If you've ever breastfed, how long did you continue?

Question

Why did you choose to feed for the length of time that you did? Why did you stop when you did? I'm becoming a lactation consultant and am interested in mom's reasons for their choices. Thank you!

Answer 1

I exclusively breastfed for five days. I gave her a bottle on the sixth as I didn't have enough milk (she continued to lose weight after coming home, we did the whole "nurse then weigh"). She continued to mix nursing with a bottle until she pretty much self-weaned from the breast around three months. Since the first week of her life, I've pumped every 2-3 hours and give her what I get (about 10-11oz/day).

By the way, please keep in mind that for some of us it is VERY difficult, and we may not *have* enough milk. I know the percentage is usually accepted as about 1%. Well, that's still a LOT of moms who don't make enough milk. I saw lactation consultants both in and out of the hospital (who said we had a great latch), tried fenugreek, pumping after each feeding, pumping WHILE feeding (the most awkward thing in the world! LOL), oatmeal, compressing while pumping, etc. I've heard people say that if you don't exclusively breastfeed, it's because of selfishness and laziness and "not trying hard enough". Not at all. I would have PREFERRED to exclusively breastfeed, for a host of reasons...convenience, economics, nutrition, but, it just wasn't possible for us.

BTW, Baby Kate will be eight months old on Thursday, and I'm hoping to continue pumping until at least a year. I will stop because pumping is very inconvenient, more so than breast or formula feeding. I have to either be home or have the pump with me every three hours. I MAY pump morning and bedtime for as long as I have any supply, but, if I dry up, so be it. I don't regret the pumping, but, a year is enough of being tied to the pump. Knowing the stats on how few babies get any breastmilk at twelve months, I'm hoping that I'll be able to stop without any guilt.

Answer 2

Good for you! lactation consultant...I wish I had one back then!
I breastfed my first born for one year, 8 month, 16 days and 2 hours...!!It was her pediatrician who told me "breastfeed her on demand"!.Being a new mother I did what I was told and I ended up hating it, suffering and being in house arrest for that long because she would nurse at any time anywhere.I wasn't able to leave anywhere without my child because she did not take the bottle.Stopping it was pain full for both of us.With my second child I took my life in my hands and say "no more" and stopped after 2 month.My second child wasn't that interested on my breast anyways..she preferred the bottle.
After 7 years..I am pregnant again...and I just try to avoid the subject. I do not know what to do. I read that the first 6 month are the most important and after that...the baby uses you as a "toy".But it was so traumatic for me that I really do not know what am I am going to do with this baby that is coming....I know it is important but it was very hard on me on the psychological side.Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I breastfed for 10 months, the first 3 I was only maternity leave. After that I pumped in the bathroom of my clinic during my breaks and drove all the way to daycare during my 1/2 hour lunch, it was really a huge sacrifice and I am glad I did it, but even more glad to be done.

Answer 4

I've breastfed my eldest for a year and 2 months, with some mixed feeding. The 2nd and 3rd were breastfed for more than 3 years, fulltime. My oldest is more sickly than the other 2.

Answer 5

I b/fed my first for about 5 months. He had some minor complications at birth and WOULD NOT EAT...not from a bottle, not from the breast. I pumped and pumped and pumped. I HATED that breast pump. (not bitter though) I fed him using a supplementer at first and then gradually switched over to trying to breast feed and use a bottle w/breastmilk. After returning to work for a couple of months (took 11 weeks off) the pumping morning, noon, and night got to me. I quit waking myself up to pump or feed and my supply dwindled. Then felt like I was pumping for 2 ounces of milk and finally gave up the breastfeeding with him.

My second baby took to the breast immediately - much less pumping. Breastfed for 9 months. I wanted to go a year, but again found that my supply dwindled (that started gradually...after about 6 months I noticed a gradual decline in quantity) and I did not wake him up to eat in the night or me up to feed or pump. I just really wanted to sleep through the night every chance I could after returning to work.

There you go...our life story. Good luck! I'd never have made it as far as I did (esp. the first time) without my lactation consultant.

Answer 6

I breastfed my daughter for 11 months, by which time I was 4 months pregnant with my son, I weaned him about 5 weeks ago when he turned a year old. I fed on demand with both of them for about 3 months and then got them onto a schedule. I exclusively breastfed until 6 months and then introduced solids. When solids were well established I started dropping feedings until they were weaned. I had to fight with my daughter to feed her as long as I did, she wasn't interested at all. I think my son would have gone on for longer, but I was ready to finish and he has never asked for it since!

Answer 7

My son's 8 months and we're still going strong - my deal is that I'll do it for up to a year as long as he's interested because I know it's the absolute healthiest thing for him, plus I enjoy the bonding, it's free, and always ready. And, it comforts him when nothing else will, not the paci, etc., if he's having gas pain or upset. When he got his bottom teeth he started biting me and I almost threw in the towel then, but after one formula bottle I knew I couldn't do it - formula smells weird, and the first ingredient listed on the can is corn syrup solids...how can that be good? He doesn't bite as much now and we're as happy as ever nursing.

Answer 8

I'm still going at 18 months, and I'm due with #2 in early April.

Seems like every time I try to wean her, she gets sick, or starts getting a tooth, or something else comes up. I didn't really intend to nurse her through this entire pregnancy - it has just sort of happened.

She also flips out and wants to nurse all day long if I start telling her "no," so I guess she still needs it badly enough to struggle if I try to stop. It's exhausting, though, being pregnant and nursing. I'm not a fan.

Answer 9

I breastfed all 4 of my children for a year a piece. But with going back to work and at about a year old they are more active I stopped. Also at that point with each child my milk was begining to not meet the demand of my child.

Answer 10

I fed Angel for 18 months.
She has allergies, so rather than risk bad reactions to formula, I only ever gave her my milk.
I stopped because she was losing interest and some nights, just interested in seeing how much of me she could bite off! It was the right time to stop, despite my family thinking I should have stopped a year earlier.
NEVER GIVE IN TO OTHER'S DEMANDS FOR YOU TO STOP- let that be your words of wisdom for your 'clients' if that's the right term...

I would have liked to have continued, and got really sad after I stopped, but as I said, it was the right time and couldn't have carried on.