Breast milk no longer good after 1 year??

Question

I've been reading (on Y?) that breastfeeding no longer offers your baby the same benefits after one year of age... does anyone know this to be true? Are there reputable websites saying this?

None of you seem to be understanding my question so maybe I need to clarify. I'm not asking whether or not people should or shouldn't continue to nurse after one year, or whether or not they in fact do continue, I am asking whether the nutrients that are so important to babies are still present and still tailored to babies' needs after one year.

Answer 1

Breastfeeding continues to offer the same benefits as long as you continue to nurse. It's not like the milk turns to water or Kool-aid at 12 months! All the same nutrients and antibodies are still there. Amazingly, the immune factors in breastmilk actually *increase* in concentration during the second year!

Many reputable health organizations (including the AAP, WHO and AAFP) all support nursing beyond a year. 12 mos is the *minimum* time that the AAP suggests nursing and the WHO suggests 2 years as the minimum. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that children weaned before two years of age are at increased risk of illness (AAFP 2001).


"Human milk expressed by mothers who have been lactating for >1 year has significantly increased fat and energy contents, compared with milk expressed by women who have been lactating for shorter periods. During prolonged lactation, the fat energy contribution of breast milk to the infant diet might be significant."
-- Mandel 2005

"Breast milk continues to provide substantial amounts of key nutrients well beyond the first year of life, especially protein, fat, and most vitamins."
-- Dewey 2001

In the second year (12-23 months), 448 mL of breastmilk provides:
29% of energy requirements
43% of protein requirements
36% of calcium requirements
75% of vitamin A requirements
76% of folate requirements
94% of vitamin B12 requirements
60% of vitamin C requirements
-- Dewey 2001

Answer 2

breastmilk continues to have all the benefits it did before, it's not like it suddenly turns to rat poison on their first birthday. Although most of the immunities it can offer have already been passed on, it is still very nutritious. By the time your baby is one however, it should not be the sole or even the primary source of nutrition. They need to be eating a balanced diet with fruit, veggies, meat, dairy, and grains. Breastmilk can defenitely be part of that diet however and there is no reason to stop at the first birthday if breastfeeding still works for you. Think of it like if you were drinking milk, while it is very healthy and a good source of nutrition, you wouldn't want to drink ONLY milk (although I've seen adults survive for over a year drinking milk alone.)

Answer 3

Ever since my son turned one in the beginning of February I have been hearing from everyone and their Mother that I should wean him because "he doesn't need to breastfeed now" or "he needs to be on cow's milk now" or "you're going to make him needy", blah, blah, blah. Even my mother has been pressuring me to give it up in the last month. Mind you she never breastfed any of us but suddenly she's (and everyone else who never breastfed for that matter) an expert.

I am currently taking a health class at the local college as I'm finishing up my prerequisites to get into the local nursing program, and even my teacher (an M.D.) told me that "Now that your son's a year you should wean him". WHY?!

While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for at least a year (and however longer mutually desired) the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for AT LEAST 2 years.

I tried to find articles that state that after 12 months your milk suddenly goes from being nutritious to worthless overnight or that there are NO benefits at all to breastfeeding beyond a year and couldn't find any. Quite the contrary there is much research showing that breastfeeding benefits are dose related. The longer you breastfeed the more beneficial to your young.

Answer 4

Doctors tell you to breastfeed your baby for the first year of life because of the health benefits. I have never heard of a doctor saying not to do it after a year. There are some women who continue to breasfeed for 2-3 years. As long as it's feasible for you and your baby still wants to, keep it going. Just look for signs from your baby that he/she is done breastfeeding. And don't let people make you feel bad for it either. I am tired of people making mothers feel bad for the most natural act in the world

Answer 5

Now that he's one, i does no longer complication with it. He could have cow's milk and that is healthful for him. The breast milk your body is making is proper for a newborn, no longer a one 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous. Your body makes the milk for the age of toddler you're wearing. i could do only what you may to make efficient you breastfeed your new toddler for see you later as achieveable (counseled a minimum of one million 3 hundred and sixty 5 days).

Answer 6

While I disagree with some of their ideas, I do recommend reading the information on La Leche League's website. If I recall, they have links to information supporting extended breastfeeding (okay ... to five years or longer I think is excessive, but...).

They're THE resource for extended (beyond 1 year) breastfeeding, as far as I know.

Answer 7

I think that breastmilk is useful as long as you have it as it offers the same as usual milk does however I do believe that when the child reaches a certain age that breastmilk only is not sufficient as they would need to eat alot more of the 6 food groups.

Answer 8

I've read that your milk changes after 1 year, but not in a bad way, it adapts to what your now toddler needs are verses what your baby's need were. Breastmilk is still very healthy for your toddler.

Answer 9

Not only is that wrong but there are benefits to the women who is breastfeeding the longer she feeds.

Most breastfeeding women have lower risk factors for breast cancer. The longer you feed, the lower your risk factors.

Answer 10

Here is some great info about why to continue breastfeeding after 1 year

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/index.html