to have laughed when my fil told my dh

[biddysmama]

that he should stop me from breastfeeding now as dd is too old? (shes 2,ds is 1 and im pg)

do people do what their husbands tell them to? ive got a mind of my own thanks very much

^WHO disagree with you and so do I ?Breastfeeding is a life and death issue in under-resourced countries. A recent meta-analysis reported marked reductions in mortality (especially due to infectious disease) with breastfeeding even into the second year of life)

Get educated^

Oh FFS everything i have written has been qualified to say "In the West". And have you read the WHO reports - the details, I mean? You may find they also note that in Non under-resourced countries its not quite the same life and death issue.

Go get yourself educated, its liberating :o

Oh and the weaning thing. I think it depends how you manage it. Cold turkey probably isn't nice for mother or baby at any age. Weaning seems to be a gradual thing in most cases whether mother or child led which probably helps an adjustment

Yes, everyone suggests introducing solids gradually and supplementing with BF or FF till at least 1 YO.

whatmeworry - if women are breastfeeding correctly then their breastmilk will continue to be produced apart from rare medical issues and I guess there is probably medication that may have an effect (dont know). Famine conditions can also be a problem if a woman is near starving or there can be a temporary stoppage if there is a massive shock to the system e.g. death of someone very close.
All of the reasons for breastmilk "running out" despite the mother wanting to continue stated on the boards and in rl bar the exceptions I mention are most likely due to crap advice and support and myths.
I got the impression from your posts that there were other physiological reasons for milk not lasting. As I said I am happy to be enlightened as I am no expert.

Hey whatmeworry we just agreed

"are older children more impacted by rejection if milk dries up or you have to stop before self weaning?"

I stopped before self weaning with both of mine through my choice. Milk wont dry up unless you stop feeding when bf is already established. A friend of mine reckoned she could still squeeze out bm 2 years after stopping feeding her 2 year old.
No great imact on my two children. I explained and they understood. A few tears for 2 or 3 nights and that's it.

is it detrimental to my health - no point being depleted of nutrients to the point of accelerating my own demise and not seeing my boy grow up - I am an older first timer my body may not cope so well.

No, it's not unless you are famine starving. A lot of the time I ate crap. My neighbour bf triplets for 6 months and was very fit.

as previously posted - does it undermine independent immunological health?
No, see other posts by more knowledgeable people.

Hey whatmeworry we just agreed

Actually, I think we've been having a remarkably rational discussion in a very emotive area for over 24 hours - can't last :o

Dont say that whatmeworry. QUick, touch wood.

I find it surprising that so many individuals are prepared to argue so vehemently against the benefits of breastfeeding. Even the formula companies, who have the biggest possible vested interest, don't make some of the claims or suggestions that crop up on threads like these.

We are in a long-standing international study into the benefits of BFing. It is funded by one of the major formula producers but employs pro-BFing researchers and funds lactation consultants for its participants. It is looking at whether allergies and excema are reduced by BFing and whether hypo-allergenic formula has a similar impact.

It is currently looking like they will be concluding that BFing does have a definite impact in the first 6 months, that it probably has an impact beyond that age but it is impossible to quantify due to the introduction of possible allergens in the form of solid foods, and that the hypo-allergenic formula cannot be shown to have an effect.

If even companies whose business depends on BFing remaining limited are prepared to conclude that the benefits of BFing may well continue beyond 6 months it seems odd that so many mums are so keen to prove otherwise.

YANBU

TheQueenOfDenial Fri 02-Sep-11 09:21:47 No and my post isn't written to suggest anything - when one is looking for information to assuage worries one asks questions. If more worries were adressed with independent research we may get further making bf and ebf the norm.

redsun Fri 02-Sep-11 09:11:31 What hang ups am I demonstrating? I have gaps in my knowledge that I want to fill? Please don't tell me you work in education because if someone asks a question to gain knowledge and are then told they have a hang up, d'y' not think that is kind of counterproductive?

KellyKettle Fri 02-Sep-11 09:19:10 thank you - helpful and constructive. I rejoined this thread because the debate become reasonable again - I like to discuss evidence not slang "weird" "twat" labels at each other.

hairfullofsnakes Fri 02-Sep-11 09:25:54 given the peppering of deleted posts by yourself on this thread I can't expect more than attack from you. So I am very happy for you to ignore my posts - I can't help if you don't understand someone looking for information with an ambivalent outlook. I am very honest about being worried that I can't breast feed and how to manage as my boy gets older - if you want to persist in attacking me for that fear then fine - water off a ducks back here.

To help your understanding - I have NEVER expressed an anti-bf sentiment and I have only ever explained why I was uncomfortable with older children breastfeeding (it being a social conditioning I would like to change through education).

I am not attacking you pam, I just find it odd that you seem to know so little about bf when there is so much good info out there - I suggest you contact the la leche league or your local surestart bf group for te advice you seek

Post of mine that have been deleted were merely me expressing pity and astonishment at a poster who called the fact that I do extended bf perverse - she probably ran to the tower because I - quite rightly - questioned how her mind works, called hr posts ignorant and urged her to seek help. Is there really anything wrong with that? That's all they were so it is odd that they were deleted.

And tbh - if you wanted advice then coming in with your weird 'piss' comparison was both silly and did you no favours did it?

I find it surprising that so many individuals are prepared to argue so vehemently against the benefits of breastfeeding. Even the formula companies, who have the biggest possible vested interest, don't make some of the claims or suggestions that crop up on threads like these - as said by kungfupanda...

So true!

Pamsco this blog is well written and researched I think (she doesn't just express opinion but links to research which I find quite interesting).

www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/search/label/Breastfeeding%20Information

I hope that link works, still posting from phone.

I'm still wracking my brains for other research sources. It's been a while since I did much BF googling really. I prefer to read blogs, well, good ones anyway.

Oh phdinparenting is very good too (on more than just bf)

www.phdinparenting.com/2009/05/14/the-scientific-benefits-of-breastfeeding/

theanalticalarmadillo has a great page on facebook too and 'breastfeedingmatters' is another great fb page

Is there any link between breastfeeding and hairy armpits?

hairfullofsnakes Fri 02-Sep-11 12:52:03 - I am not attacking you pam

hairfullofsnakes Fri 02-Sep-11 12:54:10 - [extract] coming in with your weird 'piss' comparison was both silly and did you no favours did it

[sigh]

If you knew anything about urine therapy you'd understand the comparison, but attack to cover your own ignorance, fine. BTW I thought you were ignoring my "weird posts"?

KellyKettle thank you for links.

I have a good understanding and knowledge of the benefits of bf per se as I have read up and come from a breast feeding family but they only fed newborns and early months. I am specifically interested in the science behind self weaning, managed later weaning and early managed weaning

There is less independent research out there for the pros and cons of extended bf. I have signed on for a La Leche workshop already as it happens and will be asking about evidential based information to help me overcome my lack of understanding in these areas.

Hey don't pick me for your gang - your posts are barking too

You could always pose the questions to the blogs Pam they might like the challenge.

I had a quick look through them both and couldn't see much on ExtBF and tbh the science of weaning isn't anything I can comment on. There is a book, which the LLL leader will probably have, called How Weaning Happens. I would imagine that would include research but that's a guess, I havent read it.

Enjoy the workshop. I used to attend LLL series meetings and found them to be, mostly, very welcoming except for a couple of episodes which made me question going back (not actually related to bf advice or the leader themselves).

They usually have good supply of cake which probably influenced my decision to give it another try

Rofl

I remember the cake. You didnt go to a meeting in Mayday did you?

rofl too

Hey don't pick me for your gang - your posts are barking too
lol