Post # 17

Member
423 posts
Helper bee
We are still going strong at 4.5 months. I haven’t supplemented at all. My initial goal was 6 months, but I could definitely see getting to 1 year with some supplementation. I’m not sure about longer than that.
Does anyone have experience with two children close together? Can you even breastfeed two at once? Just been curious about that.
Post # 18

Member
1805 posts
Buzzing bee
Firstborn for 4 months. Would have nursed longer but had problems I didn’t know how (at the time) to resolve. I was young and had zero support. Five years later, my second born was breastfed for a little over 3 years.
The nutritional benefits don’t go away just because they are older, and IMO nothing weird about it, it’s human milk for a little human. 🙂 there is a lot of scientifically based support for nursing beyond 12 months.
Post # 19

Member
7691 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@dchokiebride3: no experience, but my SIL was breastfeeding 2 at one time for almost 2 years. My nephew was 2 when his sister was born and then she stopped breastfeeding him about 1.5 years after that.
Post # 20

Member
240 posts
Helper bee
a little over 3 months. I had 4 months off for maternity leave and knew I had to switch to formula if I was going to go back to work. I would have like to have BF for longer but logistically pumping/working did not work out for us. We switched to formula with little fuss, though, and at 6 months she is still thriving!
Post # 21

Member
2231 posts
Buzzing bee
Haven’t had kids yet, I’m just curious in hearing others’ experiences. In countries like Mongolia where it’s totally acceptable for older kids to continue breastfeeding. Personally, I don’t think I could do that, but there it’s totally acceptable. For anyone who wants to read about it there is this blog post: http://www.drmomma.org/2009/07/breastfeeding-in-land-of-genghis-khan.html
Post # 22

Member
6571 posts
Bee Keeper
Still pregnant, but I’m planning on a year if all goes well. My mom did it for a year with all 3 of her kids, I think it ended up being 18 months with me.
Post # 23

Member
7768 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I have never given birth, (yet) but I plan to do it (bf) for a year. But who knows how it will go! I personally do not want the child to be old enough to be conscious of it, but that is just me. I was a nanny for a little girl who was a year and a half, and she was able to hold regular conversations- so I wouldn’t feel comfortable still bf a child that advanced/ at that age. However, I know that it is said to be healthy to do it for as long as possible…
Post # 24

Member
5540 posts
Bee Keeper
Not planning on babies for a long time yet, but I do plan to breast feed as long as possible. Formula is $$$$!! It is unreal. Plus it is generally better for the baby.
Post # 25

Member
801 posts
Busy bee
We are still exclusively BF’ing at 4 months of age and I plan to go to a year unless he self-weans before that. I’ve been back at work for over 2 months and pump during the day and once in the middle of the night to keep supply up and available for him at daycare and it is still going well. I’ve had to use Fenugreek sometimes but overall, I can totally see making it to one year even though pumping is an incredible time drain on my day at work. I’ve read that some people will stop around 6 months because they think their LO isn’t interested anymore but that it is more that if you go to a quiet place they will focus back on nursing instead of getting distracted by what is going on around them.
Also, for the teething thing, I’ve read that even though your gut reaction is to pull away from them when they bite, it is better to pull them into you so it forces their jaw wider so they don’t continue to bite down and it will help teach them not to. Not sure if it works, but I know I’ll be trying to remember to do that when the time comes.
Post # 26

Member
6009 posts
Bee Keeper
I only breastfed for like 2.5 weeks, but my mom breastfed all of her kids (5) for 2+ years each. Extended breastfeeding isn’t really common in the US, but it’s definitely possible and breastmilk can be beneficial even to toddlers.
Post # 27

Member
2029 posts
Buzzing bee
We are thriving at 5 1/2 months, and I plan to go at least a year, probably longer. The breastfeeding relationship is very dear to me and I get defensive when anyone tries to come between me and my baby! Grr! 🙂
Post # 28

Member
1813 posts
Buzzing bee
9 months and still going strong (didn’t vote). US rec. is 12 months, but the WHO recommends 2 years. I really like this article.
http://www.pregnancy.org/article/how-breastfeeding-benefits-add
Post # 29

Member
719 posts
Busy bee
We’re at 4.5 months now. My goal is 6 months. I’ve wanted to quit several times and have had more freaky obstacles than I can count so I’ll be happy with 6 months.
Post # 30

Member
2828 posts
Sugar bee
I wanted to bf for 18 months, but my son started teething at 3months and by 8 months was being rather bitey, which made feedings frustrating for both of us.
It took about a month to wean, and I pumped for another 6weeks. We had HOPED to transition to whole milk(at 12months), but it didn’t agree with our LO’s GI and we figured out very quickly that it was either boob juice or formula for a while. Since my production was down from the weaning, we were supplementing up until he was 18months.
I really really wish I had access to the info&knowledge about formula then that I do now because I wouldn’t have made the same decisions. While it is great for some, it is just not for me. If & when we have another child I will definitely be trying to meet that 18month goal (whether through pumping or straight BFing) and depending on the results I might choose to pump longer. who knows.
Post # 31

Member
2828 posts
Sugar bee
@cannotwait:
great article!
@Ms. Martian:
I read that post before and thought it was really really interesting to see how different Eastern and Western cultures truly are. IMO, breastmilk is human milk — for humans; on the flip, cows milk is for baby cows, not people (so how is that not seen as weird on some level?). And while it might be “weird” to see a toddler nursing (or an adult haha) milk is milk, and it is beneficial to you at any age, really.