Anyone fancy a support thread for those breastfeeding 3 years plus...?

[overwhelmed34]

Dd is 3 years 8 months. I bf ds until his 2nd birthday and stopped then, but dd is still going strong. Bfing a 2yo felt quite normal, but bfing a 3yo feels like a guilty secret! I don't want to stop until she's ready. She nurses to sleep, and in the night, and as much or as little as she needs during the day. It's intense, but on the plus side she hasn't thrown up since she was 6 weeks old. So I know it's doing her good. She's a massively picky eater and I spent time with my grandparents this week who were a bit horrified by her diet, but I know she's getting what she needs from the milk.

Anyone feel like sharing encouragement?? Join me!!

[Toria2014]

I haven't reached three years yet, but DH is just turned two and I have no plans to stop. If she wants to, thats another matter, but no signs yet!

I do get the odd look every now and then, but it doesn't put me off. I like to know that even if she has eaten all day is a packet of pom bears ( not for the want of trying, I might add) then a good few feeds of breast milk will see her right!

[ImOnMyTumbleTap]

My DD had a tongue tie unfortunately so I didn't make it passed 5 weeks due to a viciously strong latch. I hope with any future children to keep going until they are ready to stop.

Good for you!

Toriah I hope DH was a typo...

[Toria2014]

yes it was!

[ImOnMyTumbleTap]

Haha! Just thought I would check. (Not that there would be anything wrong with that, should you wish to do that as consenting adults ...)

[Toria2014]

Only a couple of times, once to have a taste (quite sweet apparently!) and the second to try and shift a blocked duct. He's good like that.

[ImOnMyTumbleTap]

He sounds like a keeper!

[BummyMummy77]

Ds isn't three until November but the way he's going he probably won't decide to wean until he's about 10 lol.

We both still enjoy it (for the most part unless he's twiddling or I'm ill) but I am starting to feel uncomfortable in front of other people which is sad. I've even had some friends make unpleasant comments which has made me not want to nurse in front of them and even try to hide that we still nurse. Pisses me off.

[Toria2014]

Oh my god, the TWIDDLING! She will not leave my nipples alone. I was hoping it was a phase....

Thats a bit shitty about your friends. Why do people think they have any right whatsoever to comment in such a way.

[ImOnMyTumbleTap]

BummyMummy, tell your "friends" just where they can take their judgements!

[BummyMummy77]

The little bastard threatens me with it now! "Mama, please may I have some ice cream or I'm gonna twiddle."

It's mostly male friends too. One very good friend (who's wife nursed their dd until she was 20 months) has said a few times "let's face it, you're doing it for yourself now."

Wtf? I do like nursing ds yes but I really wouldn't mind if he stopped at all! I could actually go out in the evening for the first time in three years or out for an entire day without having to be back for nap time!!

I'm certainly not doing it for myself!!

[BummyMummy77]

I think all of my female friends have the common sense to know even if they disapprove it's not ok to comment on someone else's parenting.

[overwhelmed34]

toria yes! Pombears and milk is pretty standard for dd. It's very reassuring. Hopefully once she does wean she'll be a bit more adventurous....(hopeful...)

bummymummy yes I'm pretty secretive about the fact we're still going...and I find it hard to imagine that dd will ever be ready to stop. And anyone who thinks we do it for ourselves clearly has never done it...

[overwhelmed34]

What I struggle with is that sometimes I'd like to just cuddle dd or sit on the sofa with her and watch cbeebies, but I can't sit next to her without her wanting milk.

[Toria2014]

I can't sit next to my DD without her rummaging in my top and twiddling a nipple! My poor nipples. My DH doesn't get a look in these days!

[Sunflower1985]

Any tips for the twiddling?
Ds(3) is a habitual twiddler.
It's subconscious at this point so I can ask him to stop and he will for a few minutes but then the hand creeps back again.

[Toria2014]

I'd be interested in any tips for the twiddling. I type this as I sit on the sofa with toddler twiddling both nipples right now!

[nennyrainbow]

Can I be in the club? DD2 is 2.5 and showing no signs of giving up so we may still be going at 3. Only BF'd my other 3 DCs for their first year. I'd be more than happy to stop now and be able to enjoy a guilt free but she won't drink milk ( even expressed milk) out of a cup, even though she happily takes water from a cup. Have also tried soya milk and chocolate milk without success. She's also quite a picky eater and is very particular about how the food is served eg no sauce.

[BummyMummy77]

A good twiddling tip is to do it back.

[AngelDog]

My DH is making me stop feeding my just-about-to-be 4 y.o. :( I am not very happy about it. He has been wanting me to stop for a long time but it's actually happening now. Progress so far: stopping night feeds. Result = more wakefulness for both DS2 and me. Neither DS2 or I wants to stop.

I worry about stopping because we have a whole lot of health issues, which for my older son got loads, loads worse after he stopped bf'ing. DS2 also tolerates no dairy or dairy substitutes.

[AngelDog]

On the plus side, neither of mine have been very bad twiddlers. :) So sorry, no tips there.

[Salmiak]

My tip for the twiddling is to make them hold a toy in their spare hand, it is usually whatever is lying around in easy reach, so can be a tea spoon, cuddly toy, plastic dinosaur, whatever. It takes a few days to get them used to focus on holding something but means they no longer have a free hand to twiddle with...

[ispymincepie]

Sorry to butt in to a thread I don't really belong on but I just wanted to say....I breastfed my first 3 children to 20m,18m and 26m and planned to feed #4 for as long as he wanted. He never managed to latch I've been totally heartbroken and been expressing for him for 5 months and still going. I really miss breastfeeding. BUT you've all totally reminded me about the twiddling and just wanted to say you've found me a silver lining!

[LifeGotInTheWay]

AngelDog. Don't want to derail the thread but what do you mean your DH is making you? If you continue feeding DS what will happen? It's likely your DC will self wean in the next year so if you're both happy with it, what's the rush?

Sorry to butt in everyone - I very much hope to BF until DS self weans so was lurking but then got upset for AngelDog

[ChocolateHelps]

Can you find your local LLL group? There are toddler meetings in my area for mums who want the support when feeding older babies / children.

I bf both mine past 4yrs. First one I actively weaned and it took a long time but younger one just forgot and really did do the child led weaning.

They won't feed for ever and while it still works for then ignore everyone else! When you've really had enough you'll know and your child might surprise you and stop when they're ready.

[BummyMummy77]

Ds is driving me crazy. He's nursing constantly! Not sure why. He's lying here now having nursed for the last two hours. (it's only 4pm here).

The last two weeks he's also waking TWICE in the night to nurse then at 4.30. I don't mind still nursing but it's a bit much.

May have to give up soon which I REALLY don't want but I'm about to start taking clomid and it may make my milk levels drop. And even if it doesn't I've been advised today that it may be why I'm not getting pregnant. Boo.