How long did you breastfeed?

[disney*mom*82]

I didnt produce any milk with the first two, not to mention I was too young and still in school, so I didnt BF them. Our third one came along and by then the older two were 8 and 10 and I was staying home with the baby, so I did BF. I HATED it at first and would try to give her a bottle, she wouldnt take it. She was hospitalized several times (for other reasons) and we would try to pump and give bottle, formula, anything, she wouldnt take it. She breastfed unil 18 months, it only took me a few months not to hate it, lol. She never had formula or a bottle. She did start a cup at 5 months since she was having issues with growth, because of heart and lung problems and she took Kid Essentials (like pediasure) through a cup from 5 months up. We were on vacation when she was 18 mo, she only BF at naps at that point and she didnt ask, I didnt offer and that was it, when we returned, she wanted to, but I would just offer her her cup.

I dont think it is anything gross. I use to think so, until I BF. I became comfortable with it, both at home and in public. It is natural, healthy for the baby and mother, and free.

 

[starsweeper]

My first two children came to me by adoption at 4+ months, but my 3rd child I chose not to breastfeed. None of my parents, their siblings, or my cousins were breastfed. We were all very healthy, as are my 3 kids.

 

[Stephaniesue]

I am so excited to see that the highest poll numbers so far are 9 to 12 months and 2 years! Awesome ladies!

I recently stepped down from a Lactation Specialist position with WIC. So I am a HUGE supporter .

I breastfed my daughter for 11 months and my son for 11 1/2. I got pregnant with my son when my daughter was just shy of 10 months. I was told incorrect information by an emergency room doctor and I quit cold turkey with her. I was so sad, and wish I had went longer.

With my son, it was like being in a WWE cage match to breastfeed him towards the end. I got kicked, punched, bit, everything you can imagine. I tried all the tricks and nothing worked. So, I stopped just a couple weeks shy of his first birthday. Again, I regret stopping soon .

Now they are 8 and 6 (soon to be 7), and breastfeeding is a huge topic of converstation at our house. My kids know it's the best, and it is normal to breastfeed. In our home we actually view bottles and formula as abnormal.

I enjoy helping women with breastfeeding concerns- so if anyone has any questions feel free to send them to my inbox!

 

[knitster]

Even over 2 months later he will occasionally ask and I just tell him it's all gone. He has handled it pretty well.

My daughter (whom I nursed for 3 years) asked to nurse every.single.day. for a year (even though I said 'no' every time), finally stopped asking, and then her baby brother came along and she started asking again! Oy!

I recently stepped down from a Lactation Specialist position with WIC. So I am a HUGE supporter .

My WIC Lactation Consultant (along with the hospital grade pump and the SNS provided by WIC) saved my nursing relationship with my youngest. I spent more time than I care to remember crying in her office! And now he's a year old and we're still going strong! Thank you for what you do!

 

[khertz]

I am answering 9-12 months even though DS is only 8 months, because I plan to continue nursing until he turns 1. He seems like he could mostly take it or leave it during the day, so I may end up weaning down to just morning/night in the next couple of months. But I produced a LOT at the beginning, so I have a ton of milk stored in the freezer that could easily last for the next few months if needed. He takes a bottle of pumped milk a few times a day 3 days a week when I work, and he transitions easily between the two for now. But during the day when I'm home, he doesn't nurse long because I'm sure he thinks he is missing out on something exciting. He would much rather feed himself a bottle! I think it will upset me more than it will him. Nursing is part of his bedtime routine, so that one feeding may be a little harder to get rid of.

I started off with the plan of only nursing until he got teeth, but the more I thought about it, the more I just wanted to avoid formula altogether, so I said 1 year when he can switch to whole milk. Even if he is off the breast by 1 year, if I have any stored milk left, he'll continue to get that until it runs out. We had a LOT of problems after he was born, so I'm proud of both of us for lasting as long as we have. He was VERY jaundiced, and it took a long time to get his bilirubin level down. I had to do 24 hours of only formula, then supplemented with formula after nursing for a couple of days, then a week of alternating between nursing and formula with each feeding. Once we got that straightened out, I ended up having 2 surgeries for kidney stones, with a raging spinal headache in between the two. Luckily I had pumped a lot so I had plenty for DS to take from a bottle while I was down. It was difficult to get him back used to nursing after getting that instant satisfaction from the bottle for so long. But just one call to the lactation nurse at the hospital where I work & delivered DS, and we found a technique that worked for us and he has been doing well with it ever since!

 

[knitster]

All of my kids had 2 teeth by 3 months old and at least 8 by a year. 3 months old is way too young to teach "don't bite", so needless to say, I've got quite a few battle scars! lol

 

[3pletprincesses]

I had my triplets at 30weeks and they were 2-3lbs each. I bf them for almost a full year but it was hard at times but I couldn't give up as I felt like I was giving up on them. When we planned our trip to Disney for their 1st b-day, I felt like I needed that vacation just as much as anyone else and decided that breastfeeding triplets while on vacation was too much. I started cutting down bf at 11 months and they finally started to exclusively bottle feed a week shy of their b-day. said like that sounds terrible but really I was at the end of my rope as it was taking too much out of me to bf the 3 of them all the time. I made the best decision considering the situation with lots of guilt but needed to save my sanity.

 

[Stephaniesue]

I had my triplets at 30weeks and they were 2-3lbs each. I bf them for almost a full year but it was hard at times but I couldn't give up as I felt like I was giving up on them. When we planned our trip to Disney for their 1st b-day, I felt like I needed that vacation just as much as anyone else and decided that breastfeeding triplets while on vacation was too much. I started cutting down bf at 11 months and they finally started to exclusively bottle feed a week shy of their b-day. said like that sounds terrible but really I was at the end of my rope as it was taking too much out of me to bf the 3 of them all the time. I made the best decision considering the situation with lots of guilt but needed to save my sanity.

Triplets for almost a year!!! I think you deserve a party woman! You are amazing! Hats off to you!

 

[Stephaniesue]

My daughter (whom I nursed for 3 years) asked to nurse every.single.day. for a year (even though I said 'no' every time), finally stopped asking, and then her baby brother came along and she started asking again! Oy!



My WIC Lactation Consultant (along with the hospital grade pump and the SNS provided by WIC) saved my nursing relationship with my youngest. I spent more time than I care to remember crying in her office! And now he's a year old and we're still going strong! Thank you for what you do!

This makes me so happy to read! Just like you have a special bond with your LC, I do with many of my moms. It's great to help the moms that have a rough time and see them suceed!

 

[SnipsNSnails]

He was VERY jaundiced, and it took a long time to get his bilirubin level down. I had to do 24 hours of only formula, then supplemented with formula after nursing for a couple of days, then a week of alternating between nursing and formula with each feeding. Once we got that straightened out, I ended up having 2 surgeries for kidney stones, with a raging spinal headache in between the two. Luckily I had pumped a lot so I had plenty for DS to take from a bottle while I was down. It was difficult to get him back used to nursing after getting that instant satisfaction from the bottle for so long. But just one call to the lactation nurse at the hospital where I work & delivered DS, and we found a technique that worked for us and he has been doing well with it ever since!

I had a similar situation with my oldest. He was so jaundiced and my milk didn't come in right away, I think due to the c-section when he was 9 days overdue. He was big 8.10 and hungry! We did suplement after giving the breast as each feeding for a couple of months and then he would take formula or breastmilk, breast or bottle, though I almost exclusively bf him, but it was convenient at times. It was all good!

My daughter (whom I nursed for 3 years) asked to nurse every.single.day. for a year (even though I said 'no' every time), finally stopped asking, and then her baby brother came along and she started asking again! Oy!

Yes, in fact we were at my parents last week and he followed my mom into the bathroom where she was changing out of her swimsuit and he looks at her and says, "You have night-night (his word for nursing) for me gamma??" He's trying to figure out to get him some more night-night! I got kicked a few times after I first told him no but since then he'll ask occasionally but doesn't get upset when I say no. It's like he thought he'd just ask, just in case!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

A very very long time.

Let's put it this way...I myself was nursed until I was 4 (mom had to start working and weaned me the second time...and then I started getting sick), and my half-sister (different mom) was weaned kicking and screaming at 5.

My son beat both of us.

You nursed your child until 6 or 7? Really?

 

[knitster]

And another breastfeeding discussion goes down in flames in 5...4...3...2...

 

[Ariel8676]

My longest was 22 months

 

[PrincessSteph]

I breastfed all three of my kids.

DD1 - was never successful, so I had to pump and feed through a bottle. I pumped for 5 months.

DD2 - was breastfed for 13 months

DS - was breastfed for 13 months

 

[Stephaniesue]

You nursed your child until 6 or 7? Really?

In most countries the age of weaning is closer to 6 or 7 years. It's a fairly western concept to wean at younger ages. Just some added info .

 

[Mouse House Mama]

In most countries the age of weaning is closer to 6 or 7 years. It's a fairly western concept to wean at younger ages. Just some added info .

I am aware of it being the norm in some other countries. However in those countries food is not plentiful so it is a matter of health etc. I am a breastfeeding mother but I cannot imagine breastfeeding a first grader. To each their own.

 

[lucigo]

Its awesome to see all of these successful nursers!! I have had 4 children and have spent approximately 11 years of my life nursing a child.

My youngest was 5 when he stopped. He is the one with autism and we needed that bond, and he needed the nutrition. Flame all you want I don't care.

 

[knitster]

Its awesome to see all of these successful nursers!! I have had 4 children and have spent approximately 11 years of my life nursing a child.

My youngest was 5 when he stopped. He is the one with autism and we needed that bond, and he needed the nutrition. Flame all you want I don't care.

Good for you!! As the W.H.O. says, nursing should be continued as long as it is beneficial to both mother and child.

 

[CandleontheWater]

I nursed my DS until he was about 14 months. He self weaned, and while I was sad that it was over, he was more than ready. My goal was to make it to a year, and I was happy we made it and then some.

I'm really happy to see so many breastfeeding mamas, and extended nursers on this thread! Way to go!

 

[tiffjoy]

My youngest was 5 when he stopped. He is the one with autism and we needed that bond, and he needed the nutrition. Flame all you want I don't care.

My daughter is 22 months and still going strong. In those early days, I thought we wouldn't last six weeks. I'm so thankful for a supportive husband who encouraged me when I wanted to stick with it. It has been the most beautiful piece of our relationship, and I know it has been emotionally beneficial to her, not just nutritionally.

While I intended to wean at one, and then at two, I have now decided to allow the process to be very slow. I spent two years building an incredible bond, and I have no intention of damaging that relationship because some people frown on nursing past a certain age. My daughter is very attached to her na-nas, and forced weaning would put undue and unnecessary stress on her.

So glad to see so many nursing mamas! Whether it be for a week, a month, a year, or five years, it's an incredible thing.