I'm breastfeeding my four week old baby son and I hope to continue breastfeeding him until 6 months as is recommended, although almost everyone I know who breastfed gave up before then.
Anyone continue for 6 months or longer? I want some inspiration!
2006-12-27 05:21:45 · 44 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Good to hear breastfed babies don't get colds, infections and the like. I've noticed that my son hasn't had colic or gripe or anything that babies are supposed to get - yet! Hopefully thats the breastfeeding doing its job!
2006-12-27 07:13:14 · update #1
I continued for 9 months, although it became a lot less necessary after six months (3-4 times a day).
I only gave up because I had to: bronchitis meant I then had little milk and my baby had such a cold he could not breathe and feed so he ended up biting in frustration! I would have carried on for longer, probably 12 months, otherwise...
An evening feed at bedtime is nice to continue because it also reinforces the calm, loving closeness that you both need before sleeping.
2006-12-27 06:11:25 · answer #1 · answered by Nini 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I breastfed my oldest for 15 months, my twins for 9 months and I'm currently breastfeeding my 3 month old son. I'm going to try to nurse him for a year but he's a lot bigger than all my girls so I may have to supplement with formula. I hope I have given you a little inspiration to keep up the good work.
2006-12-27 08:23:17 · answer #2 · answered by Rae 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! I have...I have 5 Children & breastfed the 3 youngest...my 2 youngest Sons I breastfed for 3 months...because of illness I had to give up.....I cried when my time feeding them was cut short.
I breast fed my now 22 yr old daughter though til she was 9.5 months...funny thing is I actually missed her more than she did me when it came to a stop. I missed the together time we had...but I began to think I'd have this permanent growth on the end of my Boob if I didn't bring it to a halt. She was using me as a dummy (pacifier) LOL.
Stick with it Sweetie...it's worth every minute...but like most things there will be days when you wish you hadn't started...just don't give up. You won't regret it & you're giving your Baby the best start ever...It doe's take some sticking power at times because we don't live in a society that caters for it as easily as bottle feeding & at times it can seem so inconvenient.
I'm glad I stuck with it. They're so much healthier than my Sister's Kids & have grown into strong Men & Women...my Sister's kids all look ill & pasty even now...It's a joke in our familt that I'm the only one that gave birth to BIG MEN...not ones that look like 13 yr olds.
Good luck...& enjoy your Baby, they grow up so quickly
I had a friend that breastfed her little Boy til he was 3.5 YRS OLD
NOOOOOOO! I wouldn't go that far I'm afraid...LOL
2006-12-28 00:47:09 · answer #3 · answered by Funky 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
6 months on New Years day! I have no plans on stopping, just on gradually weaning my daughter onto solids and drinking from a cup or beaker.
Keep going, your just about to see light at the end of the tunnel. I remember the first 6 weeks or so being tough, with painful, long and frequent feeds. Then all of a sudden, you both get the hang of it, it stops hurting, you start to enjoy the closeness and not having to wash, sterilise, prepare and carry bottles like all your friends. You'll probably still feed more frequently than the bottle-feeding mums, but its so much nicer you won't mind! And in another month or 2, as he gets the hang of it even more, his feeds will start to be quicker too!
You are definitely doing the best for your son, as well as for yourself - my daughter has had hardly a sniffle, and though small is perfectly formed and ahead of the game, and I could get my jeans back on at 4 1/2 weeks, whereas bottlefeeding mums were squeezing into theirs at 4 months!
I hope your HV is more supportive than mine, who just looks surprised everytime she realises that someone is breastfeeding past past the first month or two! See if there any support groups in your area (your HV should know) if you would like to meet people in your situation. I tried a couple, its not for me, but you might make some good friends. These groups are a good source of info though...
Best of luck, try to enjoy the experience, and continue as long as suits you both.
2006-12-27 06:51:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gosh, I must disagree with "Celebrate Me Home." Nursing past one year old is not "just a love fest" it is recommended by the AAP! "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child."
As you may have guessed, I have nursed my son longer than one year. He'll be 19 months in a few days and he still nurses at night to fall asleep. It wasn't always easy, but I strongly felt that it was the best thing for my son. By the way, he has never had any serious health problems, and just had his first (minor) ear infection about a week ago. My niece (who was not nursed and is about the same age) has had several ear infections, colds, viruses, flus, etc.
2006-12-27 06:33:51 · answer #5 · answered by Lucie 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I went for 6 months it just takes dedication. I actually wished I'd done it for longer because it is so much easier to take the baby out of the cradle and latch him or her on. Formula you have to get out of bed and get the water right and measure the powder and misx it and then go back to bed. If I ever have any more children I will breast feed them for a year.
For another inspirational story a friend of my mom's had her son prematurely by almost 3 months. They nurses told her that they would give him her breast milk but they would have to supplment because there was no way she'd be able to produce enough milk. Well she did and her son had her breast milk from the start no formula or supplements at all untill he was about a year old.
2006-12-27 05:47:25 · answer #6 · answered by WINGS 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My baby is almost 10 months old, and he is still almost exclusively breastfed, and by that I mean he often will not eat solids, he isn't interested. So it is all momma milk for him.
It will get a lot easier around 6 weeks, I promise!
As things change there will be periods when it is easier, and periods where it is harder. I have nursed through a bitten nipple that just wouldn't heal and have nursed through pain. Breastfeeding wasn't easy at the start for me, I hope it was easier for you. But we worked it out. My baby was 8lbs at birth, 20lbs at 4 months, and 26 months at 8 months. He is a big healthy boy! Usually if I get a cold, he doesn't!
My baby still eats about ever 3 hours, night and day (Though some babies at this age only eat 5 times a day *lol* So don't assume yours will be like mine, though it isn't unheard of). But you know what, it isn't a big deal. We co-sleep and during the day it is nice to have those periods to just cuddle. Yesterday I even breastfed him while buying a washer/dryer!
Just stick with it! You will do great. My e-mail and IM are available if you want to talk. Also join your local La Leche League so you don't feel like you are all alone:
http://www.llli.org
2006-12-27 05:34:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
I breastfed my first until she weaned herself (caused my my unconscious efforts) at 10 months. My second, who is currently 8 months, I plan to breastfeed until he wants to stop, but probably not longer than 4 years of age! It does get better. With my first, I almost quit 5 times within the first 6 months. But I kept trying and finally got the wim. It will get better and easier the longer you do it!
2006-12-27 06:58:07 · answer #8 · answered by Sunshine Swirl 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I breastfed for 12 months I would probably have continued for a bit longer but I got pregnant and wanted to stop for that reason. I think if you're going to breastfeed then 12 months (at least)is best as its pretty easy still to stop at 12 months and it means you won't have to introduce formula milk which is an added hassle. Plus its good for them!
2006-12-27 05:30:05 · answer #9 · answered by cigaro19 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I breastfed on my mother for 10 or 11 months. My sister breastfed for 17 months.
2006-12-27 05:23:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋