskind V, et al. Breast cancer and breastfeeding: results from and Australian case-control study. American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol130, pp229-36, 1989

    Uterine Cancer

    A protective effect against uterine cancer was found for women who breastfeed.Source: Brock, K.E., “Sexual, Reproductive, and Contraceptive Risk Factors for Carcinoma-in-Situ of the Uterine Cervix in Sidney. “Medical Journal of Australia, 1989.

    Ovarian Cancer

    Breastfeeding should be added to the list of factors that decrease ovulatory age and thereby decrease the risk of ovarian cancer.S ource: Schneider, A.P. “Risk Factor for Ovarian Cancer. “New England Journal of Medicine, 1987

    Endometrial Cancer

    Lactation provides a hypo estrogenic effect with less stimulation of the endometrial lining. This event may offer a protective effect from endometrial cancer. Source: Petterson B, et al. “Menstruation span- a time limited risk factor for endometrial carcinoma”. Acta Obstet Gyneocol Scand1986;65:247-55

Answer 14

i was wanting to breastfeed with my daughter for the first week <after that they stop getting anti bodies etc from you and just get normal nutrients, also i knew from family that I'd 'dry up' quick> unfortunately i dried up within the first day and got mastitis. i was told there and then that i'd probably never breastfeed. i hope i can for my next one, although if i cant I'm not worried about bonding etc as me and my first bonded instantly and she is healthier than any breastfed child i know. i still believe breast is best though. with my next, if i can, i will breast feed to 6 months and i will follow what the doctors say.

EDIT: forgot to add, my daughter seemed to prefer powdered milk anyway and she loves cows milk. i think really you should 'listen' to your child, you will know when it's right, although, personally i think any type of 'baby' feeding should stop at 2 years <bottle and breast> as i know someone who was breast feed up to 6 and they're very sexually attached to pregnant women's b*****s. his sister was breast fed the same and she her husband left her when she got pregnant because she wanted him to drink her milk.

EDIT *2: why on earth did i get thumbs down???

Answer 15

Almost none of the women in my family breastfed... they were always working moms and didn't have the luxury of good pumps "back then."

So I was fighting a curve the whole time... a learning curve, and the curve of less than supportive family members.

I breastfed for 4-5 months.  I promised myself I would do it for 6 months - 1 year.  I went back to work full time at 10 weeks, so I was a pumping queen for awhile.  I learned a lot, but what I wasn't prepared for was all the unsupportive comments I would get along the way.  "you look tired, are you going to stop soon."  "are you sure you want to keep up with this?"  "You've done a good job, you can stop now."  Etc.

The next time, I will be more prepared to ignore the comments and keep a positive head on my shoulders.  I think I'll do much better!

PS - their comments were always meant to be loving, they were just worried about me, but it never dawned on them to help in other ways to allow me more rest or time to nurse.

Answer 16

My daughter is 16 months old and still nursing. I plan to let her self wean.

I just ignore people who make comments. Change the subject, and they will eventually get that it's not up for discussion!

Answer 17

When they self wean.

Answer 18

With my first I nursed her for a year, and then weaned her because of pressure from family, friends, and an ill-informed pediatrician.

With this baby, I plan on nursing for as long as we both are comfortable with it, maybe up to three, we'll see.

Answer 19

Say you'll wean when you and he are ready! My husband thought my daughter would be weaned by 12 months and I was sick of him saying, "she needs to stop that!" I stopped pumping at 12 months (I work full time) and she gradually lost interest until we were down to 3 nursing sessions a day.  Then I decided she didn't need to nurse during the day only at night and with a little distraction she gave up her morning and afternoon nursings.  Then it was just bedtime which I was willing to hold on to as long as she wanted.  Then I got pregnant and my milk dried right up.  Just last week did she stop asking for it before bed because she was tired of not getting any milk.  She is almost 17 months.  I am so happy with the way we ended nursing.  It felt right for me and her and I felt like I wasn't forcing her to quit.  Do whatever you feel is right.  I do miss it but look forward to having that bond with my next child!

Answer 20

I bf for two weeks, then pumped for four months. I couldn't produce enough for two so I gave it up.

My opinion, I think a year would be my max if I had continued. After that, it's time to separate.

Answer 21

i was teh same as you only my goal wwas 6 months until someone asked me why only 6 months. it came and went. my son is 17 months old and we're still nursing some. he's slowly wenaing himself off of me. he doesn't nurse during the day at all and prefers his cup, he's jsut too busy to nurse. I was 19 when i ahdd my son and practically none of my friends had kdis and the ones that did, didn't breastfeed. my family nursed but only for about 3-6 months so i thought that was the norm. i got tired of hearing it but  eventually people gave up on asking me and finally realized i will wean him when i'm ready. now they all know that teh world health organization reccomends 2 years

WORRIED- you got humbs down because breastmilk has antibodies the ENTIRE time you breastfeed- not jsut teh first week- and your rbeastmilk doesn't dry up the first day- it hasn't even come in yet at that point

i also wanted to add that i pumped for teh first eyar while i was at work until it got really difficult and i was only getting about 2 ounces at that point

Answer 22

To each, his own.  If your little man is doing fine with breastfeeding, keep on trucking.  Don't worry about what others are saying.  If breastfeeding is fitting into your lifestyle and is sufficiently doing the job with your son, who cares what they say.  Breast milk is, after all, the best thing for him right?

Answer 23

I am currently pregnant with twins due February 26th and I am planning on breastfeeding them for a year. And it doesn'T really matter what others think because I know that breast milk will be what is best for my twins.

Answer 24

I breastfed . my daughter until 14 months when she self weaned herself.  She was a very busy little girl and also loved dairy so one day she just didn't want breast milk anymore. It was a little upsetting but it was what she wanted.

My son is almost 18 months old and is still nursing at night.  I am not sure when he will be ready to give it up.  I am leaving it up to him.  I thought he was done the other night when he ended up drinking regular vanilla milk with his bed time snack and didn't want breast milk but then last night he wanted breast milk so you never know.  But self weaning is the best for the child and you because most of the time it is gradual and wont cause pain for you and it wont be traumatizing to the child.  

Also just ignore the comments of when are you going to wean or just tell them when he is ready to.  Sooner or Later it will be acceptable to nurse until the child self weans. We just all  have to struggle with the people who are not educated about it and once when they do get educated then that is when we will make it acceptable.

Answer 25

i am currently breastfeeding a 3 month old and a two year old. the older one helps keep up my supply. you should breastfeed as long as you and your child mutually desire. just answer the offending comments with the remark that you will wean by college.lol!