If you BF, how long do you plan to continue?

kacelle · July 2011

I was reading the thread on 0-3 about BFing at 6 months, and was curious as to the May moms' goals. When BFing was really difficult at first, I didn't allow myself to set any long-term goals, because I really had to take it one day at a time. Now that it's much easier, I'm considering what my BFing goal length would be.

Barring any supply issues or unforeseen life changes, how long do you plan to BF?

My goal right now is a year, although I think I'd BF until age two (or sometime around then) unless DD self-weaned.

Angel0423 · July 2011

Goal is 1 year. At which point I am going to stop pumping and only nurse when I'm with baby. She'll have breast milk in the day until the stash runs out, otherwise just have it in the mornings/evenings. There has to be an end in site for me with this pumping. Currently pump before work, at work, and when I get home. Hoping that at 6 months she'll be eating enough foods that I can drop the pumping at work.

MarJo03 · July 2011

My goals are in 6 month increments. I'll bf until 1.5-2 years of age, or if she self weans sooner than that. I keep short term goals, to get to the ultimate goal. It's just how I work. I'm starting with 6 months as the first goal because of going back to work and such, I don't know if my supply will tank or not.

kjj834 · July 2011

I have smaller goals of 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year. I would love to BF until she is 18 months as an ultimate goal, and if we are both still happy with it, I think I would go until she is 2, but not longer.

etteyam · July 2011

I plan to EBF until she's a year old. I'm hoping to have enough BM stashed around 10 months so I can drop my 2 pumping sessions at work. With DD1, I breastfed for 10 months and then my milk dried up shortly after I got pg with DD2.

tokenhoser · July 2011

At least the year I'm off. Then I probably won't pump at work, but would nurse when we're together if LO wants it.

It's really pretty easy now. I know there will be new challenges (like the distractable stages), but I think we'll be fine.

oooCarrieB · July 2011

1 year. Per my friend who is a board certified pediatrician, this is best for baby.

kacelle · July 2011

MarJo03:
My goals are in 6 month increments. I'll bf until 1.5-2 years of age, or if she self weans sooner than that. I keep short term goals, to get to the ultimate goal. It's just how I work. I'm starting with 6 months as the first goal because of going back to work and such, I don't know if my supply will tank or not.

Your DD is adorable! I love big baby smiles. And I love her name; DH and I have it on our list to consider for a future daughter.

everam01 · July 2011

I EP, my boys eat 60oz a day, and I barely stay ahead of them. I return to work in a week and if I'm able to continue to pump enough to give them breast milk until they are 6 months old, I will pat myself on the back for a job well done. It takes a LOT of pumping right now, and I don't know how long I can keep it up.

iris427 · July 2011

At least a year. I breastfed my daughter for around 2 years and 4 months.

h2ojock13 · July 2011

I have goals in 3 months. I want to get to 3 months but my ultimate goal is 6+ months. I will go as long as I can. I am only saying 3 months so that if something happens and I can't go longer than 3 months I won't feel too much of that damn mommy guilt. I will go as long as these girls (boobs) let me.

deo · July 2011

My current goal is to make it at least to 6 months... once we get there I will just go by his cues. I don't love breastfeeding but I'll go as long as he wants it since its the best for him.

kassinator · July 2011

I plan to breastfeed until shes a year. Then Ill transition her onto cows milk

Once its basically just a beverage, thats when I plan on weaning her!

AnneShirleyBlythe · July 2011

Goal is a year, and I will stop pumping then. I am going to try for 2 this time though.

nycdueinmay · July 2011

I am not having any major issues and am still in a one-day-at-a-time mindset. It sounds terrible but I don't feel emotionally invested in BFing, just (no flames) really anti-formula. I figure every day I give her of BM is a good day. I'd like to BF on the breast for at least 6 months (if not one year) and then transition to EPing... I drink cow's milk but the whole topic is starting to freak me out and I don't know if I want DD on it at all. I'd like her to be on BM as loooooong as possible, and maybe go right to soy or rice milk.

I will also be back in school in the fall and graduate in the spring, which includes a very stressful and involved thesis project, so I hope my schedule and stress won't kill my supply.

msdonnas · July 2011

I would love to bf until he's two, but I've struggled so much that I'm still on weekly goals. Originally I'd tell myself I'd just do it that night, then get formula tomorrow. During the day it was easier to put if off until the next day. That's how I had to do it, if I had formula in the house I'm sure I would have stopped. So weekly goals seem like a huge improvement. I don't go back to work until he's 15 months so I'm not sure if I'll need to pump or if we'll be just nursing in the mornings and evenings anyway.

SC1977 · July 2011

Initially I planned to stop at 6 months. Now that I'm on the verge of returning to work, I appreciate the time that BFing gives us together even more and would like to BF for a year. The pumping aspect sucks, but I'll take the bad with the good.

NothingLikeBarbie · July 2011

A year. After that I would like to start weaning.

When you BF a 1 year old they don't nurse as often anyway, maybe 3 or 4 times a day. So it's not as tedious as nursing a newborn can be.

brandioohoo · July 2011

i plan on nursing/pumping for as long as i can produce milk

mellydawn84 · July 2011

I plan on going hopefully until he's a year and then like a lot of the ladies here, do mornings/nights if he still wants that after 1yr. Hopefully my milk stays here until then. If not, whatever he's gotten until that point is better than none and that's what I will be happy with.

calm_angel_2003 · July 2011

im hoping for a year but we will see

fluffybuns · July 2011

At least 1 year, or until DD self-weans.

That is what I did with my first, and she weaned herself around 20 months. I would be happy to do it that long again.

Also to add, I stopped pumping at work when DD was about 9 months old because I needed to use up the supply of milk in my freezer. So I only needed to pump at work for 3 months, cant really complain about that!

kammmmay · July 2011

I my goal was a year. My pedi says that there aren't really any benefits after that. I was thinking about continuing to pump and supplement her diet with it for a while after that though.

SLSeibert1 · July 2011

A year for us! I've already been pumping at work for a few weeks and have quite a nice stash in the freezer so I don't see why we can't hit that goal since we're already in the groove!

iris427 · July 2011

kammmmay:
I my goal was a year. My pedi says that there aren't really any benefits after that. I was thinking about continuing to pump and supplement her diet with it for a while after that though.

Your pedi is wrong. Why do people seem to think breastmilk magically turns worthless the day your child turns one? It still has tons of nutrients and immunological benefits for your child. In fact some of the antibodies in your milk increase because toddlers get exposed to more germs than infants do. I'm not saying everyone needs to BF for 2+ years but 30 years of research shows that it has many benefits.

sparkymcgeee · July 2011

My initial goal was three months. Well I now have a three month old so I'm good. Now my goal is four months. I will keep pumping at work and nursing at home as long as I have a supply. I don't have a ton of milk stashed so I pump and she gets it the next day along with some formula. I hate pumping at work. It truly sucks but its the best thing I can give her so I'm doing it. At least I have my Nook for the pumping sessions.

kacelle · July 2011

iris427:
kammmmay:
I my goal was a year. My pedi says that there aren't really any benefits after that. I was thinking about continuing to pump and supplement her diet with it for a while after that though.
Your pedi is wrong. Why do people seem to think breastmilk magically turns worthless the day your child turns one? It still has tons of nutrients and immunological benefits for your child. In fact some of the antibodies in your milk increase because toddlers get exposed to more germs than infants do. I'm not saying everyone needs to BF for 2+ years but 30 years of research shows that it has many benefits.

I probably shouldn't be, but I'm shocked that a medical professional would tell you that breast milk offers no benefits after age one. So human milk (with incredible immunity-boosting properties) ceases to benefit a baby at that point and cow's milk is emphasized in its place? That doesn't sound too intelligent to me.

JasonKristen · July 2011

I plan on breastfeeding until DD is at least 1 years old. DH wants to start trying before then and I have heard from others that you dry up when pregnant so I really hope I can make my goal of at least one year.

pandi02a · July 2011

I will go (stash willing) until 2 years at least. I don't plan to give D cows milk until after then so he'll need to get milk somewhere.

Everyone I tell that to has said to me, "Well after the first year you could pump and give it to him." Why would I want to make more work for myself then? I don't even like pumping now.

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