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Original poster

breastfeeding - when to stop?!

40 replies

honey2theb · 30/11/2007 21:51

my dd is 12 weeks on monday. awwwww. I am really enjoying breastfeeding. i was worried i may find it weird to be honest, as a few friends of mine had babies the same time as me and decided to bottle feed. But it was the best thing i ever did. ive had no problems at all, and really enjoyed the bonding with dd. so when do i start weaning her off booby?? shes had a bottle a day since she was about a week old, but lately seems to be refusing bottles for breast. she was a large baby, and has followed the 91st centile, so shes doing really well on my milk. i just wanted to know generally when some other mams have stopped.

thanks
honey xxxxx

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berolina · 30/11/2007 21:53

ds1 is 2.6 years and still going
ds2 is 10 weeks tomorrow

llareggub · 30/11/2007 21:55

still at it at 13 months. It's very handy really. Nutritious and the milk comes and handy portable storage containers

BroccoliSpears · 30/11/2007 21:56

Sounds like you're doing a fab job Honey.

I fed dd until about 14 months. I would have carried on but she seemed to lose interest and stopped quite naturally by herself then.

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beowulf · 30/11/2007 21:57

She's 12 weeks? My advice is to not even think about weaning her off the breast for a good while. She'll have the best possible start if you carry on breastfeeding until 6 months, then introduce solid food as well as breastmilk for the rest of the first year. After the first year, she can drink cow's milk, but it's still worth breastfeeding as your DD will have better protection against all those nasty toddler bugs - it also keeps your weight down and reduces your risk of breast cancer as well as being better for her than formula or cow's milk.

I fed my DS1 until 15m - by that time I was 3 months pregnant and he self-weaned, which was a nice end to breastfeeding. I expect DS2 and I will carry on until about 18m or so, but it's up to him, in the end.

So keep going - it's great you've got this far especially if you're surrounded by bottle-feeding mums and you can give your lucky DD even more of a headstart by carrying on.

Original poster

honey2theb · 30/11/2007 21:57

wow! thats a long time! well done
I dont think i could feed for that long though! sounds silly, but what position do you feed a 2 yr old in? im having trouble as dd is getting bigger. lol lying down is most comfy for me. Is it just a night time feed you do at that age? just curious ( nosey!!)
honey xxx

OP posts:

sophierosie · 30/11/2007 21:57

Just follow her lead - sometimes they'll decide when they want to stop - just do it for as long as it works for you and your family.

Well done and I'm pleased bf has been a rewarding experience for you both!

I stopped when DD was about 10 months. I was only doing 1 feed a day by that time as had returned to work earlier than anticipated.

whomovedmychocolate · 30/11/2007 21:58

I'm still going at 13 months and I'm pregnant with number 2. Why stop if you are enjoying it?

Sounds like she loves it as much as you do and you are doing wonderfully.

beowulf · 30/11/2007 21:58

I did most of my feeds lying down, and when DS1 was about 10.5m, we were just doing morning and evening feeds.

Tutter · 30/11/2007 21:58

well done on bfing

i stopped at 9 months with ds1

hoping to go a little longer with ds2 (currently 4.5mo)

weeonion · 30/11/2007 21:58

H2TB - congrats on yr dd and its great that bf is goign so well for you both. there is no time you have to stop - that is up to you. if it is going well, she is doing great and you are enjoying it - i would suggest not giving yourself a time to stop. the tiem to wean off bf can come alot later than 12 weeks - as no doubt others will come along here and tell you.

my dd is 7 months now and after alot of difficulties at the start - it is going great now. i dont plan on stopping anyime soon - it is so easy to get us out and about, it is cheap, we both love it - so cant see a reason / need to stop.

if you reckon it is the best thing you have done - stick with it!!!

chankins · 30/11/2007 21:59

Well done honey - I too breastfed when none of my family or friends did. I did 10 weeks with dd1, 4 months with dd2, and ds is now nearly 7 months and we are still going strong. I wish I had breastfed for longer with the others and looking back, I gave up for silly reasons that I could have gotten through if I had known about mumsnet at the time !!!
So keep going as long as you and your little one are happy - regret is a really sad thing. Plus if you have any questions or concerns whatsoever, there are always millions of people on here who have experienced same thing and can give you the support you need. Good luck !

Original poster

honey2theb · 30/11/2007 22:00

hehe you all answered so fast! that reply was to berolina!
beowulf, thanks, i dont want to wean her yet, just wondering really. to be honest i havent known many people who breastfed, so its all new to me really. i always heard of people having problems etc. its nice to be able to ask some questions xx

OP posts:

mandymac · 30/11/2007 22:02

Still feeding DD at nearly 2.5. I just feed at night and first thing in the morning. Basically we just lie in bed cuddling, with her beside me and she will latch on. Then when she fancys the other side she clambers over me and swaps sides. She asks very politely if she can feed 'can I have some milk please mummy' and she know that it is just done upstairs. I am convinced it has helped her health wise, as she has barely had a cold since last Christmas, despite being full time at nursery.

pastilla · 30/11/2007 22:03

fab, hardest bit is behind you now, why faff around with all that formula? a year is the recommended minimum guideline, we're up to 8 months and going strong
why is it uncomfy? maybe leaning back in a comfy sofa would help or more cushions?

hunkermunker · 30/11/2007 22:10

Hi h2tb

You'll find quite a few women who have fed/are feeding older babies on here - it's relatively common on MN.

It sounds like you're doing really well - how lovely that you have found you really enjoy it!

There is no need to stop at any set age. I would suggest taking it one day at a time and not imposing a fixed "I will wean at x age" limit on yourself, because if your DD gets to that age and still wants to breastfeed, you'll go through all sorts of "oh, but I said I'd stop, but I'm still enjoying it, oh, what to doooo!" angst, which is utterly avoidable if you haven't thought of a limit in the first place.

I fed DS1 till he was nearly 17mo and I'm still feeding DS2 who is 22mo. I tend to feed first thing and at bedtime, in bed - so we lie together. It's a really lovely thing to do - and DS2 really loves it (he says my milk's nicer than apples, which, for DS2 is praise indeed!).

I appreciate it seems like a long way off to you at the moment - so just take it one day at a time, see how it goes and practice Harpsi's patented expression - serene indifference - when anybody comments on how you're "still" breastfeeding (or say "no, I gave up ages ago, but DD still is" ).

Original poster

honey2theb · 30/11/2007 22:15

thanks again everyone. your right, i'll just see how it goes.
pastilla, i dont really mean uncomfortable, but yep i think more cushions would make it better! xx

OP posts:

pinkspottywellies · 30/11/2007 22:22

I was a bit sqeamish about it before I had dd but I always sort of said I'd try to bf for 6 months and then a year and now that dd is 13 months I don't really see any reason to stop yet!

Like Hunker says, don't set any targets or you're just putting pressure on yourself. Personally I'm not comfortable feeding dd in front of other people any more (my issue, and slightly ridiculous because I was fine with it til at least 6 months!) so she usually has a feed morning and night and sometimes in the day if we're at home.

Glad you're enjoying it and giving your lo the best start

LyraSilvertongue · 30/11/2007 22:25

DS1 16 months
DS2 20 months (I think)
Stop when you're ready and not before.

MrsBadger · 30/11/2007 22:44

when they get bigger than teeny newborn size it can help to use your elbow on the non-feeding side to tuck their bottom really firmly into your waist at the side, so their legs almost wrap round your back

Acinonyx · 30/11/2007 23:11

On demand until 9 mo, then 3/day: morning, am nap and bedtime until 12 mo. At 6 mo I couldn't imagine wanting to wean but I was very ready to wean at 12 mo and she weaned very easily - I think you know when the time is right for you both. She was always a huge baby - off the charts at 6 mo.

Glad you are enjoying it. After a bad start I really enjoyed nursing dd.

berolina · 30/11/2007 23:18

honey - I usually feed ds1 with him sitting astride my lap facing me, occasionally lying down, very occasionally in the cradle position.

berolina · 30/11/2007 23:18

And no, no night feeds at all - he comes and asks at random points during the day, or for comfort.

DrBunsentheHarpsichordCarrier · 30/11/2007 23:19

selfweaning, that's my advice
dd1 three and a bit
dd2 2 years and still going strong

Original poster

honey2theb · 30/11/2007 23:38

gosh your all amazing!! bf for that long!

You've all actually given me more confidence. ive ordered a new slingy thing too, and hopefully it will make it easier to feed her when im out. up to now ive taken bottles with me, or found a baby changing / feeding room. or even gone back to the car

OP posts:

berolina · 30/11/2007 23:42

A lack of concern for what others might think when bf in public is, IME, essential to extended bf. I have only ever once been asked 'would you feel more, er, comfortable doing that somewhere else?' Mind you, last week dh and I were in a big dept store and dh asked for a chair for me so I could feed, and the answer was 'er, I think we've got one in the toilets' Needless to say, I sat down on the edge of some display (or something, I can't quite remember) and fed away

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