What are the benefits of continuing bf after 6 months?

[Scoobi6]

I am returning to work FT when my DD is 6 months old in a few weeks time so have been gradually introducing some formula feeds. I was intending to bf morning and night and she'll have ff during the day at nursery. But when I give her ff in the evening she sleeps so well! If I bf her before bed she wakes every two hours through the night. I'm worried I'll struggle with the sleep disruption when I'm back at work and I want to be a happy, calm mum for her, not an exhausted grumpy one!
I know babies guts are porous to let antibodies through until 4-6 months, but then they close up: does this mean after 6 months breastmilk isn't so beneficial? If its best for DD I'll persevere of course.

[BikeBug]

Don't know about the physical health benefits, though I'd always assumed they were still there, but for me the main thing was emotional (for DS, not me!). It will be a big change for you and your DD, and if she likes to bf it can be a lovely way of reconnecting with you at the end of what might be quite stressful days for her at first (not childcare scaremongering - DS loves nursery, but got v. tired and overwhelmed at first). But it totally depends how she feels about bfing - DS uses it for comfort and reassurance a lot, but I know other babies who became really not bothered between 6 months and a year.

[emkana]

have a look at www.kellymom.com

[Scoobi6]

Thankyou both - the kellymom website is great, I hadn't seen it before. Lots of information on there for me. And I hadn't really considered the emotional side of things bikebug - I can imagine DD will need some cuddles and reassurance after her busy days at nursery.

[ProfYaffle]

I did the same as you're planning to do, ie bf am and pm with 2 ff at nursery, carried on like that until dd1 was 13 mo.

When she was about 11mo she got a really bad d & V bug, was bringing up formula and water, breast milk was the only thing she could keep down and the only thing that stopped her getting dehydrated. I was very, very glad I'd continued with the bfs!

[amidaiwish]

i would try and continue for a bit as she is likely to get sick when she starts nursery (the major downfall!) and so bf might help her fight the first round of conjunctivitis/colds etc...

[terramum]

Remember as well that lots of the bfing "benefits" are dose sensitive...so the longer you bf for the greater they are (this goes for the maternal benefits as well like lower chnaces of breast cancer).

[mamijacacalys]

Agree with BikeBug and Prof Yaffle.
Fed DS til he was 14mo after going back to work when he was 4mo. Am currently feeding DD, 10mo, after going back when she was 6mo.
Never gave formula to either as used to spit it out. Both weaned by the time I went back to work though (4 month weaning was the norm in those days with DS) so were happy to have solids and drinks of water at nursery and used to save bfs until I came home, plus through the night. They seem to magically adjust!
When DD is teething, with an accompanying cold, she is all snotty and chesty and breast milk is the only thing that she can keep down.
Also, of course, is lovely to have a nice snuggle after being out all day.
Plus the WHO guideline is to bf until 2 yrs old.
So there are many benefits to carrying on!