How long did you breastfeed you child?

Question

When I have a child I want to breastfeed, I've read the benefits and everything and my minds set. How long did you breastfeed your child?

I don't critisize people who don't do it, everyone has their own opinions. As long as the drs say it's okay and as long as I don't have terrible pain, I will breastfeed for 6months to a yr prob.

I tend to look into my future, I also am thinking I might be prego so I'm goin to the dr this Friday, this is why I'm asking.

Thanks for yau'lls answers! I am choosing to do so on my own-one of yau'll mentioned don't do this because of someone else- I'm not, I just want to get a good outlook on it, it's already what I want to do, I'm just seeing how long is good.

Answer 1

First child, 11-12 months. Weaned due to family pressure, lack of social support.
#2-6 were all nursed about 2 to 2.5 years each. Some overlapped a little when a new baby was born, but were not nursing "full tilt" at that point, so I don't know if I really call it "tandem nursing". They just stopped in for a little reassurance every now and then that they hadn't been totally replaced...

Answer 2

my baby is 7mo and I'm still going. Its not easy at first and doesn't always come naturally. Take a breast feeding class and get a lactation consultant. At the hospital ask to see a lactation consultant ASAP to make sure you are doing everything right. Ask all the nurses to help you with latching on etc. The first few weeks can be pretty painful and frustrating. You baby will be getting up a million times a night and you will be the only one who can feed him or her. It can be tough sitting up at 3am all alone, with painful nipples and worried if your baby is getting enough milk. You need a good support system and someone who has done it that you can call when you have questions (and you WILL have questions)
Set goals for yourself...small ones. "I will breast feed for the first week" then set longer goals. You will be so proud when you get to that goal. Also tell your partner that no matter how tough it is or how much you want to quick you don't want that person to give up on you. Its much harder when your partner is there saying "forget it use formula"
I know I've said how hard it is, but after the first month, it comes so naturally and I love the bonding time with my son. When he latched on 30min after birth it was the most amazing feeling ever. It's so wonderful not having to worry about bottles, mixing or paying for formula. Make sure you do pump some so others can have a chance to bond with baby while feeding.
Good luck....Don't give up...Its so worth it!!!
Good for you for getting informed and planning ahead. More people should be like you!

Answer 3

I started pumping at 2 weeks because my nipples were cracked and bleeding. Pumping took care of the pain but after that, my baby would only drink from a bottle, she wouldn't take it directly from the breast. So I had to pump a lot. I stopped breastfeeding around 4 and a half months because I went back to work and I couldnt pump as much. I dried up. They say breastmilk is the best thing for a baby and they should have it until they're a year old but I really didnt have much of a choice. But she turned out fine-shes only been sick once and shes extremely bright.

Answer 4

I breast fed my daughter for 4 months. I lost my milk after going onto birth control pills or i would have nursed longer. I am pregnant with a boy this time and i would like to nurse him for the first year at least. If you got your mind set on breastfeeding my advice is talk to a lactation consultant they can help you with any problems and give some good tips! The boppy pillow is a mothers best friend! i loved that thing! Also check the la leche leagues website for breastfeeding laws in your state. Plus theres some good tips and advice on that site as well! good luck and congrats!

Answer 5

Basically YOU are the only one who knows what is "right" for your child. My son is 9 months old and he still nurses several times a day and eats his solids at least 3 meals a day with light snacks mid-morning and mid-afternoon and a small one before bed. He began eating solids at 4 months (2 months prior to the recommended 6 month age) because he was born big (almost 9 1/2 pounds) and had already almost doubled his birth weight and was not satisfied on "just" breast milk. You can talk to your pediatrician and make sure that what you want to do for your child is not dangerous and won't cause any real problems, but for the most part they can only tell you what is recommended (though my pediatrician did say to start the rice cereal at 4 months since my son wasn't satisfied on just breast milk). As for pumping/storing breast milk--I have some stored up that's not getting used (and I fear will be wasted as it is fast approaching the "must toss out" date) and I still pump twice a day at work to have milk for his cereal and his bottles for while I'm at work--but I don't pump on the days I'm with him all day. Like I said--you're the one that knows your baby best, so you're the only one (with a pediatrician's guidance at certain times) who knows what is TRULY "best" and "right" for your child!

Answer 6

Three and a half months with the first and going on 6 weeks with the second. I stopped nursing the first because of work I was bottle and breastfeeding and she started to prefer the bottle over the breast but Im proud that I was able to hang in there that long because it is very challenging. It has been said before but I will say it again, why does everyone else care how you feed your baby? Whether you breast or bottle feed is your business. People should not judge someone else based on how they feed their baby, as long as they feed them. I was formula fed in the early 70's where the generation was leaning toward more bottle feeding. I have zero allergies, almost never get sick, and I am a nurse so I am not a dummy. I breastfeed because I believe that the antibodies passed to the baby in the early months can keep you out of alot of doctors offices and hospitals. I don't think that breastfed babies bond better, or are smarter. I think these things are genetic and environmental. Mothers have enough to deal with than to feel guilty about how they feed their baby. In the long run how we raise our kids and if they turn out to be productive citizens is more important. I'm sure alot of criminals were breastfed just as well as some doctors or ministers were bottle fed. Just my TWO cents.

Answer 7

The average earth wide is about 6 years of age.

There are tremendous benefits and I will share what I have noticed in my kids.

I nursed my daughter till she was 2.5 years old. She is very confident and secure, intellegent- people usually assume she is 4 or 5 years older than she is (16) and she is rarely sick. As a child, she never had ear infections AT ALL.

My son, I nursed till he was 3. He is also very secure and confident, people assume he is 3 or 4 years older than he is because he is also very smart and he too has never had an ear infection, and in his whole life, he has been sick once. I attribute all of those things, the emotional security, maturity, and strong immune systems to having breast fed them until they were ready to ween.

Answer 8

I was unable to, due to a breast reduction from many years ago - if you are unable, don't let it get to you, I felt like a terrible mother for a long time, pumped until I'd get half an ounce of blood and still not a drop of milk... everyone treats you like you don't care about your baby, you have to explain all the time, it's very depressing...
If you can, though, good luck, it is the best!

Answer 9

My first child I went to 11 months. With my second I went the full year. With my third I was only able to make it to 4 months, due to work and an inflexible daycare. It's actually so much easier than formula. Just think, no lugging bottles and ice packs everywhere. The breast milk doesn't stain clothes like formula and it's always ready, available and free!! I wish you the best!!

Answer 10

My daughter was born at 4lbs 12oz and couldn't properly latch on even though she was very healthy...so I pumped most of the time...she didn't get any kind of formula until she was 8 weeks old but that was only because I had to stop because of the medicine my doctor put me on. I still pumped breast milk until she was 10 weeks old.