breastfeeding at 5 (and above?)

[cleopatracomingatya]

fully expecting to get some extreme opinions here.

www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/7286609/mum-breastfeeds-five-baths-naked-normal-break-stigma/

This is the article (and the bath photo is disturbing enough for me as it is)

interested to see the general consensus on this. AIBU to think this is just... no!!

Fascinating high-level review article on human milk composition here for anyone interested

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3586783/#__ffn_sectitle

It touches briefly on the topic of immune factors, too.

All lies ethelfleda. Don't tell anyone, but I'm actually a shill for the multimillion pound breastfeeding industry.

I’m BF my 10 month old and I BF my older for 16 months. Went back to work at 5 months both times.

Am I real?

Don't tell anyone, but I'm actually a shill for the multimillion pound breastfeeding industry

The BF groups I’m in on Facebook have heaps of posts asking how to make feeding continue successfully while working, including ft

WHO advice is mentioned throughout this thread. WHO by necessity focuses advice on underdeveloped and developing countries, to bring their health and welfare up to standard, all advice therefore does not necessarily apply to developed countries.

Any immunity/health benefit of breastmilk is gradually lost from 6 months onwards, as the baby moves from passive to active immunity and starts a solid diet. Vaginal birth is increasingly becoming recognised as being as important as BF, but we don't bang on about women choosing to have C sections.

Many PPs talk of the childs wants. Well, I am sorry, but what a child wants is not necessarily what a child needs. A child, even a small one, and most definitely a 2+ child needs to learn to adapt to the world it lives in. So, fine if it is the parents choice, but not if the child is dictating to the parent.

Natural weaning age is normally between the ages of 2 and 6. That is what nature intended.
People only have a problem with breastfeeding beyond a certain age because of the sexualisation of breasts. Otherwise what is the problem?
Let's stop giving the baby human milk specifically made for them and give them cows milk instead
People saying it's unnecessary after the age of 1. Breast milk completely changes as the baby gets older. So by the age of one when the child often feeds a lot less the milk will have a higher consistency of anti bodies to make sure they still get them. A babies immune system is still only functioning at about 60% at the age of one.
This countries bf rates are appalling and our attitude is aswell. This should not even have been a news article. People seem to be more disgusted by a toddler having breast milk than they would a can of full fat coke.

WHO advice is mentioned throughout this thread. WHO by necessity focuses advice on underdeveloped and developing countries, to bring their health and welfare up to standard, all advice therefore does not necessarily apply to developed countries

And yet the NHS also give the exact same advice.

A child, even a small one, and most definitely a 2+ child needs to learn to adapt to the world it lives in

Probably does, yes, because from some of the opinions on here the world is pretty fucked up. A world where people see something sinister in a mother nurturing her child or see something sexual and disgusting.
Having to adapt to a world with these people is sad.

People only have a problem with breastfeeding beyond a certain age because of the sexualisation of breasts. Otherwise what is the problem?

Well exactly. If you remove this from the equation there really is nothing to get upset about.

Milk (cow's) is a huge part of many small children's diets. Surely it's obvious that human milk, made for human children is a better fit for their nutritional needs?

A child, even a small one, and most definitely a 2+ child needs to learn to adapt to the world it lives in.

A world where we've lost sight of the original purpose of women's breasts and sexualise the innocent act of feeding? No actually, I'm going to challenge that, not make my child 'adapt'.

So, fine if it is the parents choice, but not if the child is dictating to the parent.

Anyone who has breastfed their child will know the relationship is a 2 way street. A mother who does not want to feed cannot be forced too. Neither can a child.

As mentioned upthread, people who have an issue with extended feeding need to challenge themselves as to why. I'd hazard that most of it is down to societal views of who breasts are 'for' (the menz). There may also be some negativity from those who bottle fed and were made to feel bad for doing so.

Benefits to me and my DS personally of feeding between 12 and 32 months:

• my personal risk of breast cancer dropped by about 8%, in addition to the 4-5% risk reduction from the first year of feeding.
• DS avoided having to be hospitalised for dehydration when he contracted a bad D&V bug and would not take anything by mouth at all, including water, but would breastfeed
• his colds and respiratory bugs were very probably of shorter duration than they would otherwise have been
• I saved money on cows milk or formula and didn't have to support the dairy industry at all
• we had a lovely means of reconnecting and having some quiet time together when I picked him up from childcare
• other children learned about breastfeeding from seeing him feed and sometimes asked questions, which made me feel good

It's the naked in the bath thing

That is fucked up imo

Not extended breast feeding but making your child overly reliant on you and also maybe even feeling guilty if they don't want to breast feed any more?

Also it's to both be naked whilst breast feeding
I won't hide my body from my son when he is five but I won't be encouraging him to lay on me naked whilst I am naked with my breast in his mouth!!
Seriously

Naked in the BATH?! OF ALL PLACES!

You cannot make a child who doesn't want to breastfeed.

Not extended breast feeding but making your child overly reliant on you and also maybe even feeling guilty if they don't want to breast feed any more?

Breastfeeding doesn't make a child overly reliant on you and where do you get the idea the child will be made to feel guilty FFS!

lol @nhssecretary I really can't tell if you're joking or not - what on earth do you wear in the bath? A wet suit?

Breastfeeding doesn't make a child more reliant on you - a child is already totally reliant on you in any case. Breastfeeding is one way you provide comfort (which is essential for your child's development).

No child will feel guilty if they no longer want to breastfeed any more than they'll feel guilty for running off to nursery or going into their own bedroom or completing any other milestone where they become more independent.