just a quick poll ... how long did you bf for ? what it as long/longer than planned

[robinredbreast]

just a quick poll ... how long did you bf for ? what it as long/longer than planned

1st - 3 months, as planned
2nd - she's 2.3 atm and still going strong. Only planned until 6 months

DS - 9 months
DD - 10.5 months

Both about what I anticipated.

Not sure what I had planned before dd, just that I wanted to bf, but hadn't put any time restriction on it. However, she wouldn't latch on for the first 5 days so we never got bf established properly - managed 2 months of mixed feeding before going full time on to formula.

With DS I was determined to succeed. Planned to hopefully get to 6 months. He's now 8 months & we're still going strong... & I love it! (so does he ). No plans to give up, will just let nature take its course...

I planned at least 6 weeks. That turned into three months, four months, six months, then one year. I stopped because I was pregnant.

With dd2, bf for 19 months. Stopped because we are TTC dc3.

ds1 - 14 months
dd - somewhere between 20 and 22 months
ds2 = age 13 months now and no plans to stop yet.

I dont htink I had a plan with any of them. With ds2 I'll just kep going till he, or I, want to stop.

Planned a few weeks but fed ds till he was 4.

Planned till 2 for dd but stopped at 3.

Planned 6 months exclusive with breastfeeding "to be reviewed" at a year. Managed that and he's never had formula.

DS now 22 months and still feeding. I now plan to let him self wean.

planned/ hoped for 6 months
just kept going till I got fed up at 13 months
but always felt like I'd give up tomorrow next week, next month

Planned on 6 months. Found it so easy and enjoyable that DD is now 13 months and we are just beginning to stop.

Planned on 3 months with dd1 - she self-weaned at 18 months (with a bit of help from a mouth ulcer). Planned on 2 years with dd2 - still going at 2.6

Did 4 months - had no plans, thought I would see how it went

DS1 planned 6 months, only reached 15 weeks
DS2 planed to match 15 weeks at least, with aim to get to 6 months. Still feeding at 1 yr 1 mth and 1 day although just morning and bedtime feeds now and any sneaky ones he gets in!

Planned 6m, managed 5 feeds in 4 months

But with expressing, planned 6m when I knew the BF wasn't working out, then 12m. DS is 1 in a fortnight and I think I will carry on a bit longer now I'm down to 3 expresses a day and soon 2.

DS1 - decided to definitly try for 4 weeks then review. Stopped at 18months the day before an amnio.

DS2 - he's 11mo - will probably keep going until 2.

planned nothing, did it for 5 months (till I thought was right for us).

second time round (soon): plan nothing again - see how it goes.

Had hoped to breastfeed but had no plans really, still breastfeeding at 18 months. Will carry on for as long as DS wants.

When pg with dd was sure I would bf for a year, exclusively for 6 months, She fed almost constantly and I felt massive relief when I gave up at 6 months. When pg with ds I thought as long as I make it to 6 months then I can stop as I really didn't enjoy it last time. Well he is almost 6 months and I am really enjoying it. Will probably feed him for a year or more. Only managed four months of exclusive though as he is a very hungry big boy.

Am bf ds at 2.3yo (and due imminently with no. 2). This is, on the one hand, in accordance with my original/ideal plan (until self-weaning) but OTOH much longer than I had dared to hope it would be during the first 4 very difficult weeks of ds's life, having my confidence ruined by HCPs and reluctantly topping up.

Only managed 5 weeks with dd topped up until 8 weeks, thenjust ff.
Expecting again in March and hope to do better. hopefully at least 6mths.
With dd I had planned at least 6 mths but was not prepared for the initial difficulty in getting bf established.
I'm really heartened to see how many ppl struggled with the first but then went on to be successful with subsequent children.
You give me inspiration

DS1 - 22m - no particular plans about how long to do it for when we started. Stopped when 22 weeks pg with DS2 as I was getting very sore and tired.

DS2 - currently 14m. No plans about when to stop, but will be at around 24m, as I'd like to have a bit of freedom - have been pg or bf since June 03!

ds1 16 mths - only stopped as he was only feeding through the night and demanded a cup during the day.

dd also stopped at 16 mths, she was a poor feeder due to muscle tone and Noonan Syndrome feeding issues, it was a struggle to go on as long as I did tbh, but am glad I did

ds2 is 5 mths and going strong, no plans to stop or no idea when, we'll discuss it between ourselves, so long as we're both happy I'll keep going

I always wanted to breastfeed I knew that from when I was quite young, never had thoughs as to how long, just went with the flow

I had no expectations, watned to wait and see what happened and managed to bf for 18 months. Am actually quite proud of myself (and dd as she was clearly a natural - had she not been it may have been a different story!

Had no plans-didn't think i'd get through a week, then 4, then 6.......now 13 months on i'm still feeding dd-she has never ever had formula or even a bottle of ebm!!!! think i'm more surprised than everyone
No plans for stopping!