Anyone interested in an 'extended' bfers support thread?

[lilysma]

Not sure what I mean by 'extended' exactly - maybe it's a self defined thing?

I define myself as an 'extended' bfer because I hardly know anyone else bfing a child as old as mine (DD is 26 months) and feel the need to discuss some issues with people also doing this and wonder if anyone else does??

Anyone up for an informal support thread on this?

Just checking back into this thread.

I almost stopped feeding DS in 'public' (anywhere that wasn't home, a friend's home or a baby/toddler group) just before he turned one, because he would keep on getting distracted and jerking his head away, and I tired of flashing the entire cafe/shop/park etc. I wasn't depriving him - our daily routine sort of fitted around his feeds anyway, but they tended to happen at home by then.

Now he's 16 months, and I've started feeding him wherever we are again, rather than waiting until we get back home, or until he decides that his tractor/the doggy/his snack pot is more interesting. Dunno why, it wasn't a conscious decision to show people that I was out and proud about feeding a sturdy toddler, but the interesting thing is that I don't feel in the slightest bit self-conscious, and I always thought I would do with a toddler.

He often feeds sitting up in my lap, facing me, so it's hugely obvious what's happening. We just got back from a holiday in Devon and I fed him on beaches and in cafes like this, and nobody batted an eyelid. That I saw.

Just thought I would give this thread a bump. How are you all ladies?

And Mawbroon! Congrats

DS is an ITNG fan. He does the hand circle thing at the beginning, so sweet.

Acoording to Wiki, all the characters except the Hahoos (CGI) and the Pontinpines & Wottingers (stop motion) are played by nutters people in costume.

DSS once had a bottle of bubble bath in the shape of Makka Pakka. His head was the lid. I screwed it on once and the head was facing backward - didn't look like a booby to me

Hang on that is totally on the wrong thread!!!

mawbroon!!!!

Congratulations

Oh dear this thread is 23 pages long and i really can't read that many posts, so forgive me if this has been discussed before.

I'm getting alot of flak for still bfeeding. My ds has just turned one, he was 3 months prem so I suppose not really one.

What can I say to the people who keep asking why I am still feeding him and when am i going to stop?
I sometimes joke and say when he goes to uni, but want some good solid facts. I was talking to a doctor friend today and I said it was good for his immunity. She said there was no immunity benefits after 6 months, that's why they give immunisations at 1 year old !
My other friend, also a doctor told me he would stop waking up at 5.30 am if i stopped bfeeding him as her ds did and she knows lots of other people who when they stopped bfeeding their babies all slept longer!
Help - what can I say to defend myself.

You shouldn't have to justify yourself It is none of their business. As long as you are happy to continue and your ds still wants it, then why stop?

I am astounded though at the ignorance shown by these two soi-disant doctors.

There are many more reasons for babies to wake up than wanting to be fed!

As for the immune thing... err, we start giving immunisations at 8 weeks old not a year. And a child's immune system is not fully developed until around 6yo.

You will still be giving him your antibodies - in fact your milk now will be even more full of antibodies!

You will be benefiting to - you are lowering your risk of heart disease, cervical cancer, breast cancer and osteoporosis as well.

The WHO recommends at least two years of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Breastfeeding should continue after two years of life as long as mutually desired by mother and child.

And this is a GLOBAL strategy - not just for 3rd world mothers, if they try to give you that old chestnut.

In fact the American Academy of Paediatics recommends at least one year of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Breastfeeding should continue after two years of life as long as mutually desired by mother and child.

Here is a fab link on kellymom about the benefits too.

Good luck!! And a big well done to you both

Hey Folks. WE're still going although DS2 has calmed down a little At one point I swear he was nursing more than DD.

icedgems I can't believe the crap your doctor friend came out with
Get ye onto kellymom and a cop of 'Mothering your Nursing Toddler'. Should give you some reasons to continue. Sounds like you are doing great

Congratulations to you Mawbroon, hope it all goes really well.

Not checked into this thread for ages but I am still feeding DS, who is now 26 months. Still driving me mad with the nipple twiddling, and also now a new latching agony as I am 21 weeks pregnant!

On the bright side, my DS has recently started sleeping through the night (now and then) which is great as I really need to sleep at the moment. I was awake last night at 4am and couldn't get back to sleep and he was fast asleep next to me...how times have changed! I'm not sure whether my milk has tailed off though, I can't hear DS swallowing much and he keeps asking for milk (cows milk) more often than he did. I can't seem to squeeze any out either so am wondering actually whether he is just breastfeeding for comfort now. I have asked him and he said he is drinking some milk from me, but I don't know.

Found out one of my NCT group is also still feeding her DD. I hadn't seen her for ages and she looked a bit sheepish when she 'admitted' it to me, but I was so excited to find out I was not alone amongst my RL friends!

Well DD appears to be self weaning at 2.9 years - she hasn't fed for four days and has been missing days on and off for six weeks now. I'm quite sad about it and wish she wanted to go on - because I was sort of hoping it'd help with swine flu etc. But you can lead a child to a nipple but not make it drink etc. So I may be a graduate of the tandem feeding camp soon and just be extended as DS is one on Thursday!

Shall I celebrate these next three days as being just quote: 'normal' (breastfeeding a baby under one year)

WMMC - Wow! Normal! Enjoy your 3 whole days

Hello again all!

Mawbroon - congratulations, and I hope everything goes well for you.

Its funny seeing various people talking about their BF toddlers feeling making them feel too much - 'touched out' because that is exactly how I have been feeling on and off with DS for a while. Its hard to separate how I feel about this from general worries about how I want to parent this little boy that's no longer my baby! And my first period since I got pregnant really really didn't help as he made my cramps worse when he fed!

I feel resentful of him, and angry at him that he's so demanding when all his little friends manage quite alright with a cuddle and a drink - then I feel guilty that I've felt like that! How do you deal with those feelings?

I've since calmed down about it but I was grateful he's still going as we've had a swine flu scare recently (SIL that we spend a lot of time with has it, but it seems I just have a tummy bug (woo!)). I want him to keep going but sometimes I just need a break!!

DD is now back feeding . Looks like I was a bit too optimistic. Oh well.

thanks bouncingturtle and wotmania
that's exactly what i needed good solid facts.

I did mention about the WHO recommending till their aged 2years as I'd read that before but her reply was just mmmm when i said that!
If only my memory wasn't so bad but i'm going to try and learn all those off by heart!

thanks again I knew mumsnet would help me!

Hooray

I found a GP who said well done for still BF at 21 months!!!!

I was so shocked I almost fell of my chair as I was bracing myself for dissaproval.
It turns out she is also an "extended Feeder" and her dd is 2.

There are some out there.

Congrats to you Mawbroon

Thanks for all the congrats. I am only 7+1, still a looooooong way to go.

DH was being a twat this afternoon after I let ds nurse when we were at his allergy appointment. DS was pulling at my t shirt and the easiest thing was to let him feed, but afterwards, DH told me "he's nearly 4 FFS", "it's not normal", "why did you have to get them out in front of the doctor" and "you just do it to say look at me i'm still breastfeeding" and some other comments which I can't remember.

What an arse.

Yup, and a FOOL saying to a pregnant, hormonal woman .

Ignore the comments. Bet DS does .

Aaaaargh....DS2 not feeling well and nag nag nagging for 'Miiiiiiilk' everytime I so much as stop nursing DD.
I know he's feeling ill and it's good for him but it's driving me mad. I have beds to change/make, need to eat, occasionally have a wee (audience follows of course) Gah.

Hello. Can I join the party?

I bfed DS1 'til 3.2 concurrently with DS2 whom I fed fed 'til 18 mo, which is when he started biting me compulsively and, in retrospect, was the first sign of his obsessive behaviour.

I'm currently feeding DD who turned 1 on Thursday.

Hullo Lagaanisace.

Hi everyone. We are having some serious cuteness from ds about the baby. He heard me talking and asked "mummy, are you pregnant?" He said he didn't know what it meant, but I decided he might as well know, so I told him. He thinks there are 4 babies in my tummy (LOL, more like I eat 4 pies a day!) and he thought for a minute and said then I would need 5 boobs. One for each baby, and one for him!!

My nipples are getting a bit sore now, but it's only for a couple of seconds when he latches on. I have told him it is really important that he doesn't faff about coming on and off, and that he is to keep his head still!! So far so good....

Oh, and pigletmania. That other thread was about things you would like to tell people who are in your life.

Thank feck you are not in mine with your ignorant and prejudiced views on natural term breastfeeding.

My thought exactly mawbroon.

I don't think I've posted on this thread before, but as DS is 14 months old and we're still going strong I think we qualify.

Haven't had any comments yet, but we are going away with MIL and SIL for a week in September and there might be some comments. I need to prepare a script! SIL does everything different to us with her son and it's hard.

I am sorry mawbroon I am entitled to my opinion, just because I dont agree with you does not make me wrong. It was a thread about what we want to say, its a free world is it not. just because I dont agree with you feeding your child when it should be weaned already. So what get over it. NOt everyone is an extended bf and not everyone is going to agree with you.

Blooming heck I thought we live in a democracy, obviously not, whatever happened to free speech nowadays, its hyjacked by the PC brigade.