How long can BFing last if only 1 feed per day (in your experience)?

[madmumNika]

I am currently BFing DD (DC2) who is 7 months old. Since she started solids she's cut back massively on BFs, and only feeds 'properly' twice a day, with 2-3 very short feeds inbetween.

DD has cystic fibrosis and I have read a few research articles advocating "extended" breastfeeding (not sure quite what "extended" means) and so I hope to BF until she is around a year, possibly longer if she still wants it. With my DS I BF until he was 10.5 months when he reduced down to 1 feed per day and then it just peetered out.

Is it possible to keep BFing when a child only wants 1 feed a day (I imagine so, but wondered how long this is possible as with DS it didn't last long).

Thanks x

Not sure myself but interested in this so bumping for you

yes, it is. my dear friend carried on with one feed a day for about three years
It is hard to remember but I would say I was giving 1 to 2 feeds for at least a year.
why do you think you will go down to one a day? why not aim for morning and evening, maybe more aty the weekend?

The short feeds do still count as a feed.
Both DSs reduced their feed times after starting to have solids, but they can get quite a lot of milk in a very short space of time, so I'd still keep offering her even short feeds if you can. If you do this your supply should be fine. I'm not too sure when you can feed only once a day and if this is possible at 7 months, but at the mo, as said the short feeds still count as one feed.
Extended breastfeeding usually refers to beyond a year.
Have you looked here: www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html

I'm not wanting to reduce her feeds although I do have to do away without the kids for 2 nights (but not until May!!)... I just have this feeling that she is reducing her feeds so rapidly that we could be down to 1 a day pretty soon.... although hopefully not as 2 a day at least would be better...

Pannacotta- thank you for the link, just starting to look at it now- it's brilliant! (can see me still being sat here at the computer when DP comes home from the pub...well perhaps not!!)

It's surprising how many friends & relatives assume I'll stop BFing before DD reaches a year...and when I say perhaps I'll keep going I do get many strange expressions, and lack of understanding my reasons...

If you keep offering she is likely to keep feeding, even if its only for a few moments. I think that this is a common stage anyway and she might well want to feed for longer once she has got used to havign solids, my DS1 was like this. I just kept on with the feeding and we carried on till he was 2 and he self weaned when I was pregnant with DS2.

By May you should be fine to go away and miss 2 nights of feeding and go back to it with no impact on your supply.

madmum, just read my comments back and hope they aren't too muddled - am rather sleepy.

Its of course fine to feed just once a day but I think much easier to do this after a year, at 7 months it might be hard work to keep up your supply, which is why I suggested you keep offering her several feeds a day.
With regards to feeding for longer than a year I am a great believer in it - DS1 (3) has never really been ill even though he goes to nursery and playgroup.
I dont know very much about cystic fibrosis but anything which helps your child's health is great IMO.
I dont bother justifying myself and my breastfeeding habits anymore, its really not anyone else's business, but if you do want info to back you up there is loads on kellymom.

And here is a good summary of what I was trying to say about being distracted at this age
www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/distractible-baby.html