Breastfeeding past 6 months

[BellyMama]

I have a 7 month old combi fed baby. I wanted to exclusively breastfeed but due to her being early and some rather pushy midwives she ended up being formule fed and bottle fed pumped milk in hospital and I lost much of my supply before she learned to breastfeed. So she’s had formula and breast milk about 70/30 split since about 8 weeks. Now my best friend and my mum both encouraged me to stop breastfeeding altogether and move onto formula at a very early stage and everyone else was generally supportive of me continuing to breastfeed even though it wasn’t exclusively. Now my daughter is 7 months and weaning, has two teeth and everyone is now acting as though I’m a complete freak for still trying to breastfeed. Can I have opinions on breastfeeding past 6 months please??

A LOT more people than you think BF past 7 months, but just don’t talk about it because we’re made to feel like weirdos.

In the group I know the majority are still feeding over a year.

I agree that lots of people bf for longer than you might think, but they are put off mentioning it because of the attitudes that you mention OP.
Years ago now, in a previous job, I overheard some colleagues giggling about one of the other staff who was "still" breastfeeding her 12 month old and making "bitty" comments. I walked over and told them that I was interested to hear the scientific rationale for their objections, given I had breastfed all my children til they were at least 3.5 years old. They all shut up once they had been challenged and I never heard those "jokes" again in that workplace. But over the course of the next few days multiple other staff approached me, saying that they or their partners had breastfed for 1 or more years too but had been scared to speak up because they thought they were the only one. I thought I was the only one too of course, but it turned out there were loads of us!
7 months is still a tiny baby. Carry on for as long as you want to. And I completely agree with the PP who said that the pandemic is another very good reason to continue.

I bf'd dd until she was two, when she gave up of her own accord. The first 6 months of breast feeding were hideous and I've found bottle feeding much easier (like you I combi fed) , but I'm glad I stuck it out as the next 18 months were way easier than bottle feeding. So for me giving up at 6 months would have made no sense at all. I'd been through all that trauma, now was my reward of lying in bed feeding before work instead of faffing with bottles at 6am.

Still breastfeeding my 19 months old here! No way am I giving up during the pandemic. She needs all the antibodies I can give her.
I FF my first and felt much more judged that I do feeding my 19 month old in public.
Do what makes you feel happy and not what others say.
WHO recommend BF until 2 years of age now.
I think the key question is, what do YOU want to do?

Thank you everyone!

In response to questions asked my mum (and best friend) attempted breastfeeding but my mum gave up after two weeks (the friend 6 weeks). And I think I would like to continue breastfeeding- my little girl seems to enjoy it and it’s the best way to settle her if she’s sad. I also don’t have a clue how I’d get her to sleep otherwise 😂 plus I agree with pp about the current pandemic.

Thanks again everyone - this has normalised it a bit for me, am a bit of a wuss when it comes to people making me feel like a freak and was really getting me down. Good to know I’m not alone

You definitely aren't alone. All my friends still breastfeed and our children are two. Admittedly I only feed once a day but like you said I have no idea how to get her to nap without it.

Can you join some fb groups for breastfeeding to get in your own positive community. Then when lockdown is over you can find a real group near you. NCT is normally full of breastfeeding mams. Go for it op. You are doing the number one beat thing that you can do for your daughter. What a great mum you are!

I think 6 months seems early to stop if bf is working. Obviously it's all personal choice, but baby isn't going to be getting many calories from food at that age. Most of the people I know who bf have stopped between a year and 18 months and some people going a lot longer.