Breastfeeding

Benefits

hello all! Ftm here of preemie twins. I have been exclusively breastfeeding them since birth (January), their due date was April. I will be going back to work in September so they will be 5months corrected age. My question is I read in a breastfeeding blog that for babies to get the full benefits from exclusively breastfeeding you should do it for 6 months. Has Anyone else heard this?

Re: Benefits

  • Question is benefits to breastfeeding past 6 months. Not about introducing solids. I'm just wondering if I stop at "5" months was it all for nothing basically since I read that you should breastfeed for 6 months for optimum benefits
  • If you breastfeed a toddler, they still get the benefits of breastfeeding. There is no time when magically it is not beneficial. WHO recommends breastfeeding until at least two. AAP recommends until at least a year. (At least means you can feed longer.) I would say as long as it is mutually desired by you and your littles, keep on the boob train. 
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  • Even if you only breastfeed for a week, your babies benefit from breastfeeding.  The longer you breastfeed, the more they benefit.

    If you stop before 1 year then you will need to introduce formula.  Even after you have introduced solids, babies still need the extra nutrients in breast milk and/or formula at that young age.  Food before one is for fun -- their primary nutrition is still in liquid form.  There's no reason you can't still breastfeed as long as you have supply, even if you can't keep up with EBF after returning to work.

    Kudos to you for breastfeeding preemie twins - I can't imagine how difficult that has been!   
  • Most authoritative (WHO, AAP, etc.) sources advise exclusive breastfeeding (or feeding breast milk) for six months. 

    However, the most rigorous study I have seen finds no statistically significant differences between breastfed and formula-fed kids. See here: https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/is-breast-feeding-really-better 

    Whatever your choice, you are doing a fine job by making sure your baby eats enough, sleeps enough and has the right amount and kind of stimulation... 


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