April 2013 Moms

STM BF question

Hey moms.  If you BF your other kid(s), how long did you do it?  I've been seeing some posts recently and it got me wondering.  6 mos? A year? 2?  I'm just kind of wondering what the average is.  
Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml

Re: STM BF question

  • The recommendation is for at least a year when baby can start having whole cow's milk. I BF'd my son for 15 mos. that was when he seemed emotionally ready to stop and my supply greatly diminished. I planned on only BFing until I went back to work at 4 months, but babies have a way of changing your plans, opinions, etc. In my case, my son was very emotionally attached to it and refused bottles. What surprised me was that it was ok with me since I wasn't ready to stop either. We were both ready at 15 months and the transition was nearly seamless.
  • I have no idea what the actual average is (you can use google as easy as I can for that), but I did nurse DD til she was 2 1/2. For the last half year I think we were down to just at bed time, and sometimes first thing in the morning. Weaning was so gradual so there was no pain, emotional or physical, I didn't feel sad or grieve over not nursing anymore, and it was so intermittent that my boobies had no trouble getting back to normal. They did leak for a while afterward, tingled when babies cried, and even a year after I could squeeze drops from them, but no pain.
    OMG too many tickers...
    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickersLilypie Kids Birthday tickers
    Lilypie Second Birthday tickersLilypie First Birthday tickers
  • Loading the player...
  • I think the general consensus is to EBF until 4 to 6 months before introducing solids, then to keep BFing along with giving solids until 12 months, then you can introduce whole cow's milk. That doesn't mean you HAVE to wean at 12 months, but I think that's when a lot of moms start the weaning process. The WHO recommends to keep BFing up until 2 years, but I don't know many people who actually have done it.

    Now, that's what the books say, but please don't put too much pressure on yourself. the important thing is that your baby is fed and that both you and baby are happy :)

    Personally, I BFed DD1 until 15-16 months. DD2 abruptly self-weaned 2 weeks after her first birthday.

    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickersimage
    imageAlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
    Farewell, nesticle, you will be missed
    Image and video hosting by TinyPicImage and video hosting by TinyPicImage and video hosting by TinyPic
  • I think it's totally what works for you, your baby and what you're comfortable with. If you plan to go back to work, it can certainly be a hassle, but is definitely doable if you have a good support (hubby, boss) and a system (for cleaning bottles, parts, refrigeration, etc.). I am completely pro-breast feeding, but I'm also pro-do whatever works best for you and no one should judge you for it (nor should you feel guilty).

    Back to your actual question, I'm not sure what the average is. I think 6 months. I BF'ed until my son was just about 18 months, but not exclusively. He had cow's milk starting at around 12 months and then he nursed about 2-3 times a day from 12 months until 18 months. GL!

    <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Getting Pregnant"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt18521a.aspx" alt=" Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker" border="0"  /></a>
  • I nursed DS1 until he was 17 months old. I pump weaned at 12 months, so we transitioned to mainly WCM then, but continued another 5 months of morning and evening nursing. With DS2, I had a similar expectation, so I was taken completely by surprise when he completely weaned by 13 months. I pump weaned again at 12 months and in introducing WCM, he never looked back. He's never once tried to nurse or ask to nurse since then. 
    Isaac Levi 4/26/09 : BFP#2 - MC 9w : Ezra John 6/26/11 : Miriam Joy 4/12/13 : Naomi Ann 9/2/14

  • My son just turned one on 10/6 and we are still BFing. He has weaned down to about 45 times a day. And he has to have breakfast and some moo juice if I say milk around him he comes crawling over at the speed of light to rip a boob out!! before I will BF.
    DS1 BFP 1/2011 born 10/6/11
    DS2 BFP 8/2012 born 5/1/13
    #3 BFP 1/2015


    BabyFruit Ticker
  • I'm still BF'ing DD and she's almost 18 months.

    The AAP recommends BF'ing for at least a year. The WHO recommends two years.

    It's completely up to you what you decide to do. My first goal was a year, then 18 months. Now that we're here I haven't quite decided what's next. I'd like to let DD self-wean, but quite honestly the thought of nursing a toddler and a newborn at the same time scares the heck out of me. DD will be just under 2 when this one arrives. I'll probably wait and see how the next few months go before I make any decisions.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I BF'd for almost 16months. I might go to 2y this time, but DH wouldn't be happy with me...

    The average you get on the bump won't be the average for the nation. IIRC, a majority of moms quit BF by 6 weeks. 

  • My DD will be one in a few days and we are still BFing about 2 times a day. Usually once in the morning and once during the day. My supply dropped pretty drastically once I got pregnant again, so I didn't really have a choice but to start slowly weaning. DD doesn't seem affected by it, and she loves WCM, so I'm happy.
    Daisypath Happy Birthday tickers Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
  • DS is 2 and we still nurse twice per day. I am initiating the weaning process though, it's getting uncomfortable during pregnancy. The longer you can bf the better, but it seems like a lot of women stop at 1 year or earlier. At least in my area.
    BabyFetus Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I wanted to still be BF at this point but we had so many latch issues that he would only hook on in the middle of the night at 5 and 6 months. I gave up the rental pump at 7 months after blowing 2 up. I am the odd one out because all my friends nursed until the kids weaned.

    With #2 I am hoping to go as long as possible.

    image
  • I bf'd DD until about 20 months. The only thing she had was breast milk until 6 months when we did baby led weaning. I would ave continued to bf but she was over it.

    image

    Layne-May 6, 2013

    Callie-February 14, 2011

  • I BF DS for 22 months. I had to go on domperidone at 11 months (long story) and by 18 months I had weaned off the dom and had lost most of my supply. I weaned using "don't offer don't refuse" and a little coaxing and DS self weaned around 22 months. I was home with him for 14 months and when I went back to work we were down to just his bedtime feeding, so it was a slow process and we were both ready. 

  • DD1 breastfed for 2 years and 4 months. DD2 self-weaned at just 16 months. My goal for BFing is 2 years, unless the baby wants to wean before then (like DD2 did).
    Anneliese Olive 11/5/09
    Hazel Dianna 1/8/11
    Luna Valentine 4/25/13


  • I BF DS for 10 months. 
  • I did for 3 months.  I wanted to for at least 6, but by month 2, she wasn't gaining enough weight as she almost always immediately fell asleep on the boob so my supply tanked.  It was a terrible time for me, I was constantly stressed out about feeding her, pumping, or trying to feed myself.  Plus she had reflux, so my dr said I would have to cut out pretty much every vegetable & dairy from my diet to help her...and considering we are (mostly) grain-free in our house, that didn't leave a whole lot to eat, and I lost a lot of weight which didn't help with supply.  After lots of guilt, stress and research, I supplemented with formula and EP so I could measure my production.  By 3 months, I was barely able to pump 2oz total, and she was doing great with formula.  I was going back to work then too and I couldn't justify the hassle of pumping at work for such a tiny amount, so I stopped completely at 12 weeks.  DD has thrived ever since, and been a happy, healthy baby.

    This time around, I am planning to meet with a LC early on if there are any latch or fall-asleep problems, and MH to make extras at dinner so I have food already made for lunch the next day.  Also, to find peace with whatever feeding decision works best for ME, whenever needed. 

    Seriously, happy mom=happy baby. 

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • 10 months with DS. I wanted to go to 2 years but he was over it.
  • I made it until about 9 months. My goal was a year, but I couldn't keep up my milk.  It was really hard to keep pumping at work.  It just took so long and I didn't have a great place to do it every day so I spent half of my break walking around trying to find a vacant room to use which got super frustrating after a while.  This time my goal is to get a good freezer stash going while I'm at home and I'm in a different work environment which should be much more condusive to pumping privacy.  I'm really going to do whatever it takes to keep up my milk until 12 months when we can transition to milk. 

    I don't feel like I failed or that my daughter was any less nourished by formula, but I'd like the cut the expense with #2 and the cost of formula vs. free mommy milk really adds up! 

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • My goal with each child is at least 2 years. That's the WHO recommendation. DD1 nursed to 3y2m. DD2 is pretty much done now at 2y3m.
    Annalise Marie 05.29.06
    Charlotte Ella 07.16.10
    Emmeline Grace 03.27.13
  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • DS BF for 13 months when he weaned himself.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I started weaning at 6 months and quit at 7 months. 
  • I nursed DS for 14 months. He literally woke up one morning and refused to nurse. I tried for the next couple of days but he refused. 

    I am still pumping for DD at 14 months. Around 9 months she started biting and I could not get her to stop ( a problem I never had with DS) My supply is dropping so I am combining breast milk and cow's milk...it was a tough adjustment at first.

    My goal has always been to nurse/pump for 12 months (assuming no obstacles) and after that I leave it to my LOs. 

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Pregnancy Ticker
  • I just about quit while still in hospital. DS was 4 weeks early and didn't catch on to BFing right away. Plus it took 5 days for my milk to come in. Once we got the hang of it I EBF'd for 6 mos and introduced solids at that time. I BF'd another 3 months at which point he was done. ETA: a word
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • I knew I wanted to breastfeed for at least a year, and then I figured I would let Tony just kind of wean himself. As lucky would have it, he weaned himself right around his first birthday! I plan on doing the same with our second LO.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • FTM here so please excuse me if this is a silly question. Is the recommendation that you breastfeed or that the baby have breast milk. Again FTM so I can't imagine what it will be like to BF until the baby is 1 let alone 2. I'm sure that once the baby is actually here and I am BF my opinion may change, but is it as acceptable to BF for 6 months and then pump for 6?
    Anniversary Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers image
  • imagevickel08:
    FTM here so please excuse me if this is a silly question. Is the recommendation that you breastfeed or that the baby have breast milk. Again FTM so I can't imagine what it will be like to BF until the baby is 1 let alone 2. I'm sure that once the baby is actually here and I am BF my opinion may change, but is it as acceptable to BF for 6 months and then pump for 6?

    I think it's the breast milk rather than the BF.  Of course, BF helps with bonding too, but if you BFed for awhile and pumped for awhile you would still get that.  I'm definitely not an expert though.  

    Also, I did google and found that "In the United States overall, 43% of babies are breastfed until 6 months and 22.4% are breastfed until 12 months, though breastfeeding rates varied among the states."  I was just hoping to get some more real life examples.  And also to find out if lots of people go beyond 12 mos. or 2 years and that kind of thing. 

    Thanks for the info ladies! 

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I BF for 10.5 months.  I planned to for a year, but my supply fell off at about 13/14 weeks into this pregnancy.  He is still getting a bottle of frozen BM per day and we have switched the rest to cow's milk.  I probably only have another week or two of frozen milk left, but overall, he's gotten breast milk for almost a year. 

This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"