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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

How long did you breast feed?

55 replies

Gangle · 28/06/2009 22:05

DS is 15 months today and have no intention of stopping anytime soon. He only has 2 feeds a day, morning and evening and is only really for the comfort as I don't think I have much milk left. Coming under lots of pressure to stop but really don't want to as DS seems to draw such comfort from it. When he's feeding I can feel all the tension leave his body, plus it's the only time in the day I get to sit down and relax with him.

OP posts:
LeonieSoSleepy · 29/06/2009 14:09

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stillstanding · 29/06/2009 14:14

Gangle, please don't give up just because of other people's negative comments. When DS was 15 mths he fed just like your baby, ie two feeds a day, morning and night, and then gradually we dropped the morning one.

I stopped when he was 2 mainly because I had to take antibiotics but also because I felt the time was right for us to stop. I wasn't comfortable going beyond 2 and I didn't think that he really needed it either.

But that was just me - you should go for as long as you are your DS are happy.

Such a wonderful thing you are doing for your baby and such a shame about all these negative societal pressures

KerryMumbles · 29/06/2009 14:16

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duchesse · 29/06/2009 14:27

Child 1: 14 months
Child 2: 18 months
Child 3: 24 months

Child 4 due August.

hunkermunker · 29/06/2009 14:33

Hey, Gangle

People WILL think you're mad for carrying on - people who don't know anything much about bfing, perhaps - or maybe those who had a less-than-positive experience themselves.

Letting the boys self-wean has been, as Harpsi says, a really positive thing for me - but mostly for them.

DS1 was nearly 17mo (I was 5m pg with DS2 when he stopped)
DS2's still bfing at 3.5yo.

As they get older, you can make it more on your terms, so their needs are met, but you have some say over when and where they bf, if that makes you more comfortable.

Have you got anyone you can talk to in RL who bf as long/longer than you?

TrinityRhino · 29/06/2009 14:38

please dont let other people stop you
it is only about what you and your baby want to do

dd1 13 months as I needed to take medication
dd2 9 months she preferred her own thumb

dd3 27 months and still going strong

CharCharGabor · 29/06/2009 14:41

DD is 23 months, still bfing and just found out I'm pregnant.

quirkychick · 29/06/2009 14:52

DD until 2.5yrs. I didn't necessarily tell people I was still bfing as was no longer on demand and just at night/morning, felt it was a private decision and none of their business. WHO guidelines say at least 2yrs if you want an answer for any criticisms.

StealthPolarBear · 29/06/2009 15:35

Congratulations CCB

WinkyWinkola · 29/06/2009 15:39

DS - 2 years. He was devastated when we stopped but I just couldn't do the tandem feeding when his little sister came along. Cue lots of upsetment and jealousy.

DD - Just stopped now at 27 months. She's not that bothered about it except at bedtime.

Currently pg with DC No. 3 and hope to bf until he is 2 as well.

Don't let anybody tell you what to do, Gangle. You do what you think is best.

ShowOfHands · 29/06/2009 15:41

26 months, still going and horror of horrors, she still feeds A LOT. Feeds to sleep, feeds in the night, feeds in all manner of strange positions.

stillstanding · 29/06/2009 15:51

quirkychick, is that right that WHO says at least 2 years? I know that 2 years old is considered the optimum age but didn't think it actively encouraged post-two.

TrinityRhino · 29/06/2009 15:51

same here showofhands
on demand, through the night, to go to sleep

ShowOfHands · 29/06/2009 16:17

Aren't we strange Trinity with our happy well adjusted babies?

Did you try and night wean btw?

stillstanding, it is at least 2 years.

quirkychick · 29/06/2009 16:28

stillstanding WHO recommends up to and beyond 2 years here on p14 also quoted on Breastfeeding Network's website (easier to access!) not that you have to feed post 2yrs but you've got some medical/scientific backing if you want it!

stillstanding · 29/06/2009 16:28

SoH, I had a quick look at the WHO website and it says "On a population basis, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is the recommended way of feeding infants, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to two years or beyond".

This is obviously different from "at least" two years but tbh I am not quite sure what they are saying here?

stillstanding · 29/06/2009 16:31

Thanks, quirkychick, must admit I still am not entirely clear on what they are saying but suspect I am being a bit dim!

ShowOfHands · 29/06/2009 16:32

Oh I've got a leaflet from the hv with a different wording to that. It's a local leaflet with info on groups/cafes and guidelines from WHO and DOH included.

I read it as bmilk and solid food having more of a complementary relationship until aged 2 iyswim. So, after 2 it's still beneficial but the myriad other reasons for it more so than the complementing a diet of solids. Do you follow me at all?

PortAndLemon · 29/06/2009 16:40

I think the WHO use of "up to" is in the sense of "To get to the pub, you go along that path up to the start of the trees, then cross over the stile and it's on your right" rather than in the sense of "subscribe to our service and you'll be immediately contacted by up to twenty beautiful supermodels".

If it weren't, then "up to two years or beyond" wouldn't make any sense.

The English language can be a wonderfully confusing thing at times...

TrinityRhino · 29/06/2009 18:59

I've never tried to night wean her

ShowOfHands · 29/06/2009 19:08

Remember a thread you started asking if children ever night weaned of their own accord and people advising/recommending ways of night weaning. Wondered subsequently if you had attempted any of it.

That's quite nosy isn't it? Sorry! I read your posts with fondness because you seem to echo my thoughts. I've never tried to wean or refuse feeds as I couldn't take that comfort away, not after 2 years of it being so important. It's nice to know I'm not the only person feeding a toddler to sleep and through the night.

And that sounded quite stalkerish.

Stop typing.

chandellina · 29/06/2009 19:25

DS is 11 months and we too are down to morning and night feeds. I go back to work this week and definitely want him to keep that relaxing time with mummy as long as he wants.

TrinityRhino · 29/06/2009 21:58

not at all stalkerish and I hope the fact that I haven't come back till now hasn't made you think I was running away from you

my friend lost her dog and I've been searching for it for hours
she has now found it safe and sound

It does feel very nice to find someone who thinks the same as me

No, I didn't try anything that was suggested
I just wanted to hear self weaning stories to help me caaryy on doing what I believe with all my heart to be the right thing

sometimes it does get tough
she is big and wriggly, sometimes very demanding about it.

at the time I wrote that thread I was ahving a bursitis flare up in my shoulder and feeding her at night was really sore because of the way I have to have my arm out of the way of her head.

I just do not believe in taking away something so important to her that she has had all her life and is just to young to understand why she cant

and the benefits are all good still, it a winderful thing I can do for her.

Herecomesthesciencebint · 29/06/2009 22:03

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CantSleepWontSleep · 29/06/2009 22:08

Dd is 3.4 and still feeding.
Ds is 8 months and still feeding.
So I don't know how long I fed for, as it's not in the past tense yet.