Does BM change after you've been feeding for a year?

[HermyaLovesLysander]

I was at a local breastfeeding group today and I heard one of the other Mums talking about her 14 month old son. She said she was going to stop BF but that when she looked into it she found out that breast milk changes at a year old to include more iron and more antibodies (so in a sense a kind of growing up milk).

Is this true? I'm just curious.

Breastmilk changes continuously, every day, from when the baby is born, to suit the needs of the baby/toddler at that particular time.

After a year it still contains iron and antibodies, and the iron is very well absorbed (unlike growing up milk which contains no antibodies and the iron it contains is badly absorbed).

Hermya well done for getting to 14 months . I'm not really well informed enough to give you a proper answer I'm afraid but I do know that the iron in breastmilk, whatever the age of the child, is much more readily ingested that that in formula.

Thought you might like to have a read of this on Kellymom while you wait for someone who actually knows what they are talking about to come along .

x-posted with Belgo.

and it's cheaper then growing up milk

and you don't have to go to the supermarket to get it either.

Jilted I'm not at 14 months yet, my DS is 12 weeks old. I was just quite surprised at what she said, I've not really given any thoughts to when I'll stop. If anything what the lady said gives me impetus to carry on.

Sorry Hermya. Glad it gives you the impetus to carry on.

Well done for getting to 12 weeks then. Though you might like a read of Reasons to Be Pround. You've done well already

Hermya - bm is known to get fattier after a year. One study found bm from mothers of babies over a year had milk with 11% fat. I would think it is because toddlers/children rely on bf less and less so need more bang for their buck so to speak - just supposition you understand

www.redorbit.com/news/health/240064/moms_milk_richer_in_fat_energy_after_one_year/index.html

www.redorbit.com/news/health/240064/moms_milk_richer_in_fat_energy_after_one_year/index.html

Corrected link.....