Extended breastfeeding

[TheAugusta]

Currently feeding my 4 month old so this is theoretical for the future! Breastfeeding is going well and I always aimed to continue feeding for a year, but have started thinking about the WHO recommendations of feeding for two years. I am going back to work when baby is 10 months and am expressing milk for her to take to nursery to get to the year mark, but is it possible to continue feeding while working without pumping at work? As she’ll mainly be getting nutrition from food is my body likely to be able to adapt so that I can feed her, for example, before work and in the evening? Would be really interested to hear if anyone has made this work!

Yes, entirely possible. But you may find she reverse cycles (feeds more at night).

Yes possible, went back part time at 5 months (2 x 12)hour shifts and full time at 9 months (9-5) and continued until I got fed up at 3 +years. Pumped when part time but didn't need to when full time

Totally possible. I night weaned at 13 months which massively improved sleep (previously waking and feeding every 2 hours at least). But am now still feeding at 18 months. Definitely no intention of giving up during this virus.
She copes fine without me. Take cows milk from sippy cup with Dad, childminder or granny. I can go away for a night no worries. I work 3 days a Week and she is fine without me.
It more for comfort that she does it now. I won’t lie, it was hard at about 10 months when she became more aware of boob and wouldn’t stay with anyone else. But once I night weaned her , it’s fab and to be honest I will now carry on until she decides to stop herself. And I was previously one of those who thought BF after 6 months was weird. Glad I educated myself.

I night weaned before I went back to work, to avoid the reverse cycling. I knew I could t cope at work on that little sleep

Still feeding at 2 years 4 months. Never expected to be. I went back at 7 months. We combi fed and it was fine. I can't bear pumping!

I pumped at work for the first year, then swapped to cow's milk during the day, and breastfed before and after. Seemed to work for us.

I was out the house for about 9 hours, which was about the limit for my own comfort. If I ever had to work late I hand expressed a little to relieve the pressure, but just dumped it.

I'm still bf a 21 month old. She has a feed at about 6.30 am before I go to work and then as soon as I walk in the door between 6 and 7 pm and then again at bedtime. On the days I'm off she will feed a bit more. I really want to stop but don't know how as she will really cry for it. I'm going to actively try to stop when she turns 2. She has never taken milk from a bottle or cup even if it's mine. However if I'm out she will have porridge before bed. Any tips for stopping would be great.

Yes - I'm still feeding my 2year old

Yes - baby adapts as does your supply. As pp have said your baby may feed more in the evening. I did express a bit and baby had some milk available in nursery, but he went in at 8 months and was eating solids and drinking water by that stage so mostly just jumped on me when I got home from work for his milk

Thanks for all the replies - how fascinating and encouraging, the human body is amazing! Those of you whose babies started reverse cycling - this sounds really hard, how did you cope? And those of you who night weaned - how did you do that? Breastfeeding is practically the only tool I have to stop baby crying! Really hopeful that I will be able to keep going when back at work and beyond now, it's such a lovely bonding time.

Yes. I fed DD1 till 2.5y, and DD2 till 3.5y. Went back to work at 1y for both of them. They just fitted it in when available.

Jay Gordon method for night weaning when old enough.

Had 3 went back 3 days. one expressed for and panicked and thought milk had dried up so mixed then ff from 10 months. Second was 9 months when I went back so just fed morning and evening. Third was 7 months - expressed and was more relaxed at just leaving a couple of small feeds (with first was trying to leave 5-60zs), cm from a year. Fed second two for 20 and 30 months. No reverse cycling at all. But I had 4 days a week to feed normally

Yes perfectly poss, and it,as not extended bf it,s natural term weening. (it makes a difference.)

Yes definitely - I went back to work 9-5 4 days a week when my baby was 10 months. We are still breastfeeding at 16 months (and I'm pregnant) with no plans to stop.

I didn't have to pump but I was quite full for a few days, then my supply adjusted. Have you seen the Breastfeeding younger babies and beyond Facebook group? Lots of stories and encouragement on there.

Thanks all, so encouraging. Thanks for the correction june2007, I saw on a website that was what breastfeeding after a year was called but it did sound strange. I will definitely look at that group emelene. lalalalallama amazing that you managed that in just a few nights! I hope it works out for me and my baby, I feel so fortunate that she took to feeding pretty well, in a general sense and especially now with coronavirus I’m hoping it will boost her immune system and because it’s harder to just go to the shops or get food delivered - one less thing to stress about!