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Infant feeding

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

How long did you breastfeed til?

162 replies

GimmeDaBoobehz · 20/11/2013 20:51

Including mixed feeding, if you did it.

Just curious really.

Can mention all those you have BF'd.

I am at 8 months so far and as long as she doesn't start biting, I'm hoping I can get another 3 or 4 months in.

Sorry, being nosy.

OP posts:
catellington · 21/11/2013 07:45

It's wonderful to hear so many positive experiences of bf! Thanks everyone for sharing with us.

CelticPromise · 21/11/2013 08:04

catellington I know more about the benefits and how they still apply to toddlers. I had been giving DS a bottle at night from nine months and I wouldn't have introduced that so I would have kept the bf. DS was very premature and I had to pump for a long time and had supply issues- I'd know how to address them now and have confidence. And I've met many mothers who are feeding/have fed toddlers and beyond and that support would have kept me going I think. If I have another child I'll aim for longer I think.

Jiltedjohnsjulie · 21/11/2013 08:28

2 years 8 months each. Thought I'd just give it a go with Dc1 and see how it went...

squidkid · 21/11/2013 08:40

13 months so far, ebf. Hoping to get to 2 years. Finding it tough at the moment though.

hopskipandthump · 21/11/2013 08:49

12 mths with DC1, 13 mths with DC2 and still going at 2.5 with DD (though just one feed a day, at bedtime).

Gave up with the first two because my periods hadn't returned and wanted to TTC. Have had nearly 7 years of continuous pregnancy/bf so will be quite pleased to finally give up! But DD doesn't want to yet, so will keep going for a while longer, it's not much trouble.

Halfling · 21/11/2013 08:54

I bf DS till he was 2.5 years. He did not self wean and I had to employ a number of tactics for him to stop. Looking back I think I should have just let him carry on for a few months till he lost interest and self weaned.

But I felt like a freak for bf so long and there was a lot of social pressure from my DM, MIL and friends to stop.

mewmeow · 21/11/2013 08:58

6 months. She stopped of her own accord. I was so glad I hated it.

TheThirdHare · 21/11/2013 09:51

Really inspired by all these stories. My baby is almost 1yo and still bf about 3 times a day. Sometimes It feels like the most amazing thing ever, and sometimes I'm quite looking forward to having my body back...

I'm curious though, if you had subsequent babies what did you do about your periods (not) returning/ttc? Did anyone stop bf in order to ttc? Did anyone get pg whilst bf despite not having any periods?

TheRaniOfYawn · 21/11/2013 10:46

My periods came back at around 9 months both times while I was breastfeeding (tandem feeding second time round). I have friends who cut down a bit and took vitamin supplements in order to conceive and also have a couple of friends who got pregnant without actually having had a period, which made dating the pregnancy from LMP amusing.

ChutesTooNarrow · 21/11/2013 11:23

My periods came back at 14 weeks (DS still feeding every 90 minutes) and 12 weeks (DD going for five or six hours without a feed). I was not impressed and it is uncomfortable to feed when I'm ovulating.

DontWorryBaby · 21/11/2013 11:37

Periods came back around 8 or 9mths for me too - around the time that they were eating solids well (BLW) and didn't have as many feeds.

CityGal29 · 21/11/2013 11:56

2yrsDd1 (back ah work full time from 6m and good bond)

Exactly 1yrDS1- went away for weekend and refused to bf for ever once i got back. Did have massive appetite but was concerned as wanted to do 2yr min WHO recommends.

worldgonecrazy · 21/11/2013 11:59

DD (nearly 4) was breastfed for 15 months. I went back to work full time when she was 14 weeks so I am quite proud of my achievement. I just wish I had known our last feed was going to be the last one. One night we went to bed and she didn't breastfeed, and that was the end of it. I did miss the insta-booby method of shushing her when she was stressed but was glad to get my boobs back to myself. It did take a few months for the milk to completely stop.

duchesse · 21/11/2013 12:41

I got pregnant without a period between DS and DD1 (hence the 21 month gap!). Periods came back when DD1 was 6 months, 4 months with DD2 and 13 months with DD3. I think it all very much depends on what type of feeder they, whether they go through the night without feeds early or late, how often they feed etc...

DuckToWater · 21/11/2013 12:44

DD1 - 7/8 months

DD2 - 3 months

ksrwr · 21/11/2013 12:46

11 weeks, but with a tiny bit of formula most days too

CommanderShepard · 21/11/2013 12:49

15 months. I would've gone longer but she decided herself that she was giving up.

milk · 21/11/2013 12:52

DS1: 10 months.
DS2: 6 months.

milk · 21/11/2013 12:52

Although I EBF both, my period came back 2 months after giving birth :(

ShowOfBloodyStumps · 21/11/2013 13:35

DD fed round the clock, never more than a 90 minute gap between feeds, no dummies, no bottles, nothing. I ovulated at 11 weeks and was straight back into a 27 day cycle.

DS was a very efficient feeder, slept longer, bigger gaps between feeds. Periods returned at 12 months but remained sporadic for a few months.

Calabria · 21/11/2013 15:16

Three and a half years. I stopped offering well before that and finally she stopped asking. But we were down to about once a week by the end.

leedy · 21/11/2013 15:31

My period came back both times when I was still breastfeeding, so had no problems getting pregnant (actually got pregnant twice between DS1 and DS2 while still feeding, though unfortunately the first one didn't stick).

SparklyFucker · 21/11/2013 15:37

ds1 - 10 months
ds2 - 2.7 years

I have a friend who's fed all three of her children to age 4 and more, tandem feeding for many years (child 1 & 2, and then child 2 & 3), and on the odd occasion tri-feeding when child 1 was particularly needing it.

GimmeDaBoobehz · 21/11/2013 20:12

Well done to all of those who managed to extended breastfeed. It seems anyone who does over a year needs a pat on the back.

Well actually anyone who pursues it when it's becoming difficult i.e. pregnancy, illness, teething needs a pat on the back.

Even if you aren't able to breastfeed, at least making the effort or wanting to was there.

I must confess DD is mix fed and has been since a week, as the suckling reflex was a bit off kilter til around 3 months. I'm not sure if it was me or her, but all of a sudden one day at 3 months she just started feeding properly.

Now she has 4 bottles a day 2 breastmilk and 2 formula and then she has nighttime feeds. Has about 5oz in each feed during the day, no idea what she has on the breast at night but she does love it and it helps her drift back off to sleep. Sometimes she skips one of the feeds and has an extra breastfeed instead. I would've loved to have exclusively breastfed, but it didn't turn out how we expected.

DD has her first tooth now which is about half way down and she's doing really well not to hurt me. A little bit friction-y sometimes but as it's been there 2 weeks and no bleeding or shrill cries yet, we are going strong. How do I prevent further discomfort though when more come through, any tips?

To the oldest at 7 and the youngest at 6 weeks, we've all given them a great drink they can't take into adulthood :)

OP posts:
GimmeDaBoobehz · 21/11/2013 20:16

Oh and re periods I got the implant put in at 4 and a half months, as wanting to wait 2 years and then ttc again but hadn't started by then even though was mixed feeding, I was quite surprised.

DD has 2 feeds during the night around 4ish and then one around 8. Then about 9.30 she has her solids and then a breastmilk bottle about 10.30/11.

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