How long did you plan to bf for and when did you end up stopping?

[JollySergeantJackrum]

With all the threads on extended breastfeeding I was just interested :)

Planned about a year, actually about 18 months.

Can I ask, you ladies that breastfed for a longer time, did you go back to work? If so how did you juggle? I probably wouldn't have introduced the bottle at 7months if maternity leave wasnt nearly over, didn;t think I could manage 2 small children and expressing with a job and house to run, felt like too much.

6mth.stopped 6mth went back to work

Planned 6 months, started cutting down at 2 months and have finally gone just to formula now at 4 months as we are going to start weaning and I didn't want to be mixing all 3!

DD planned 6 months, ended at 14 months. DS planned a year, as I had found it easy with DD, finished at 23 months. Went back to work part time at 17 weeks with DD and 21 weeks with DS. Expressed at home, couldn't at work, though I hd access to a nice room and storage, I just found it too difficult.
Nothing prepared me for how much I would love bf (hated the first 2 weeks though!)

I'm the one who has nearly done 5 years of breastfeeding. Between 11 months and 18 months or so, I worked full-time, then dropped to part-time (2 days a week) and then went on maternity leave again when DS1 was around 2 and a half. Second time around I went back to work when DS2 was 13 months or so and worked 2 days a week. I'm now self-employed so my work is flexible.

I've never pumped at work, I just feed around the working day. The milk seems to go with whatever working pattern I throw at it, to be honest.

I planned for 12 weeks (not sure why 12 specifically) but it all went much smoother than i expected and still going at 11 months - DD is a total milk monster so not looking forward to weaning!

Well done MitsfordsMaid I wish I could be like that!! I left my daughter for 4hours, was in complete agony, soaking wet top etc. Didnt think I'd cope too well with a 9hr working day :(

I hoped to be able to bf for 6mths, I was lug and it was easy and so bf Ds for 18mths, I was back at work part time at 12mths and by then was just bf twice a day so easy to fit around work.

Next time I'll plan to bf for 18-24mths

Lug? Stupid phone! Meant to say 'lucky'

I thought you stopped bfing at 6m & gave them food instead DD1 made it to 3.6y when she self weaned. DD2 is 3.8y and counting and DD3 is 20m and counting.

I have now done 106m of cumulative nursing and have been lactating/nursing/pumping continuously for 5 years (give or take the 3 months each pg where I dry nursed as I have no milk between wk 14 & wk 24/26).

I have been a SAHM since DD1 was born though so have never needed to wean off bfing or introduce bottle feeds.

I was working when DD1 was 5 weeks, but initially she came with me everywhere, later I guess I was just lucky to a v adaptable supply, once you get past 9m things do seem to much more flexible - your supply's so established and the baby can have a snack/sip of water if you're not there.
I've been working, but haven't left DD2 yet (5m) I will have to when she's a bit over 6m as I have some work which she won't be able to come along with me too all the time. I've accepted the job because it's at a time when my best friend (DD1s godmother) can help as she's a teacher, and DH will use up some holiday, they'll look after the girls near to where I'm working and bring DD2 to me when she needs a feed.
I work freelance flexible hours in an industry that doesn't mind you bfing through a meeting - I'm v lucky, this has meant 4 years bfing without having to pump or supplement.

Planned a year, did 13 months. Would have happily kept going but had a week-long business trip at that point and also wanted to start TTC-ing (no periods at all until 3 months after stopping) . Was very sad to stop.

'I thought you stopped bfing at 6m & gave them food instead'
I thought that too! Funny how that 6 month mark is so pervasive...

Did 13 months with Dd1, work got in the way really. Dd2 I keep saying I'll be done by Christmas which will be about 15 months. Though I keep threatening to stop every night at the moment! She still feeds to sleep so we're not going to be giving up any time soon.

i didn't have a set amount of time planned, but went for nine months, which i was rather impressed with to say i really didn't enjoy BF.

1st child - planned 6 months; fed her for 14 months.

2nd child - planned 2 years; fed him for 3 years.

I planned to do 1 year of breast feeding/breast milk. Figured if she stopped before 1 year I'd pump and bottle feed (although I'd never have been able to as I get a trickle when pumping).

DD is 14 months and still going. Am planning to let her self wean. I'm a SAHM so never had to fit it around work. Although by 10 months she was only doing a morning and evening feed.

I said I'd kill myself to get to 6 months and intended to feed to at least 1, to avoid the need for formula.
As soon as I was aware that the guidance advises 2 years minimum that was what I had planned.
I weaned DS at 2 years 10 months as it was getting uncomfortable due to pregnancy.

I've been at home with him, but once they get to 9 months it can be quite flexible.

Planned 6 months, still going at 2. 8 weeks pg so will see what happens with supply etc. Have been working at least 2/3 days a week (self employed so varies a bit) since he was 3 months, including several work trips of up to five days away. ( took him with me in the early days). Last time I left him for a couple of nights I expressed once a day for comfort and had no probs.

beckyboow88 I went back to work ft when DD was 7 months. Until she was 12 months I expressed once in the day and once in the evening so I sent that into nursery and a supply of the ready made formula boxes is case of emergency (tbh this was quite hard and I never seemed to get much). At 12 months she moved to cows milk in the day and contined to BF until 2.5. BTW the house is still a tip!

Breast fed for 6 months. Mixed feeding with formula from 5 months to aid transition. Totally relieved when finished breast feeding. Now kids are much older I hardly give any thought to how long I breast fed them for but of course at the time it felt like the most monumental, overwhelming event.

Have healthy happy fit children.

I am another that planned on 6 months due to slightly poorly worded NHS advice and formula advertising blurb about 'moving on from breastfeeding'

DD1 is now 2.9yo and I'm BF her and her 4mo sister. I'm planning on letting DD1 self wean.

planned to do for 1 year, stopped at 14 months an 16 months. Was expecting it to be really hard to stop, but all went relatively smoothly

DS - had 6m in mind, went back to work part time at 11m (he was feeding morning and night by that time) and he stopped just before his second birthday when I was about 4m pg.

DD - felt like I should give her the same as her brother, she's now 2.5yrs and still feeding 3-4 times a day. I'm working a lot less this time, just one day a week since just before she was 2. Looks like I'm on the self-weaning track now, unless anything untoward happens...

First child - no plan, fed for 9 months.

Second child - planned 8/9 months (for parity), still feeding at 10.5 months. Already back at work. Just feed morning, evening and sometimes at 4 or 5am. He is a bottle refusenik but a big eater.