For breastfeeding moms, how long will you try to keep it up? And STM+, when did you wean your first/others?
After a really rough start to the whole thing, I am so proud we made it to 6 months. I was also freaked out at the thought of breastfeeding a baby with teeth, but now he has a couple...and it doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I love it. My LO isn't a super snuggly type, so breastfeeding is my chance to squish him and mess with his hair, etc.
By law I get 2 hours every work day for pumping until baby is 8 months, so that's my new goal, since I think I'll be able to keep my supply up enough until then. I actually don't pump enough for him to drink 100% breastmilk at daycare. I pump anywhere from 10 oz on a low day to 16 oz on a good day, but he usually gets an extra bottle of formula while he's there too. Anyway, we'll just keep going like this as long as we can! It will be interesting to see how long we make it. According to my mom, I weaned myself at around 10 months...quite early, but apparently I started refusing the breast and was only interested in solids at that point.
Re: Breastfeeding goals
Owen is my last baby, and realizing that I am never going to sit and nurse another cuddly baby after him is making me sad.
With this LO, I'll let her lead the way and wean herself... but if we get past 2 years, I might try to wean her, we'll see.
With my DS I breastfed until a year. He pretty much self weaned right about his birthday. Now with my DD we are going strong at 7 months even though she LOVES solids. I hope to go to at least a year again, and am open to occassional nursing til 18/24 months depending on what she needs.
Hope your supply stays up so you can keep bonding with your babe
For those working, pumping moms how often do you pump at work? I nurse my LO when he wakes up, then pump after 4 hours, 2 hours, then nurse him 4 hours later when I get home, then again before bed. I'm a teacher so I have zero flexibility in when I can pump, unfortunately. I've consistently been pumping around 12-14 ounces during those two sessions and so far it's been enough. How much do you babies eat at daycare? I've only been back to work for 2 weeks so still trying to figure it all out.
@ashton2190: Dang! That's a good milk supply!
4:30am: nurse baby
6:30am: pump at work
9:00am: pump
12:00: pump
3:00pm: pump
6:00pm: pump
8:30pm: nurse baby to sleep (usually nurses for 45 min, eats on both sides).
Sadly, I've been plagued with low pumping output with both my kids. I only pump around 3oz at a time (total, from both sides). She takes four 4oz bottles while I'm away. I work 2 days a week, so I pump in the morning on my days off to make up for being short milk most days.
I dont remember if I said it above, but I stopped pumping at work at 14 months (and LO didn't wean until 22mo). I started dropping sessions at work when she was 12m.
I work 3 days a week and am gone from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. I feed him before I leave in the morning and pump on the other side. I only have to pump twice at work, usually around 10:00 and then again around 4:00. Then I feed him when I get home and put him to bed. I usually get between 20-25 ounces a day
ETA not sure why some of this is in bold
The international *average* age for weaning is 4 years old. Of course, the breastfeeding relationship changes. It may just be something you do before bed at some point. But as a rule, we wean very early in North America.
My first nursed until a couple weeks after her 2nd birthday. I was 6 months pregnant and I think my milk changed, she weaned herself when she didn't like it anymore. Honestly, i was even preparing myself for tandem nursing for when my son came. I worked full time for the first year and pumped, then stayed home once she turned 14 months.
My lil guy has never learned how to drink from a bottle but i stay home with the kids so no big deal. Although i miss normal bras, I'll nurse him as long as he wants to. He's a healthy, big boy who loves nursing with lots of baby fat rolls (9 months, 25 lbs & wears 24 month clothes).
Me and some of my friends who have nursed past 18 months use nursing for more than nutrition. We all use it to put our babies to sleep but they are big believers in comfort nursing. Since I only use it for sleeping, I haven't really nursed in public after they turn 6 months and can eat cheerios if we're out and about, so no one gives me grief about extended nursing. My friends will nurse to calm their baby down, wherever and whenever, so they've had more questions and comments made towards them.