how long are mom's planning to BF?!

trac101s

I am a FTM, and I am planning to breastfeed if he latches on and everything is successful.  

I will be returning back to work after the six, maybe seven weeks (It'll be around Thanksgiving). I will be working full-time, and still plan on pumping again if all goes well. 

My question is how long to mother's usually tend to breastfeed there babies?!

 

 

melosch

Aiming for a year if all goes well and I can keep my supply up. I'll be back at work after 4 months, so I'll be a dedicated pumper! 

Creedon778

I'm not sure I can answer how long moms "usually" BF, but I often see 6 months as a goal.

I was able to do 10.5 months with DS#1, but I was lucky enough to have 5 months of maternity leave and then worked virtually for a couple of months after that.  It became incredibly more difficult as my work demands increased.

This time around I'm shooting for the same, but not sure I'll get as much luxury to work virtually after I get back.  I built up a massive supply with DS#1 so I'll be looking to do the same with DS#2.

 

M0ON

My goal is at least two years, but sometimes they want to wean themselves before then. I'll keep an open mind about it.

MissyCee

I'm a FTM so I don't have any previous experience but I'm thinking a year.

AlwaysForgetful

As a mom who has had supply issues starting at 4-5 month mark several times, I shoot for baby being on breast milk for a year. Whether it be breastfed or expressed milk that was frozen. Each time I have worked with a LC.

Anyway, last time was most successful with breast feeding till 8-9 months? maybe it was 10. Either way, my daughter kept biting me and would not stop. We are talking nipples sore 24/7. Worked with a LC and after a month of constant pain I called it quits. But I had been pumping (since my milk came in fully) after I breast fed her as a precaution due to previous supply issues. So I had a nice store in the freezer. :-)

doodlemonkey22

Goal for me is 1 year, but we'll see. With first ds did it for 6 months and then with second ds 9 months. So I might actually make it to a year this time.I have found that most moms fall into two groups...one group aims for one year and the other group plan to nurse well into the toddler years.

ilovetolaugh

At least a year.  When I had my DS, he had to go to the NICU and they bottle fed him, he got stuck on the bottle. After a million attempts with lactation consultants, I decided to EP.  I EPed for just over a year.  I'll do it again this time if I have to.

[Deleted User]

My goal is 6 months. With DS I couldn't keep up with him so we only went a month but at least it was something. This time I will be returning to work after 8 weeks and already have the breast pump to pump here at work.

BelhurstBride

My goal was to make it to a year. I retired the pump at a year, but DD continued to nurse until she self weaned at 32 months. 

plunderb

I made it to 8 months with DD. My goal this time is at least one year. I am not going back to work until DS turns one, so hopefully that will help.

kje120

It's a personal choice. I BF'd our first son for 14 months and would like to make it til at least a year with this.  I work full time and will be going back to the office after 12 weeks. I loathe pumping at work, but you do what you gotta do.

hawtness21

FTM and going to try for a year

lisamoe

I think everyone's situation is different, especially depending on circumstances.

I plan to take it one day at a time.  My goal is 6 months, but I had tons of issues BFing last time, so I'm just planning on taking everything as it comes.

chicsahm

I had planned for a yr before I had DS but I did 6 months with DS and found out I am not a great BF Mom (I was DONE at 3 months but continued until 6 for the added health benefits for DS)... I really didn't enjoy it as much as some and after the 2nd bout of mastitis I was done. I am planning to try things a little diff then the last time to avoid mastitis but well see. Go into it with an open mind, if you stop before your "goal time" you shouldn't be tough on yourself, every person, baby, and experience is different. Do what is best for you.

A37licia

I nursed my son for 17 mo, my daughter for 16mo, and plan to do about the same with this one. I'm a SAHM so have never had to pump very much, so I give kudos to those women who work and pump and keep going for a long time!

kassinator

I breasted for a year with my first and this time I will shoot for 2 years just because I don't think I nursed long enough the first go around!

jessalynn521

I am doing short term goals. Last time I was too nervous to try and BF, so I didn't. I find no shame in it, but I would like to try this time. My first goal is just to do it. Then I will probably do 3 month goals. "I plan to make it to 3 months" then if I make it that far "I plan to make it to 6 months" etc., etc. If I make it to a year that will be a be all end all goal for me.

mrssamarataylor

Really aiming for 6 months EBF and going up to 16 months. I really want my baby to decide when they don't want it anymore. I hope that's a reality lol

strlitemiss

I'm planning on ef for 6 months, feeding and pumping til a year and baby led weaning after that!

PrimRoseMama

As long as I can but a year is my goal. 

astookey

I breastfed my daughter for 14 months and plan to do the same with this LO as long as my supply holds up.

BrideMay2005

Last time I planned to for at least a year and ended up doing for a little over two years. I work full-time and pumped for over a year. I'm keeping an open mind that it may not be as easy or as long this time, but my goal will be to BF for at least one year again.

msjanet02

i'm hoping at least 2 years, but basically going for as long as i can!

laurakaz13

My goal was a year, but I only made it about 5 months.  I went back to work at 3 1/2 months and pumping didn't work as well with me.  Next child my goal will start at 6 months and I'll go month by month from then.  No longer than a year though for me. 

Luv2Run1st

As long as baby wants to. Still breastfeeding my son who will be 3 on September 2nd and I'm 35 weeks pregnant. Never planned on breastfeeding this long but ended up just working for us and will do the same for baby #2.

WashingtonQueen

My son turns 2 in 8 days and he is still breastfeeding.

KellyScott04

6 months or as long as I can!

MJHershey

I made it 13 months (supplemented here and there starting at 8 months) with DS1 by setting little goals, as I will be this one. We had enough left over in my stash that I was still able to use BM when we were transitioning him to whole milk. 

EllaBelle2010

I'm aiming for 1 year, although I'm not opposed to supplementing with formula after 6 months.

Monilee1017

My goal is 6 months. I don't know if I will be able to because I couldn't for DS, he wasn't getting enough food and was dropping a lot of weight, but I think that it is something that is worth another try.

kcox123

My goal is at least a year every time. However, I have supply issues every time (starting as early as 3-4 weeks). I have typically made it 5-6 months with each baby. My supply issues are worst after I go back to work and have to pump for all the daytime feedings, but the last baby I even had issues while still on maternity leave despite doing all the herbal suuplements, teas, cookies, oatmeal, lactation consults, power pumping, waking baby to nurse, pumping after finishing nursing, pumping estra sessions in between, and finally taking Domperidone. Dom is the only thing that seemed to help. But I become uncomfortable being on that for an extended period of time.

the_jackpot

It is a personal choice really.

I bf my first until he self-weaned at around 15 months. I plan to do the same for this one. I pumped when I went back to work which sucked but the actual nursing was great.

roo1oo

FTM, shooting for 6 months as after 3 months I will be going back to work full time and can see pumping at work getting old real fast. If I was a SAHM I'd probably shoot for a year. 

jwthoms1

Going to try for the 3 months I'm off work.  Then I may pump when I go back to work but I don't really have plans after 6 months.  We'll see how it's going.  I can't imagine wanting to pump for 9 months or more.  I didn't BF my first at all so we'll see how this goes.

ksimo6

I'm shooting for 6 months.  We want to try for baby #2 (and final baby) around March (I'm due in October) so we will have to play it by ear.  I am not opposed to pumping while pregnant, but a few friends have told me that they have not gotten their periods back while BFing (granted, I know you can ovulate...) .  We will have decisions to make down the road... So that is a long and disjointed answer of 6 months!

ejh090305

I made it 4weeks pumping with my first. 20 months with my 2nd. I will bf little man as long as he wants within reason. I really missed the snuggles when it was over.

ejh090305

Oh and pumping at work for a long time sucks, but it is also doable, especially if your work is bf-friendly. We had a great pumping room and it was nice to get away during the day. I managed until she was a over a year but then she just nursed before, after and at bedtime and it tapered down from there.

Pickle9909

My son is still nursing and will be 4 in October. My daughter nursed until she was 33 months old....my goal will be at least two years with this one, which I doubt will be a problem, but I would be bummed with anything much less than that..

laceylavallee

At least one year at the minimum. I was able to BF DD for 16 months until she self weaned.

leahaustin

I am planning on breast feeding for the first year.