BFers

Lhand11 · April 2012

I think this may have been discussed before, but, how long do you plan on BFing?

raefre · April 2012

I plan on pumping for 3 months (short-term) and 6 months (long-term). I am still trying to get LO to nurse, which he does successfully most of the time but holy crap my nipples hurt after 15-20 minutes. If I can get it so my nipples stop hurting, I'll probably actually nurse as long as he is willing but still phasing out pumping around 6 months.

(On that note, I've been told the latch looks great but then everything you read says it shouldn't hurt if you are doing it right. It doesn't hurt until after 15 to 20 minutes.)

SoonToBeMsP · April 2012

My goal is 1 year, and then decide from there. No longer than 18 months unless something in my mind changes

namara5532 · April 2012

At least 6 months, but up to a year if things are going well. Any time after that I consider icing on the cake, but I'd probably start actively weaning him if he doesn't self-wean by 18 months. I'd probably be ready to try for #2 by then and don't really want to BF while pregnant.

twigmommy · April 2012

I'm aiming for a year, then after that I can see how DD and I feel about it. DH probably wouldn't be happy, but he will have to deal with less boob time for him.

PsyDr04 · April 2012

Probably about a year if I can.

megaloo27 · April 2012

My goal is six months. From what I've researched, breast milk Has no advantage over formula at this point. (i know some of you will dissagree and that is ok) When she starts eating solids we may switch. I pump exclusively and I'm tired of it.

Ashley&Scott · April 2012

My goal is 1 year, then we'll see.

If things continue as they are I'll have a large freezer stash when I stop bfing, I will continue to give bm until the stash is gone.

michelle_1221 · April 2012

I feel like I've met goal #1, which was 3 months. My next goal is 6 months and my final goal is a year. I go back to work in mid April and am worried I won't be able to pump enough to keep up.

Katie31759 · April 2012

I plan on BFing for a year. We want to ttc next April for #2 and I don't want to be pregnant and breastfeeding.

CharlieTheUnicorn · April 2012

I would have never quit before a year with my others, but BFing Scar has been a huge challenge. She still eats 5-6 hours a day, and my nipples are still sore and cracked. At this point, I feel everyday I make it is a success.

SoonToBeMsP · April 2012

CharlieTheUnicorn:
I would have never quit before a year with my others, but BFing Scar has been a huge challenge. She still eats 5-6 hours a day, and my nipples are still sore and cracked. At this point, I feel everyday I make it is a success.

Have you tried triple nipple cream (APNO)? It was the only thing that helped my nipples heal and now they are good to go.

Lhand11 · April 2012

I have a huge fear of NIP. I guess the longer I nurse correlates to getting over that fear! Any tips to get over that? Just suck it up and feed my baby?-lol

My original goal was 6 weeks. Now it is 6 months. If I can start to feel comfortable NIP I will go until we transition to cow's milk.

shotzie · April 2012

I bf'd DD1 for 16 months. I hope to bf DD2 for at least that long.

shotzie · April 2012

megaloo27:
My goal is six months. From what I've researched, breast milk Has no advantage over formula at this point. (i know some of you will dissagree and that is ok) When she starts eating solids we may switch. I pump exclusively and I'm tired of it.

Where did you read that? Our BM changes to meet LO's needs as they grow. Formula does not do that. I don't see how anyone could say a synthetic, man made product with artificial ingredients is better than the real thing. I sure don't agree with that, but I can see you're not looking for a debate. I'm just curious what your sources are about this.

CharlieTheUnicorn · April 2012

SoonToBeMsP:
CharlieTheUnicorn:
I would have never quit before a year with my others, but BFing Scar has been a huge challenge. She still eats 5-6 hours a day, and my nipples are still sore and cracked. At this point, I feel everyday I make it is a success.
Have you tried triple nipple cream (APNO)? It was the only thing that helped my nipples heal and now they are good to go.

I haven't, I've only used the Lansinoh cream.

pcrock92 · April 2012

AndieD6709:

Originally my goal was to BF until they cut their first teeth, and then pump until a year.

This. But I think he's going to cut a tooth soon, so I think I'm going to TRY to nurse still even after he cuts teeth. If he starts biting then heck no. I'll pump hopefully for about a year. After that I'll switch to regular Vit. D whole milk!

ryry1977 · April 2012

At least a year. I BF DS for 16 month, so I hope to do about the same this time.

julievernarsky · April 2012

CharlieTheUnicorn:
SoonToBeMsP:
CharlieTheUnicorn:
I would have never quit before a year with my others, but BFing Scar has been a huge challenge. She still eats 5-6 hours a day, and my nipples are still sore and cracked. At this point, I feel everyday I make it is a success.
Have you tried triple nipple cream (APNO)? It was the only thing that helped my nipples heal and now they are good to go.
I haven't, I've only used the Lansinoh cream.

I used Nipple Butter and still do.

julievernarsky · April 2012

I haven't really decided. I think every child and situation is different so I never made a goal. I am of the firm belief that we will stop when A tries to get at the boobs herself. I mean knowing to take off the clothes not just effective rooting. I think we'll probably stop when she starts real food.

Jessiree · April 2012

My goal is to nurse her to 6 months and somewhere around that time move to exclusively pumping and get her to a year on breastmilk. She is on track to be over 20 pounds at 6 months and we nurse in only one unusual position due to her gas/spitting up, and I can't imagine wrestling her much past that point!

Huahine · April 2012

julievernarsky:
CharlieTheUnicorn:
SoonToBeMsP:
CharlieTheUnicorn:
I would have never quit before a year with my others, but BFing Scar has been a huge challenge. She still eats 5-6 hours a day, and my nipples are still sore and cracked. At this point, I feel everyday I make it is a success.
Have you tried triple nipple cream (APNO)? It was the only thing that helped my nipples heal and now they are good to go.
I haven't, I've only used the Lansinoh cream.

I used Nipple Butter and still do.

APNO changed my life. Before APNO feelings were toe curlingly painful. After, easy as pie.

APNO is a blend of anti fungal. Antibiotic and ant inflamitory creams. You'll need a script from your dr and it has to be blended at a compounding pharmacy. But it is so, so worth the effort.

Oh, and As to how long we will bf - until his preschool teacher tells me I can't come in for snack time every day.

Lhand11 · April 2012

pcrock92:
AndieD6709:

Originally my goal was to BF until they cut their first teeth, and then pump until a year.

This. But I think he's going to cut a tooth soon, so I think I'm going to TRY to nurse still even after he cuts teeth. If he starts biting then heck no. I'll pump hopefully for about a year. After that I'll switch to regular Vit. D whole milk!

I feel so stupid! I didn't even think about pumping after he gets teeth! Duh!

velveena · April 2012

raefre:
I plan on pumping for 3 months (short-term) and 6 months (long-term). I am still trying to get LO to nurse, which he does successfully most of the time but holy crap my nipples hurt after 15-20 minutes. If I can get it so my nipples stop hurting, I'll probably actually nurse as long as he is willing but still phasing out pumping around 6 months.
(On that note, I've been told the latch looks great but then everything you read says it shouldn't hurt if you are doing it right. It doesn't hurt until after 15 to 20 minutes.)

Me too, exactly!! After reading repeatedly that it shouldn't hurt, I finally found 1 or 2 sources that said that the reality of the situation is that your nipples do go through an adjustment period where they desensitize to the latch. Combine that with my furiously sucking LO, and it has taken 2 months of straight EBF to get better. Even now, I have to use the lanolin on occasion. All I can tell you is that it will get better! See if you can feed your LO when you're less full and he's less hungry, maybe even sleepy. Those were the most successful feedings for me.

My theory is that the pro-bf'ing camp wants you to believe it should be painless so that you are less inclined to quit, and rather to see a light at the end of the tunnel once you fix your latch. I wanted to tell my lactation consultant "Just give me thedirty truth! I swear I won't quit!". I don't think it can be "fixed" for everyone. Some of us just have sensitive nips or voracious LOs, and we just have to get used to it. That being said, don't quit!

velveena · April 2012

Forgot to respond to the op!

8 months of BF, solids at 6ish. Hoping to get a teaching job for Sept, and I don't want to pump at work for many reasons, so that is where 8 comes from. Not sure if I should wean a few weeks before for adjustment purposes.

textbookcase · April 2012

Goal #1 is 1 year, goal #2 is 2 years.

BritanyV · April 2012

My long term goal is always at least 1 year of breastmilk for my kids. However, I break that down into smaller goals. Each month we make it, I feel like we have met another goal.

LO is already trying to cut teeth and dh said to me that I'll probably stop breastfeeding soon...I looked at him like he had two heads! lol Just because he is getting teeth doesn't mean I'm stopping anytime soon!

luckylindy · April 2012

My original goal was 6 months and the reevaluate, but that was pre-baby and before I started having major supply issues (only getting about 1.5oz from both breasts). I've been in turmoil over this for weeks but once Rhys hits 3 months old (April 19th) I'm stopping. I'm sad about it but I just feel it's what's best for us.

Jess084 · April 2012

My goal is 1 year. If I can I will still continue to breastfeed, but may stop pumping at work.

CircleInTheSea · April 2012

I plan on going to at least two years again.

MrsKilduff · April 2012

A year. Until DS is fully transitioned to all foods and cows milk.

masked_rose86 · April 2012

Being as I am nursing twins, I consider each day survived a success. I think I am at re point where it would be harder to bottle feed in a way (except for the fact that I am the only one with the breasts!). That being said, I don't know how I would be getting through these fussy months without the option to allow nursing/comfort sucking to soothe.

My first goal was technically 4 months but in the difficult beginning, it changed to 8 weeks. Made that goal and charging forward to 4 months (short term) and then 6 months (long term). My rate limiting factor will be when they are too big and distractable to tandem. After that I am sort of planning to be ready to return to work in the fall...if so my job really isn't pumping friendly (no way could I get enough breaks to keep supply up) so I would definitely stop at that point. For now it is hit my goals and decide from there :-)

theladyjess · April 2012

Ideally I'd like to go to at least 12-18 months. I never thought BFing would be so hard but I've had nothing but challenge after challenge. I'm still not EBFing because even after herbs, supplements and a prescription for Reglan my supply still isn't where it should be and I'm having to supplement with formula. If I wasn't so determined to make it work I would have given up a long time ago.

VABride2008 · April 2012

At least a year, we'll re-assess after that.

GeekMom · April 2012

As long as DD wants!

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