For those who bf-ed or still do...

meaganjoelle1 · June 2011

How long did you or plan to bf? And please explain why you made this choice. Just wondering what everyone plans to do.

meaganjoelle1 · June 2011

Right now I am pretty sure I will nurse until the one year mark and then I will pump to give her bm in sippy cups and storing the rest. We will see though I hope it all works out.

freeatlast2014 · June 2011

At first, my goal was to make it to 6 months just because it sounded good.

Now my goal is to make it to a year, because things are going so well, it's convenient, and why bother starting with formula now? It'll cost me $$ I don't need to spend, I'll have to find one that works, and it's more of a hassle.

If for some reason I can't make it to a year, then I'll give formula of course. There's nothing wrong with it, but as long as I've "Got Milk?" I'll give it to LO.

Out of curiosity, why do you ask? Are you thinking of weaning?

meaganjoelle1 · June 2011

No I honestly was just wondering

freeatlast2014 · June 2011

meaganjoelle1:
No I honestly was just wondering

Sorry, I posted that question before I saw your post

pixieprincss · June 2011

Do you mean BFing or EBFing? To me, EBFing also means no solids.

I hope to BF until LO is one year and then as long after as is mutually enjoyable to LO and I. That said, I have a rare complication from pregnancy and delivery that cannot not heal until I wean because nursing moms still produce loosening hormones and my body freaks out with high amounts of relaxin. For now, the emotional, physical, and cost/convenience benefits of nursing outweigh the cost of my chronic pain. But, that balance could shift at some point. It is an ongoing discussion at our house and with my medical team as I try other ways to manage pain. If I run out of non-weaning options then I may have to make the call earlier than I'd envisioned.

As for solids, we will probably start offering food at 6 months since LO is on track to meet all of the guidelines for baby-led solids (the method we are going with): doubled birth weight, sitting, interest in food, gag reflex is further back, etc.

meaganjoelle1 · June 2011

pixieprincss:
Do you mean BFing or EBFing? To me, EBFing also means no solids.

I hope to BF until LO is one year and then as long after as is mutually enjoyable to LO and I. That said, I have a rare complication from pregnancy and delivery that cannot not heal until I wean because nursing moms still produce loosening hormones and my body freaks out with high amounts of relaxin. For now, the emotional, physical, and cost/convenience benefits of nursing outweigh the cost of my chronic pain. But, that balance could shift at some point. It is an ongoing discussion at our house and with my medical team as I try other ways to manage pain. If I run out of non-weaning options then I may have to make the call earlier than I'd envisioned.

As for solids, we will probably start offering food at 6 months since LO is on track to meet all of the guidelines for baby-led solids (the method we are going with): doubled birth weight, sitting, interest in food, gag reflex is further back, etc.

I totally meant bf, silly me Smile

skroops · June 2011

I plan to BF until she self-weans. I nursed Zoey until she was 2. Some of you probably think that's crazy, and honestly if you had told me when she was first born that I would still be nursing her until that age, I wouldn't have believed it. I started out BFIng just because I am cheap and didn't want to buy formula! But she was very attached to comfort nursing and it was an easy way to settle hr doen for naps and bedtime. There were days when I thought she would NEVER give it up on her own, but she finally did a few weeks after she turned 2. I was pg with Liana at the time.

Valleybugt · June 2011

I plan to nurse until my daughter decides she is done. Hoping for two years as that is what the WHO recommends as a minimum.

SweetHurricane · June 2011

My original goal was 6 months. I lasted 6 weeks. I was crying all.the.time. I really think that if I kept going I would've ended up with PPD. I was also not producing enough. She was eating every hour round the clock. The first time we supplemented with formula after BF, she took another 3 oz. I tried pumping for a while, but in the end, BF was just not for me. I wish it had worked out, but I'm happy I at least tried.

mick64 · June 2011

I plan to nurse at least a year and then we'll see after that. I wouldn't mine nursing to 2 years or possibly longer, but I'm not giving myself that goal necessarily.

broccolitree · June 2011

I'm going until 6 months at least, exclusively. My pedi said at the last visit that I *could* EBF all the way to a year, but we'll talk it out next visit because that sounds insane to me.

We're delaying solids because H, both my parents, and MIL all have GI issues.

mary811 · June 2011

I used to take it week by week, I EP, and it's a lot of work and effort. The goal now is to make it to 6 months and use my freezer stash after that. Although the thought of stopping makes me sad, so I may go longer. I guess we will see in July

RAC07 · June 2011

I feel guilty saying this, but honestly, I'm ready to be done with it now.

I promised myself I would at least try to make it 6 months. Luckily, it has been easy for us so far and I haven't had any major issues. It's free and it works so I'll probably keep doing it until a year. I'm ready to have my body back!

Shleenish · June 2011

I wanted to go as long as possible, but my supply was never great, and I supplemented from about three months on. Now my supply has completely disappeared, LO is formula feed now, and seems fine with it, actually he is less spitty then when he was on breast milk.

pawcall · June 2011

I will breastfeed as long as it's working for both of us. I'm hoping that means 1 year + but we are taking it as it comes.

RouensDream · June 2011

I'm just taking it day by day. I put so much pressure on myself in the beginning..I was having so many issues (breast infection and thrush, latch problems) and felt like a failure...so I decided to just stick it out one more day..and then one more day etc.. Things are going great with it now..so I'd like to continue with it as long as we can..ideally over a year..but if it doesn't work out that way, I'm not going to beat myself up over it..

mishu917 · June 2011

I am away from LO 11 hours plus since going back to work and my supply has taken a plunge. She is still being exclusively BFed because of my frozen milk. I am taking fenugreek and some other tea to increase lactation. However, my supply has not increased yet, but it's only been a week taking the supplements. I wake up twice at nights to pump but I'm still 8-10oz short everyday (very draining as I sleep from 10pm to 4am). I plan to breastfeed her as long as she wants it, even if it's just a few oz a day. She hasn't started solids yet (baby led weaning), but I know solids won't decrease the amount of milk she needs since she's growing. Oh well, I hope I can make it to 6 months EBF and then I won't feel that guilty

mchupie · June 2011

Planning on at least a year, maybe more. We'll see how it goes after that

mtbowlin · June 2011

cdobry01:
I will breastfeed as long as it's working for both of us. I'm hoping that means 1 year + but we are taking it as it comes.

This!

bunky77 · June 2011

I had originally planned to BF for a year but since I've returned to work (I'm an RN that works 12 hour shifts 3-4 days/week) my supply has decreased significantly and I don't always have the time to pump at work sooooooo I'm in the process of weaning. I hate the fact that I have to stop. I actually enjoyed BFing when I didnt think I would. : (

houndbaby · June 2011

I BF #1 until 16 months, I have high risk pregnancies so my OB wanted me to wean by the time I was 20 weeks, otherwise I would have liked to BF until he was 2.

I plan to BF #2 between 1 and 2 years depending on when I get KU again or I/she decides it's time to wean.

OUBobcatFan · June 2011

My original goal was a year on mommy's milk and while I was on maternity leave, that goal seemed very reachable. Other than raging hormones, it was going very well. Then I started back to work and she started daycare. My supply tanked when I started back to work, and we had to start supplementing because she wasn't gaining enough. It seems like each string of shifts, I'm getting less milk out (even with pumping 3x at work and feeding her a lot when I'm home). So, now I'm just hoping to make it to 6 mos before I dry up. I do cheering sessions for the girls on the way to pump, but they don't seem to care.

But, I will nurse even if it's just once or twice a day until a year if possible. I want her to have as many of my antibodies as possible while she's attending daycare!

MrsAJL · June 2011

Hi! I'm generally a lurker, but I wanted to chime in. I EBF Molly until right at 4 months. The last month we've been supplementing with formula. At this point (almost 5 months old), I nurse her once or twice a day or if she's really upset (like when she gets her shots or is super tired.)

I would say her primary source of nutrition is formula. I enjoy breastfeeding her but I'm away often. I haven't been able build up a pumped stash, so we give her formula.

I'll probably keep breastfeeding this way at least through her 6th month and then we'll see. I'm really happy that we've made it this far. I wasn't able to breastfeed my son, but I did pump for him for 3 months.

Doodle2011 · June 2011

My goal is six months, but if I can go a year I will.

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