When to stop bf

[beijingaling]

I understand that this is a very emotive topic and I really don't want to start a fight but I would love some information or a point in the right direction.

DD is 3w3d and breastfeeding well (thanks again to all of those who rescued me when I was having such trouble in the beginning). I had always planned to bf for 6 months but out of curiosity what are the benefits for going up to 6 months? I'm starting to thi k about swapping to formula at 3 months but obviously want to do what's best for DD.

Thoughts?

I t sounds like you're doing a great time. Just take it one day at a time. Every feed counts and the benefits just keep adding up.

There's a list somewhere of benefits for each week of feeding, I'll see if I can find it for you.

Here. This isn't actually th e list I was looking for but it explains the benefits per stage. I'll try again to find the proper one later. Must see to the children now!

BFding gets easier as the baby gets older, for instance they feed less frequently. J enjoyed it more when the babies were a bit older.

I'm interested in the 'when to stop' question myself. DS2 (20 months) is still feeding a couple of times a day. He doesn't want to stop. Not sure whether to take the lead myself and stop, or let him stop when he's ready.

Why are you thinking of doing that?

The great thing about breastfeeding up to 6 months is the simplicity and convenience. Off you go out with just a couple of nappies and a packet of wipes in your coat pocket - no bottles or faffing, just you and your boobs.

Also v important = immunity

my kids are almost never sick, DD1 was breastfed to 14 months, dd2 still bfing at 11 months. I credit a lot if this to breastfeeding. When bugs are going around they either don't pick them up or just get a mild sniffle. This means they are not miserable with sickness and also that I barely ever miss time from work to nurse them.

Teething - mostly comes into may post 6 months, but there really is nothing that soothes and calms a teething baby like breastfeeding.

I don't really see the downside to 6 months of exc breastfeeding. Expressing means you can have time away for work or fun.

Sorry, forgot how new you were to this.

If you can say at 3 weeks that bfing is going well, then you're way ahead of where I was at the same stage with DD1. It wad more like 10 weeks before it was even going passably well.

With bfing the hard work is all at the beginning. The longer you do it, the easier it gets.

Honestly, at 3 weeks don't bother making plans for 3 months. Just enjoy your newborn baby and pat yourself on the back for getting this far after a difficult start.

Congratulations :)

Hetty, is this the one you were thinking of?

OP, exclusive BF is recommended for the first 6 months but that must seem like forever away when your DD is only 3 weeks (congrats BTW!) so I agree that just taking it as it comes is the best way for now. The first 6 weeks are the toughest and if you're doing well now then well done to both of you! See how you feel in a few months about BF, it's not a decision you have to make now

I'm still seeing how it goes and DD was 2 in October!

beijingaling with DC1 I thought pretty much like you. I'd get to 6 months and swap to formula. However DS had very different ideas . Anyway it was so much easier by then anyway that we just carried on.

Kellymom has some good information on the benefits of feeding past one too here

Thanks EauRouge. That ones good, but no, the one I was thinking of is much more detailed.

Every breastfeed matters, so the benefits continue with time. There's a few benefits to breastfeeding alongside introducing foods though when you're weaning, as it can reduce intolerances and things like coeliacs disease.

I found breastfeeding after 3 months is much easier than breastfeeding before 3 months too.

beijingaling have you seen this thread on weaning?

I really, really love MN. Thank you all so much. I think the stopping bf thing was more of a wobble than anything else for various reasons. Perhaps just looking forward to getting my body back and being able to share feeds with DH. Yes I know I could express but after spending 50 minutes feeding I just want to put my boobs away! Plus a friend of mine said she didn't think there were any benefits after 3 months.

I know you're all right (and I agree) with BF for 6 months and especially being in China I think DD could use all the immunity she can get. Plus obviously we would have to bring all the formula in as there is no way I would buy it here.

I'm starting to really love the sense of achievement watching her grow and the bond that BF feels like it gives us.

I'll stick at it and we'll just wait and see.

Thank you again!

ps... thank you for the thread on weaning JiltedJohnsJulie and Hetty and EauROuge. Brilliant reading and a real boost for me!

I initially planned to just try BF and see how it went. Found it difficult at the start but persevered. I remember thinking at 3 months "only another 3 months to go and I'll have done the 6 months and I'll go onto bottles" however, we were going on holiday when DD was 7 months so I thought I might as well wait till after the holiday.
By this time though, BF had just become a way of life and DD had begun to go longer between feeds so I thought I'd just carry on till she was a year old.
Now she is almost 11 months and I honestly can't see me stopping feeding then either so I'm now thinking "a year and a half" No doubt when that time comes, if she's still BF I'll change my mind again!
I think the benefits of feeding this long are

1. The money I have saved on formula, teats, bottles etc
2. No having to make up bottles, the milk is always ready
3. Night feeds: just lift baby into bed to feed
4. BF can be a comforter for baby as well as a drink

The only negative aspects I have found were

1. Frequency of feeding up till DD was about 6 months
2. Now DD is nearly a year it seems a bit less socially acceptable to be feeding her (not that this bothers me, it's other peoples problem as far as I'm concerned.

If you're keen to carry on BF I would give it another month or two as it really does get easier. Sorry this was a bit long!

A brilliant site on BF is www.kellymom.

They list the benefits to your child as:

• Breastfeeding children benefit NUTRITIONALLY

• Breastfeeding children are SICK LESS OFTEN

"Antibodies are abundant in human milk throughout lactation" In fact, some of the immune factors in breastmilk increase in concentration during the second year and also during the weaning process.

• Breastfeeding children have FEWER ALLERGIES

• Breastfeeding children are SMART

Extensive research on the relationship between cognitive achievement (IQ scores, grades in school) and breastfeeding has shown the greatest gains for those children breastfed the longest.

• Breastfeeding children are WELL ADJUSTED SOCIALLY

• Breastfeeding your child past infancy is NORMAL

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child... Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother

There are benefits to mothers too - also from www.kellymom.com

Extended nursing delays the return of fertility in some women by suppressing ovulation.

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer

Studies have found a significant inverse association between duration of lactation and breast cancer risk

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ovarian cancer

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of uterine cancer

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of endometrial cancer

Breastfeeding protects against osteoporosis.

During lactation a mother may experience decreases of bone mineral. A nursing mom's bone mineral density may be reduced in the whole body by 1 to 2 percent while she is still nursing. This is gained back, and bone mineral density may actually increase, when the baby is weaned from the breast. This is not dependent on additional calcium supplementation in the mother's diet.

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease insulin requirements in diabetic women

Breastfeeding moms tend to lose weight easier

I always said.....I'll stop at 6 weeks. Then it was 3 months and so on......14 months later and she has some every other morning. I can't bear the thought of stopping. Just take each day as it comes and don't worry about when to stop. One massive plus side of breast is that it's free. Add up how much your saving.