How long will you breastfeed?

vrj0522

Now that the realities of breastfeeding have started hitting home with most of us, what is your current plan for breastfeeding (or pumping) or how long did you breastfeed before switching to formula?

ashie0610

I chose a year but I have specific goals for different stages.

My main goal is to EBF until 6 months/solids. Then I plan to pump when I go back to work while still nursing when we are home together for at least a year.

After a year I will stop pumping and just nurse when we are together until he weans.

Raesofsunshine1

Since I had problems the first time around, my original plan was just to make it to 6 weeks (when I hear it gets easier anyway). But I plan on trying to breastfeed to a year old.

CNJ4EVA

I'm planning on a year, once we can switch to WCM I will stop BF'ing/pumping. Hopefully, when I go back to work my supply won't drop to next to nothing like it did with my DD.

LightBright515

Ideally, I'd nurse her for the first year. But I'd be pretty happy to make it to the 6 month mark at this point.

mb314

I nursed DS1 until 20 months and weaned him when 4 months pregnant. My supply had dwindled and I wanted several months break before nursing again. I will definitely go past 12. Months with DS2 assuming everything goes well. I doubt I will go past 24 months though.

narabug

I'd like to bf until a year, at least. Mostly because I'm cheap and don't want to pay for formula.

krazyinsane

I bf DD#1 for 14.5 months, DD#2 for 13.5 (was pregnant and sick of feeling touched out), DD#3 for 12 months (was pregnant and my supply was GONE) so DS will go at least 12 month maybe a little longer since I had my tubes tied and won't be getting pregnant... Hopefully!! /:)

DreadGamerWife

Ideally, at least a year but current goal is to get through 3 months and see how returning to work and pumping goes.

[Deleted User]

Right now my goal is taking it day by day. I've almost made it a week! My next small goal is 1 month. Ideally, I'd like to BF for 3-6 months, and switch to EP sometime in that area.

Emerald27

We'll nurse until LO self-weans ideally. I had that plan with DS1, but ended up gradually/gently weaning him at 2.5yo when I was pregnant, because breastfeeding became painful for me and I developed a strong aversion to breastfeeding. Totally surprised me!

AppleGrapeMSTK

Definitely nursing and pumping until a year. I'll drop my work pumps by 18 months unless LO has other plans. In theory we will just nurse at night from 18-24mo. I'd like to wean at 2years in preparation for TTC again. I never nursed beyond 10mo before, so who knows how it will actually go down.

slsl509

At least a year but no longer than 2 years. I only want to pump at work for 12 months because it's a drag. DD self-weaned at 15 months and I'll let DS self-wean but I am not comfortable nursing past 2, at least that's how I feel now.

JJsMum

Ideally I'll nurse until he self weans. My goal is to make it to at least 1 year though. DS#2 decided at 6 months that he wouldn't nurse any more, and after EP for 5 months with DS#1, I wanted nothing to do with the pump again. This time I'd love to completely avoid paying for formula. Not that there is anything wrong with formula (both my older boys spent 6+ months on it), I just don't want to have to fork that $$ out!!

lrobi13

2 months. My supply is sucky so once I return to work I will be only comfort nursing lo a few times a day. His main source of calories will come from formula.

windwithfingers

Basically what @ashie0610‌ said.

MorganWP

I chose 12+ but like others I have goals for different stages. My first goal was to make it to 6 weeks and I have one more week to go. So my next one is 6 months. (Or whenever he starts solids, my daughter started at 4months)

MrsSinner402

Being that I've been EPing for most of her life and am trying my damndest to get back to BFing, I probably wont want to pump when I return to work when DD is 6 months old. So, probably 6 months if it works out the way I'm hoping. [-O<

Littledeer84

DreadGamerWife said:

Ideally, at least a year but current goal is to get through 3 months and see how returning to work and pumping goes.

This is me...trying to make it past the 1 month I did it with DD1

mandapear

I bf'd ds1 until I was 6 weeks pregnant with this one, so 13.5 mos. I stopped pumping at 11 mos and used up my freezer stash before switching to wcm while he was in daycare. I am not working this year, so hoping to avoid pumping other than occasionally with my manual (I have the fancy Medela freestyle, and much prefer the manual). I'll probably continue bedtime nursing a bit past 1, but would like my body back for myself after back to back pregnancy-breastfeeding-pregnancy-breastfeeding.

Dani0329

I'd like to make it to a year, but I am very nervous about being able to pump enough to continue, so I chose 6 months but hope for more.

megsandjohn

I nursed DS for 22 months and DD was about 20 months I think. So probably somewhere around there

megsandjohn

savagek7 said:

Planning on around 12 months, but that may change depending when he gets teeth...

Having teeth doesn't affect breastfeeding. And it doesn't mean they will bite when nursing.

suncake

My first was FF. So I'm trying my hardest with this LO. Not setting goals just FX I can get past the first couple of weeks to get the hang of things and then sorta see how long we can make it work. I want to at least make it 3 months. At the very least

KingsDaughter76

Hopefully 2 years at least! My last nursed till 2.5 yrs.

Emerald27

savagek7 said:

theresat858 said:

megsandjohn said:

savagek7 said:

Planning on around 12 months, but that may change depending when he gets teeth...

Having teeth doesn't affect breastfeeding. And it doesn't mean they will bite when nursing.

This. Dd1 got her first teeth at 11 mo and had most of them (minus 2 year molars and canines) when I weaned her at 2. Teeth were not an issue.

Good to know! The way this kid latches, I've been imagining having s piranha hooked to my nipple.

Teeth don't affect breastfeeding because a nursing infant's tongue is over his teeth, between the bottom teeth and the breast. You don't even feel them! The top teeth do rest on your breast, but there's very little pressure that the top teeth/gums exert, so it's not painful. It honestly doesn't even feel different from when they nurse with just gums.

rosalie12

Hoping for a year, but I would love to get to 6 months at a minimum.

ariel06

Taking it one day at a time. Monday will be one month.  For now, 6 weeks and we'll see from there.