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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Is there an 'extended' breastfeeding support thread?

652 replies

Unrulysun · 22/05/2011 11:48

Or would I be better off on LLL?

Just read the 'school-age children' thread with interest but didn't want to derail :)

dd is 1 today so it's not 'extended' bf by any normal definition but judging by the number of 'Are you going to carry on breastfeeding her?' (yes because otherwise she'll be composed primarily of grapes) conversations I've had inflicted on me in the last week I think I'm going to need all the support I can get Grin

so proud we made it this far - ha ha!

OP posts:
TruthSweet · 23/05/2011 18:05

I'm making the laminated cards/fridge magnets that they sell on their online shop - nothing terribly exciting like boob hats or something Grin

In asnwer to Rideonapig most people know I think today I told on of the mums at the MW clinic (with the caveat that it's what worked of my family not that I think everyone must do so) about DD2 & DD3 both nursing and got not a too bad reception (just a question about their teeth).

EauRouge · 23/05/2011 18:09

I'm glad to find this thread waiting for me when I got back from visiting the in-laws Grin I was a bit nervous about feeding DD1 in front of them. I don't know why but I've been feeling a bit wobbly about BF her lately, I think it's due to the arrival of DD2 and DD1 suddenly looking massive. I don't want to stop but it would be nice to get some high fives or words of encouragement instead of looks like this Shock or half-hearted 'you've done well, I'm sure she'll stop soon...' type comments. I either need a slap or a hug, just a couple of weeks ago I would have BF her anywhere and everywhere and sod what everyone else thought :(

I don't get much choice about whether I admit it or not, I never thought about going this long so I didn't bother to come up with a codeword and as a result DD1 is forever shouting 'I want some booby!'

MummyBerryJuice · 23/05/2011 18:17
jaggythistle · 23/05/2011 18:33

DS appears to be too busy to want milk anywhere other than in the house when he's getting sleepy or just woken up.

I was slightly sad when he stopped asking so much, haven't really fed him in public since before he was 1.

LittleBlueBoat · 23/05/2011 18:39

Hi can i sign in?

DS is 2.4 and still bf and co-sleeping and i'm 11 weeks pg with DC2. My son shows no sign of stoping and he just likes it to much. I have tried all along to get him to call it mummy milk but he likes calling it boob as well Confused

If anyone has any tips on tandum feeding, i'd really like to hear them as i'm a bit worried how my son will react when the newbaby is here and he has to share?

RhinestoneCowgirl · 23/05/2011 19:17

I was talking to another mum at toddler group when DD came up and started pestering me (dropping subtle hints like sticking her hands down my top) and said 'oh, are you still feeding her' and then told me she'd fed her DS until his 2nd birthday. It's like we feel like we can admit to it when others do!

I've fed DD plenty at toddlers until fairly recently, and often people don't even notice. It's not something I often talk about in RL, so others wouldn't know unless they asked directly. I've seen a few others locally feeding toddlers which isn't something I remember seeing first time round.

My mum is a bit Hmm about it but has given up commenting as I don't seem to take any notice Grin. She fed me and my brothers to between 6-9months each, then it was straight on to cups of cows milk.

EauRouge · 23/05/2011 19:19

Hi LittleBlueBoat, congrats on your pregnancy. I'm tandem feeding my DDs, the eldest is 2.7 and the new one is 12 weeks. This is a really good book.

I have found (and I have heard others say) that tandem feeding eases some sibling jealousy issues, my DDs will BF together and DD1 will hold DD2's hand or stroke her hair, it's very sweet Grin

LittleBlueBoat · 23/05/2011 19:22

Thanks EauRouge that book looks great Smile

MummyBerryJuice · 23/05/2011 19:25

Wow Eau I can't believe your DD2 is 12 weeks already.

GeneCity · 23/05/2011 19:37

Can I join please Smile?

DS is only 9 months, but I hope to continue to BF until he's at least 1.5 years.

It's really interesting to hear everyone's experiences - and opinions that they've encountered - of extended BF.

I go back to work in a couple of months, and will unfortunately have to be explicit about still BFing (due to risk of exposure to chemicals in my workplace). Gah.

RidinOnAPig · 23/05/2011 19:40

Thanks for the responses. I think my 'mummy' friends will be understanding about bf past a year so I'd feel comfortable sharing with them.

My 'old' friends who although I'm extremely close with, have already made a few comments. None of them have children so don't really understand bf at all. I may just stop talking about it to them soon...

psychovillemum31 · 23/05/2011 19:53

I would like to join. Am still breastfeeding my 20 month old. When I was pregnant I didn't imagine breastfeeding past one!

jaggythistle · 23/05/2011 20:08

GeneCity I'm glad i don't work with dangerous substances any more - I'm in a lab, but I test things that are suitable for human consumption and don't use much nasty stuff at all. My old work involved lots of untested drugs and things which pregnant ladies had to stay away from.

RidinOnAPig your username makes me think of this : can't get the flippin tune out of my head since somebody showed me it!!

pearlgirl · 23/05/2011 20:13

It was really encouraging to log on this evening and see such a long thread.

When i was bf ds3 I didn't know anyone else who was feeding an older child and towards the end (ie when he was over 4) I didn't mention it to anyone - except for one incredibly supportive friend. Sometimes i would ask him what his favourite thing was and he used to say 'i love mummy milk best in the whole wide world" - and then he would snuggle down for some more. When he eventually stopped I really missed the snuggles and the closeness.

GeneCity · 23/05/2011 20:16

jaggythistle Yep, it's a pain - I think I'll have to get someone to handle a couple of chemicals for me, although the BF risk assessment hasn't been carried out yet. I'm planning to tell my work in writing this week that I plan to continue to BF after returning to work...

Original poster
Unrulysun · 23/05/2011 20:18

We will all normalise it for each other :)

I have great fun with MIL (only really possible because she is evil and dh acknowledges this)

at 7 months she got all 'when do you think you'll feed her 'till? Your mum thinks you should stop - she told me so' (this is a complete lie)

so I said 'Oh I shouldn't think I'll feed her much beyond 7' and she looked all satisfied and then confused and said 'but she's 7 months now' and I said 'yes. I mean 7 years' and she didn't speak to me for the rest of the day (blissful it was Wink)

OP posts:
jaggythistle · 23/05/2011 20:28

My MIL has no idea about DS still bf I don't think. Her head might explode cos she reads the Daily Mail every day.

GeneCity · 23/05/2011 20:29

So, at (only!) 9 months, I'm starting to get are-you-still-BFing vibes from my mother.

What should I say to her (and to anyone else) when the subject comes up in future?

I don't want to say that I'm still BFing (although I mistakenly said that very thing in my earlier post Grin); I'd rather say something more positive.

jaggythistle · 23/05/2011 20:33

I think i said something about why would i buy formula when i have my own free stuff Grin They need to have one or the other till one year old...

My mum got funny at around the same age and I muttered something about it being good for him and me. I am not especially good at bening confident about it to her!

Also at one point I said i wanted to continue till he had his vaccinations at 13 months, boob comfort seemed handy to me. It's actually been great when he's not well, he had a virus and ate hardly anything for a week or so, it was a relief that he would at least feed.

sorry that was a ramble and not helpful Blush

Fernie3 · 23/05/2011 20:37

Dd Is only 10 months but I haven plans to stop feeding for a while. She currently has around 4 feeds a day plus one at around 2am. She is my fourth child my other three were bottlefed from birth. I would like to feed her until she weans herself but I also have a two year old and tbh It feels very strange thinking about feeding her! I don't know if perhaps it just because she has not been breastfed at all?! Has anyone else found this but gone on the feed the next child to that age?

AngelDog · 23/05/2011 20:39

When my parents asked when I was going to stop feeding DS (then approaching 12 m.o) I told them that the average to stop feeding internationally is 4 years 2 months. I find that helps put things into perspective. I also cite the WHO recommendation to feed until at least 2 years.

GeneCity · 23/05/2011 20:39

Thanks jaggythistle, that's useful.

I hadn't previously thought about BFing potentially being useful if DS is poorly.

jaggythistle · 23/05/2011 20:40

Angeldog since I learned those averages i have been dying to quote them if anyone gave me any Hmm faces.! :)

MummyBerryJuice · 23/05/2011 20:44

Gene it is BRILLIANT when they are poorly. At 13 months DS was admitted with a UTI and sepsis and all he would have was BM. It was so nice to know that while he was very ill I could comfort and nourish him.

AngelDog · 23/05/2011 20:46

I think it's great. Of course, the averages include all the people in this country who stop feeding at 6 weeks, so there must be lots & lots of really old children in the world who are 'still' feeding. :)

My parents were Shock when I told them but we had some good conversations out of it and they understand better why I've not stopped feeding 16 m.o. DS (and they don't make comments any more).