How long are you planning to BF?

MrsPinkPeony · February 2012

I originally thought I would for 3 months, but have read that for LO to really benefit from it, you should BF a minimum of 4 months. Once i go back to work, i don't have much flexibility for pumping, as I will not be able to do it in a private setting. Just wondering what you ladies are planning to do...

WildcatPrincess · February 2012

DD didn't wean until I got pregnant. We might space the next one a bit longer so we'll see. I don't think I'd go past 2, so probably somewhere between 18 months and 2 years. When I first had DD I was certain I would never go past a year, funny how things change!

AlabamaMamma224 · February 2012

I'm determined to get to a year +..... WHO recommends 2 years, I believe.

Sherbet Lemon · February 2012

I'm hoping to make it a year. Not sure how it'll go with pumping once I go back to work, but it's worth a try.

mommygrams0730 · February 2012

i nursed for a year with my son, and would like to go to at least at year with this one too. it was such a huge money saver on top of the health benefits as well as how much i enjoyed it.

katcarls · February 2012

My goal is to make it to 1 year, but I'll let DD self-wean so I'm fine if she goes longer. I BF my first for 13 months.

KatelynEA90 · February 2012

I'm hoping to BF for about a year.

kkfeb04 · February 2012

I plan on a year. We'll do more if this LO wants to. I wasn't sure if I was going to BF DS and decided to give it the good ole college try. My milk didn't come in for 5 days but darn it we BF. He also enjoyed taking his time, which wasn't bad until I went back to work at 8 weeks. By 3 1/2 months I decided to EP (I was already pumping after each session anyways). I EP'd until 9 months and my calculations were off on how much he would have with the freezer stash. He needed a little over a month of formula and that killed me because I knew that I had the supply to keep going (DH wanted me to wean because he was up every single night with DS to feed while I pumped during the feeding). I had rented the Symphony (we never thought we would use it for so long) but this time I bought a pump (I wasn't going to buy it early but I couldn't pass up the deal on awaybabyessentials last month). I was only able to pump in a storage room in the basement at my work (this was before the new laws took place) but I kept it up.

hey_little_bird · February 2012

i hope to BF exclusively for about 6 months, and then try baby-led weaning. ideally i'd like to BF for at least the first year. i'm not sure how much longer after a year i would go, it just depends on how i feel (and how DD feels, obviously)

BriLJL · February 2012

I'm aiming to go a year, but I will be working when the baby is just five months so I'll pump as much as I can to make it work as long as it can.

InlovewithJHK · February 2012

I'd love a year, my supply dropped with my DD #1 after 9 months and she self weaned after I stopped pumping at work and I really missed it

PhysChic7685 · February 2012

6 months tops. I'll be able to BF (providing I'm successful with it) all the time for the first six weeks. After that, DS will be in daycare 3 days a week and I can't pump at work. I'm hoping I can still keep up at least a partial supply to feed him through the summer. Once the end of August hits, though, I probably won't have that sort of flexibility.

knottie3c0525a8a3c64eaa · February 2012

Our ped said at least 9 months, I am aiming for that. They start having teeth around 6 months and the pediatrician said there is a reason for it (obviously) so he recommended starting certain solid foods around 6 months, but continue to breastfeed until 9 months.

kris_kelsey · February 2012

DS nursed for 23 months, and I would like to BF about 2 years again. If this next one weans around 18 months that is fine, but I might be a bit sad if it tries to wean earlier than that. I am up for 2 years so we will see what the baby thinks.

ashleybrynne32 · February 2012

Dd nursed til her second birthday and I was 16w with ds. I'm thinking 18 months but will wean when he is ready. I got a lot of crap for nursing so long and refuse to let anyone but my husband, child and pedi affect my timing this time.

spunkyprincessmande · February 2012

Micah is in the process of self-weaning right now (15 months). I was really hoping to go another month or so, but he's really just not interested and I don't want to force it on him.

It makes me so sad to see so many women who are unable to pump at their job. It just says a lot about how little we as a society value breastfeeding. Same goes for our crappy maternity leave. We should really be more supportive of nursing mothers.

That's not to say I blame anyone for stopping once they're pumping more than actually nursing. There's no way I would have nursed for so long if I had to pump--it was way too hard! So, I give a lot of credit to women who pump. A lot.

DBride2006 · February 2012

My goal is about a year, which is what I did with DS#1. It's hard, but important to us as a family.

countdowntolockdown · February 2012

I will breast feed for at least 6 months, with a long-term goal of a year.

alwaysduke00 · February 2012

My goal is not a day longer than 6 months, and possibly 4 months or whenever I decide to add solids (between 4-6 months depending on baby's development). I made myself crazy pumping last time until 9 months and I will NOT do it again. Unless, there's some extenuating issue like prematurity or concern for immunodeficiency...then perhaps I'd nurse through RSV and rotavirus seasons.

Once the gut microbiome is contaminated with solid foods...I feel like I might as well go all the way. However, until I decide to contaminate it, I'd like DD not to get an ounce of formula.

It was relatively easy to breastfeed on maternity leave, not so easy after. Pumping 3-4 times/day (for 2-4 oz. at a shot) was not so much fun.

Tambcat · February 2012

6 weeks, unless I love it and decide I want to deal with pumping at work.

Jessica1977 · February 2012

With DS I EBFd for 4 months and took 1 month to wean him over onto formula. My original goal was 6 months but he was a biter and I couldn't handle it. With DD (due in 80 days!!) I plan on the same goal - hopefully 6 months but shorter if need be.

GL!

returnhomegnome · February 2012

Ok, so people are all over the map (and, for obvious reasons, sensitive) about beasfeeding or formula being "better" and why, and how it's "all a personal choice". I think the science shows that breasfeeding is better nutrition, but it also clearly shows that this does not affect whether your kid will or will not be a brain surgeon, drop out of highschool, or even walk by 20 months.

Personally I CAN say: breastfeeding is WAY cheaper!

(which is the same reason I cloth-diaper: WAY cheaper!)

Temp915122062503143 · February 2012

I really don't think there is a set amount of time to get benefits from breastfeeding. The longer you do it, the more benefits they get. You should just do it for as long as you can and feel good about what you can do.

I know personally with my first it was very hard. I was going to school so there were times that I would try to pump in a public restroom all nervous and nothing would come out. I stopped after about 12 weeks. However with my 2nd and 3rd, I got better at it and was more relaxed and if I didn't have a private area to go into, I would pump in my car with a nursing cover on- that may be a good option for you as well if you are determined to do it for a set amount of time.

jgal84 · February 2012

I BF'd until 1 week after DD1's first birthday. I am planning on doing the same thing this time around. I also pumped and had quite a stash, so she still had BM until she was 15 months.

adamstodrake · February 2012

DS self weaned at 14 months, so I hope to go at least to a year, if not longer.

Patella1129 · February 2012

As far past a year as she wants to go. DS weaned himself about 2 weeks ago (he is almost 14 months)

And am I wrong in thinking that federal law says that an employer legally HAS to provide time and a place to pump that's not a bathroom for at least 1 year? If BFing is important to you, I would suggest asking HR or your boss about this.

laurakaz13 · February 2012

I wanted to go 6 months, but only made it to 4 exclusively and she was completely weaned by 5 months. It is what worked best for me. I couldn't pump at work and my supply tanked.

I was also really unhappy BFing. It was not something I enjoyed in the least, but I did it for LO's benefit.

salt78 · February 2012

Tambcat:
6 weeks, unless I love it and decide I want to deal with pumping at work.

This. It really depends on how things go with work. I'll definitely be pretty much EPing by the time I go back to work.

Aleja0918 · February 2012

If everything goes according to plan, at least a year. That said, I have no idea what to expect and I know there may be a million reasons why this may not work so I'll take it one day at a time and go from there.

pinksweetpea2 · February 2012

At least a year. I nursed DD for 15 months when she self weaned. It was a really good age for her to wean and at that point I was pretty touched out, so it was win win.

JosF21 · February 2012

Patella1129:
As far past a year as she wants to go. DS weaned himself about 2 weeks ago (he is almost 14 months)
And am I wrong in thinking that federal law says that an employer legally HAS to provide time and a place to pump that's not a bathroom for at least 1 year? If BFing is important to you, I would suggest asking HR or your boss about this.

I believe that only applies to companies that have 50 or more employees

Torani · February 2012

One year. I did just over a year with DS1, and it worked really well. It seems wasteful to buy formula when I can produce what he needs. Even if you can't pump at work, you could always add a session here and there at home (before you leave for work, after the baby goes to bed) and still BF while you are at home. Even if you have to supplement during the day, your baby can still get some of the benefits as long as you care to BF while you are not at work.

kiarstin · February 2012

My goal is 6 months, I don't want to set an unrealistic goal or feel defeated if I can't make it. If I can't even make it a month I will be ok. I am a server and will ask for the shorter shifts, once I get the hang of breastfeeding and pumping I will get longer shifts & during my half our break I will pump in my car.

-why can't people pump at work? Don't you guys get breaks? I mean if you don't want to then I get that but its a total PITA , but, if you really want to then why can't you do it during your lunch break. I am not asking to be a dik either I actually wanted to know b/c maybe I am thinking it will be easier than it is.

annabelle.27 · February 2012

I bf'd my son for 18 months. I'll probably aim for about the same this time around. One year is my minimum goal.

salt78 · February 2012

kiarstin:
My goal is 6 months, I don't want to set an unrealistic goal or feel defeated if I can't make it. If I can't even make it a month I will be ok. I am a server and will ask for the shorter shifts, once I get the hang of breastfeeding and pumping I will get longer shifts & during my half our break I will pump in my car.
-why can't people pump at work? Don't you guys get breaks? I mean if you don't want to then I get that but its a total PITA , but, if you really want to then why can't you do it during your lunch break. I am not asking to be a dik either I actually wanted to know b/c maybe I am thinking it will be easier than it is.

Depends on the day, but as it stands right now, I don't really take a lunch break (I just grab something to eat at my desk). Some days I would pump no problem, and some days would be more of a challenge. The bigger problem is that at most I'm afraid I'd be able to get in only one session and I don't know what that would do to my supply only being able to pump once in an 8.5 hour work day.

FormerlyKrista555 · February 2012

DD weaned herself after I got pregnant. She was 14.5 months old.

My first goal was to make it to 6 weeks.

Then 3 months.

Then 6 months.

Then 1 year.

I was not one who particularly loved breastfeeding, but the longer you go the easier it gets.

mrs+harlow · February 2012

I'm shooting for a year...but trying not to put too man expectations or pressure on it.

laurack · February 2012

As long as is feasible really. I will be back to work after 12 weeks and while my company does have a breastfeeding room that doesn't mean it will be easy. I will already be filled with "career guilt" about being away for so long, worried about my temp being somehow "better than me", trying to prove myself still capable etc. so I'm not sure how easy it will be to just head off 2-3 times per day for a half hour (its far away from me in the building).

Some days I don't take a lunch break anyway, if I have a lot of meetings etc.

Also I sort of forgot about the whole bf-ing thing taking time, and was thinking that when I get back to work I'll use lunch time to go to the gym a couple times a week as there won't really be any other time I can go... so no way I can do that AND do the breastfeeding. Sigh.

Hopefully I can make it work, but I'm not setting myself up for disappointment/feeling like a failure if it doesn't.