what's the longest you've breastfed for?

[weightstrugglinmum]

Hi all.

I'm just wondering what the longest times you have breastfed for? A friend has mentioned today that she still breastfeeds her 4 year old every night before bed, just got me thinking thats all, and out of curiosity I thought I'd put it out here, to hear about people's experiences!

2yrs 1wk purely because I got hospitalised with pneumonia and was given medication which would have wreaked his teeth. Currently pregnant with baby no 2 so will wait and see.

Just coming up to age 3. She is naturally weaning and dropped all feeds herself. She now only has one to fall asleep, but even then sometimes she pops herself off and rolls herself over to sleep. I never had a plan of how long I would go for, would have been happy to have done a day if thats all I could.

Even though there have been really tough times, I am going to miss it so much!

4 days.

I had a horrible time didn't bother at all with my second

2.5 years ish, I can't actually remember when we stopped, he weaned himself.

Wow. I’m surprised tbh - I assumed most people would stop breastfeeding past the age of 2 years old maximum, assuming the child is healthy and has no additional needs. I don’t know anyone who breastfed for that long. I thought it would be strange once the child can talk, attend school, and has grown most of their set of primary teeth.

Why?

This is old now but still great - about BF in Mongolia /natural bf behaviour
https://www.naturalchild.org/articles/guest/ruth_kamnitzer.html

btw WHO advises 2yrs as minimum term for BF

I bet you do know people that BF longer but as it reduces to bedtimes etc it becomes very much less public - plus people worry about being judged

@Maddy70 same . I really wanted to and planned to but it was so hard the first
Time around due to pnd and a tounge tie for ds1 and for dd I tried for 4 days and I hated the feeling so much I gave up! Have so much respect for people that are able to push through but it wasn't for me. Both children are now 4 and 2 and perfect so my guilt (I know I shouldn't feel guilty ) but any guilt I had it mostly gone .

Naturally seemed to end between about 18 months and 2 years.

6 months and then I had to pack it in! Would have liked longer but DS just wasn't up for it anymore and would only take the bottle (he liked holding it himself 🤷🏻‍♀️) I then got sick of pumping.

With my next hopefully they'll go longer.

There may well be people that you know, just it seemed like a taboo they would be judged for so didn't tell you.

I think this thread has really shown that breastfeeding beyond infancy is really common and completely normal. But its society's belief that there is something abnormal about it that makes women feel they should wean earlier. And because they don't know anyone feeding a toddler or child they stop, and so the early weaning cycle perpetuates.

I breast fed both my children for a little over 3 years.

I worked out that I breast fed continuously for 6.5 years, one child after another 😂