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How long did you breastfeed??
Hey ladies..how long did you breastfeed?...just wondering how long I should breastfeed.
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Re: How long did you breastfeed??
18 months with DS
only 3 1/2 months with DD because of her food sensitivities.
I breastfed for 5 months, but the recommendation is for the first year (or longer, if desired)
My supply really tanked between 4-5 months and DD started crying after 1-2 minutes each time I fed her so I started introducing formula. When I pumped I wouldn't even get an ounce from each side.
DD2: Lucia (Lucy) 07/13
15 months.
When Lily hit a year, I cut back to 3 times a day and whenever she woke up at night...she weaned on her own after that.
You can introduce cows milk at a year, so when I had Lily I made that my goal (and exceeded it). Many of my friends nursed much longer than I did, but I was feeling very touched out by a year, so I compromised. It was easy for us because Lily really took to table food, but I know for some kids it takes a bit longer so their Moms continue nursing.
FWIW, Lily refused to drink cows milk until she was fully weaned. I just made sure to offer it and make sure she ate other dairy like yogurt and cheese.
GL
just follow your gut and baby's lead.
It just depends on how strongly you feel about it, how much/little you (and baby) enjoy it.
And each baby is different.
There is no wrong or right answer
I worked when my DS was that age. My goal was the first year but I had issues with low mik supply, so I took everything from Fenugreek and Reglin to increase milk supply. At 8 months his appetite increase and I could no longer keep up. So we started to wean to formula. It was a huge learning expirence for me and now that I have done it once I feel like with my next baby I could do the whole year.
Any amount of breastfeeding is great and be proud of the time you did it. I have spoken to many breastfeeding moms and no matter how long you do it, you always feel guilty once you stop.
I don't have any kids yet. I will be a stay at home mom once my daughter is born. My plan was to set a 6 months goal but hope to breastfeed until about a year. Sometimes I wonder if it's ridiculous to have a child walking up to the boob to feed.
48 hours with the first. Less than 24 hours with the second.
I had every intention of breastfeeding both children. I read every book and internet page I could find about it. I requested meetings with the lactation consultants in the hospital.
But its freaking hard. My babies didn't want to latch on and I didn't have the motivation or desire to suffer through. People promise it gets better...give it 2 weeks...6 weeks...6 months....but I didn't want to waste any time suffering with my babies. I just wanted to be happy and enjoy them. So I quit pretty early on and never regretted it.
Don't get too far ahead of yourself here. One day at a time, you know?
Try to get rid of assumptions like these. Some children actually walk before a year, but it is still recommended to nurse until at least a year...the WHO actually recommends at least 2 years.
The whole, "if they can ask for it, they are too old" is an outdated and misinformed idea. Many children before the age can "ask" for nursing by grabbing your shirt, leaning toward you and even using sign language.
I highly recommend the website kellymom.com It is a wonderful resource.
GL
Thanks..
I BF'd DS1 until he was 16 months old. We just stopped 3 months ago, so I was BF'ing until I was 5 months + pregnant with DS2.
You can BF as long as you want. I didn't let anyone else's opinion of our decision to BF sway me. My mom was a FF (not that there's anything wrong with that), but she was constantly asking me when I was going to wean him after he hit 9 months old.
8 mo..with DD. I got very sick and my milk supply almost went away.
11 mo with DS. I pumped every day because he was born with a cleft palate and get suction. I actually had supply to go for a year.
As pp said. Set small goals with intentions to go as long as your LO wants to. You and your lo will know. It is very hard, but if you can make it work it is best for baby. You'll know...just keep an open mind.
6 months and I should have stopped earlier. I agree with the pp who says to take it one day at a time. I told myself that I would BF as long as it was working for me and I wouldn't feel any guilt for stopping. I was wrong. After about 4 months, DS started dropping weight and screaming after he ate. My pedi suggested I start feeding every 2 hours to increase my supply, which I did. His weight continued to drop. I was told to drink more water, which I did. More lost weight. I ate oatmeal, fed him every 1.5 hours around the clock, pumped after feeding, took Fenugreek, tried Reglan, read websites, posted questions on the Bump, supplemented and did everything in my power to get my DS's weight back up. It didn't work and he was classified as failure to thrive. There is nothing more heartbreaking than being told that you are starving your child because your body is not doing what it is supposed to do. At six months, I switched to formula. My breasts never even got engorged as I weaned. In one month he went from off the charts to the 20th percentile in weight.
I say all this not to scare anyone, but kind of as a warning that sometimes doing everything is just not enough. I believed all the websites and lactation consultants who basically told me that anyone can BF. If you are committed to it, definitely try it. However, do not allow all the hype, breast is best, and sanctimommies get to you if it just isn't working. Looking back, that time period was probably my hardest so far of being a mommy and it wasn't worth it. Take it a day at a time and see how far you can go.
Good luck. The time that I had BF was a wonderful bonding experience and I wish I could have done it longer.
I would also consider setting your first goal for just a week and working up from there. It is not quite as natural as you would think and can be very difficult and even painful. We had a bad latch at first which meant cracked nipples. At one point, in the beginning, my goal was to make it just one more feeding. It gets easier, but that first few weeks can be rough!
Another short-termer here. I BFed for 3 days, but it wasn't going well at all. She wouldn't latch, would rear back and scream, I wasn't producing much milk, etc. I then had to (chose to?) supplement with formula on day 4 while DD was back in the hospital for jaundice and dehydration - it was obvious that she wasn't eating enough from me even when it was a 'good' nursing session. So I gave up on actual BFing and pumped/bottle fed instead. But because I had a fussy newborn who didn't like to be put down, I couldn't get enough pumping sessions in during the day (when I was home alone and no one else could hold her for me). And because she kept demanding more food per bottle, it was taking me like 3 pumps to get one meal. I dried up after less than 2 months.
I agree that you should start out by setting short-term goals. Get through the hospital stay. Then get through your first week at home. Then if all goes well by that point, you should be golden to nurse for as many months as you want to - barring any supply issues. Good luck!
DD nursed 13 months (I was 5 months pg at the time)
DS nursed 15 months
I definitely agree with setting small goals. With my first LO, I didn't know what to expect and set the goal of 6 months. It was a HARD road for us from months 3-5ish with both LOs. Once I got past that and they started eating solids at 6 months it got a lot better and I had no problem meeting my new 1 year goal.
I struggled with comments because I nursed so long but I just chalked it up to ignorance. I really don't think a lot of people truly understand how amazing BFing is. I just kept telling myself that they just didn't get it competely. Both of my LOs could walk up to me and ask to nurse. (they walked at 9 months and 10 months). I didn't think anything of it and it's so cute. I just weaned DS and am a little sad because he will grab at my shirt and say "mo"? for more, meaning he wants to nurse. A lot of people think that's strange but I don't care! I know that I will be so proud when I look back at how long we made it!
And I also agree with everything pinksweetpea said and yes, Kellymom is THE site for BFing, I loved it!
I always thought this too, until I actually breastfed. My initial goal was 6 months, and even though we're only halfway there my new goal is over a year. When you get there (and by there, I mean have baby in arms) you'll end up doing what is right for the two of you. You may be surprised by the opinions you start to form and say or do things that you never thought you would. It all depends on your personal situation.
I will say if you want to breastfeed, it can be incredibly difficult and stressful at first. Make sure you have people you can talk to (lactation consultants, other nursing moms) to help you through it if you have difficulty. I had a couple of tough weeks but then it just clicked. Some aren't as lucky. It's a wonderful experience, IMO, and I'm really thankful that it's working for us.
I made it 9.5 months with my son before he got too many teeth and my production slowed. I wish I could have made it a year it is so good for them and I loved the snuggle time. Way easier than messing with bottles!
15 months here
You will know what is right for you and your LO when the time comes.
I think you should breastfeed for however long it works for you and your baby.
My goal when I was pregnant was to exclusively BF for 6 months and re-evaluate then. Unfortunately, my body had other plans and I had to start supplementing with formula when Ben was 1.5-2 weeks old because my supply was so craptastic...despite doing everything under the sun to improve it. I continued to nurse/pump and formula feed until about 5 months when my supply went from bad to worse and I was getting hardly anything when pumping (I was back to work at this point). I would then just nurse him first thing in the morning and then give him a bottle afterwards. I did this until the day he turned 8 months, when I nursed him for the last time. It sucked and it took me a LONG time to get over the fact that I couldn't BF him the way that I wanted, but it is what it is and he's healthy...so that's all that matters.
My personal goal was a year each time so I could go right to whole milk. DS had other plans and I had to stop at 7 months. DD made it to a year, but she was over it at that point and it was getting harder and harder
It's good to set goals, but the key is not to get so worked up and set on something that it will negatively affect you if it doesn't work out. It is different for everyone, so I would take it as it comes. GL!
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13
Still going strong! GL to you.
ETA: Oops, meant to hit reply, not quote.
My advice would be to wait and see how BF'ing goes before making any real plans. It can be extremely difficult and not all factors will be within your control (latching and supply issues, etc.). The less pressure you put on yourself beforehand, the better.
cI'm still BFing DD, planning to wean after her Bday.
I'd say if it's important to you give it at least 6 weeks, it gets so much better between 6-8 weeks. Yes it's a lot of work, especially the first couple months but it is so worth it if you're willing to stick w/ it.
An informal poll of my Mom group showed that was true for most of us who BF.
DD1 7/10/08 DD2 8/11/10 DS 7/2/13
0 days, 0 months. I didn't want to. DS was a preemie and a sleepy eater anyway. I was able to see how much he was eating exactly. We had to keep track of the ml's that he would eat. A good feed was 15 ml's at first. I was/and still am very happy with my decision not to BF. I wanted equal opportunity feeding with DH and myself. DS did great and he is perfectly healthy. I am a big couponer so formula was not a big expense for us.
Do what you want and don't worry about what others did.