how long should u breastfeed for?

Question

well really I just wanted to know I have been breastfeeding for 6 weeks now I don't pump because it hurts too much. I don't mind breastfeeding on my nipple cause it doesn't hurt at all. So I just wanted to see how long others did so I know what the normal time is to stop!!! thankx to everyone

Answer 1

Every single drop of breastmilk that you can give your baby is a huge benefit to both of you. The longer you breastfeed, the more benefits to both mom and baby.

You're just now getting past the hardest part. The first 6 weeks are the toughest because both of you are learning something new and because the baby has so many growth spurts close together in that time. (10 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 6 weeks.) Your next growth spurt will be at 3 months. Somewhere between now and then your little one will probably begin to develop some predictable routines about when he wants to eat and sleep and things will be much easier.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends nursing *at least* 12 months and thereafter as long as mutually desired by mom and baby. UNICEF and WHO recommend *at least* 2 years.

Mine have all been nursed well beyond 12 months. To me, there were too many benefits to stop any sooner.

From an essay by Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC -

Breastfeeding your baby for even a day is the best baby gift you can give. Breastfeeding is almost always the best choice for your baby. If it doesn't seem like the best choice for you right now, these guidelines may help.

IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR JUST A FEW DAYS, he will have received your colostrum, or early milk. By providing antibodies and the food his brand-new body expects, nursing gives your baby his first - and easiest - "immunization" and helps get his digestive system going smoothly. Breastfeeding is how your baby expects to start, and helps your own body recover from the birth. Why not use your time in the hospital to prepare your baby for life through the gift of nursing?

IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR FOUR TO SIX WEEKS, you will have eased him through the most critical part of his infancy. Newborns who are not breastfed are much more likely to get sick or be hospitalized, and have many more digestive problems than breastfed babies. After 4 to 6 weeks, you'll probably have worked through any early nursing concerns, too. Make a serious goal of nursing for a month, call La Leche League or a Lactation Consultant if you have any questions, and you'll be in a better position to decide whether continued breastfeeding is for you.

IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 3 OR 4 MONTHS, her digestive system will have matured a great deal, and she will be much better able to tolerate the foreign substances in commercial formulas. If there is a family history of allergies, though, you will greatly reduce her risk by waiting a few more months before adding anything at all to her diet of breastmilk. And giving nothing but your milk for the first four months gives strong protection against ear infections for a whole year.

IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 6 MONTHS, she will be much less likely to suffer an allergic reaction to formula or other foods. At this point, her body is probably ready to tackle some other foods, whether or not you wean. Nursing for at least 6 months helps ensure better health throughout your baby's first year of life, and reduces your own risk of breast cancer. Nursing for 6 months or more may greatly reduce your little one's risk of ear infections and childhood cancers. And exclusive, frequent breastfeeding during the first 6 months, if your periods have not returned, provides 98% effective contraception.

IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 9 MONTHS, you will have seen him through the fastest and most important brain and body development of his life on the food that was designed for him - your milk. You may even notice that he is more alert and more active than babies who did not have the benefit of their mother's milk. Weaning may be fairly easy at this age... but then, so is nursing! If you want to avoid weaning this early, be sure you've been available to nurse for comfort as well as just for food.

IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR A YEAR, you can avoid the expense and bother of formula. Her one-year-old body can probably handle most of the table foods your family enjoys. Many of the health benefits this year of nursing has given your child will last her whole life. She will have a stronger immune system, for instance, and will be much less likely to need orthodontia or speech therapy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for at least a year, to help ensure normal nutrition and health for your baby.

IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 18 MONTHS, you will have continued to provide your baby's normal nutrition and protection against illness at a time when illness is common in other babies. Your baby is probably well started on table foods, too. He has had time to form a solid bond with you - a healthy starting point for his growing independence. And he is old enough that you and he can work together on the weaning process, at a pace that he can handle. A former U.S. Surgeon General said, "it is the lucky baby... that nurses to age two."

IF YOUR CHILD WEANS WHEN SHE IS READY, you can feel confident that you have met your baby's physical and emotional needs in a very normal, healthy way. In cultures where there is no pressure to wean, children tend to nurse for at least two years. The World Health Organization and UNICEF strongly encourage breastfeeding through toddlerhood: "Breastmilk is an important source of energy and protein, and helps to protect against disease during the child's second year of life."* Our biology seems geared to a weaning age of between 2 1/2 and 7 years**, and it just makes sense to build our children's bones from the milk that was designed to build them. Your milk provides antibodies and other protective substances as long as you continue nursing, and families of nursing toddlers often find that their medical bills are lower than their neighbors' for years to come. Mothers who have nursed longterm have a still lower risk of developing breast cancer. Children who were nursed longterm tend to be very secure, and are less likely to suck their thumbs or carry a blanket. Nursing can help ease both of you through the tears, tantrums, and tumbles that come with early childhood, and helps ensure that any illnesses are milder and easier to deal with. It's an all-purpose mothering tool you won't want to be without! Don't worry that your child will nurse forever. All children stop eventually, no matter what you do, and there are more nursing toddlers around than you might guess.

WHETHER YOU NURSE FOR A DAY OR FOR SEVERAL YEARS, the decision to nurse your child is one you need never regret. And whenever weaning takes place, remember that it is a big step for both of you. If you choose to wean before your child is ready, be sure to do it gradually, and with love.

Answer 2

My dr told me when I nursed my first daughter that if I couldn't give her but just 6 weeks, I was still doing her a lot of good. I nursed her for 9 months and she was never sick till after I stopped nursing her and she got her first cold. She is a strong and healthy 32 year old now. My 2nd daughter was nursed for only 2 months but got just as much from being nursed as my 1st daughter. She too is a healthy person and expecting her 2nd baby in Oct.
Just do it as long as you feel that you can and are comfortable. Every day nursed is a day toward good health for the baby (or so I am told). You have to be the judge of how long you want to nurse. I know some that nursed their children for a year. It is a good bonding time for Mother and child.

Answer 3

You should breastfeed for as long as you and you and your baby want to . My first born wanted to feed for nine months then lost all interest and started drinking from a sippy cup. My second fed for about 18 months and then went straight to a normal cup, but my third was four before he would give up the breast completely. Some people think this is gross but I was not feeding him in public this was just a comfort thing for him and me and you know what? he is now a 26 year old bank manager and if he knew that I was making this public he would die of embarassment. So there you go, three sides of the story

Answer 4

I think the American Academy of Pediatrics & FDA recommend 6 months all the way up to 12 months if it's desired by both mom & baby. But, any breast milk you can give your child is better than nothing. If you can only breastfeed for 2 weeks or 2 months, try it. Don't feel bad if you dont want to or can not nurse for 6 months. Consult your doctor and do what works best for you.

Answer 5

You should breastfeed for as long as you and your baby are both enjoying it. For most nursing pairs that is two years or more! Most moms who wean the baby before then are doing so out of pressure from other people. The worldwide average is 4.2 years!!! That includes all the Americans who give up at the first little problem, or worse yet, don't try at all. Be honest with your own feelings about it and don't listen to anyone else. If you want to nurse that baby until it's in kindergarten....go right ahead!

Answer 6

Ideally, you should breastfeed until both you and the baby are ready to stop. It isn't always the case that baby and mother are done at the same time, but that is the best. The World Health Organization recommends nursing for *at least* 2 years.

Answer 7

There isnt really a "normal" time to stop - it's whatever you are comfortable with. The american academy of pediatrics recommends nursing for ATLEAST a year and the world health organization recommends atleast 2 years. Breastmilk is very healthy for your baby - builds their immune systems, lowers the risk of gastrointestinal problems (gas, diarhea, constipation, fussiness), they get sick less often, have less risk of SIDS, childhood leukemia, ear infections, and other infections, they also have faster brain and eye development, better anxiety management and higher IQs, so the longer you nurse, the better it is for your baby. I would nurse your baby as long as you can or until the baby self weans.

Answer 8

It is best to breastfeed your baby for the first year of his or her life. However, if that is not possible for some reason, any amount of time breastfeeding is better than none at all.

Answer 9

Start weaning at 12 months. My son nursed for 16 months, with the last feeding being right in the morning.

Answer 10

I have been told its best for at least one year, but this website has everything you need to know about every aspect of breastfeeding. If they don't you can ask a question. Hope this helps!

Answer 11

I breastfed my son exclusively until he was 6 months old and I am still bfing him occasionally at 26 months.
It is recommended to bf exclusively until 6 months and continue until 12 months. There is no recommended quitting time after that unless you are listening to all those who tell you that after 12 months it is just disgusting.