How long does a women breastfeed?

Question

How long does a women have milk in her breasts after she gives birth?

Answer 1

As long as she keeps nursing, she'll keep making milk. It's all about supply and demand.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing *at least* 12 months.

The World Health Organization recommends nursing *at least* 2 years.

Some mothers nurse much shorter periods of time and some go even longer, even allowing the child to self-wean when they are ready. Every single drop of breastmilk is a benefit to mother and child.

Answer 2

Well, you have posted 2 different questions. The answer to the first question is that most American women only breastfeed for 6-12 months. I have been breastfeeding my baby for a year and a half. The world average is more like 2 years.

The second question - how long do you have milk in your breasts - depends on if you choose to breastfeed or not. If you do, you will have milk in your breasts for as long as you keep breastfeeding, although the supply may diminish for different reasons, like if you are underweight or sick, or just not feeding often enough.

If you choose not to breastfeed, or lose the baby, or only breastfeed for a little while, it can take months for all the milk to completely go away.

Answer 3

You produce breast milk as long as there is a demand. If you don't breastfeed then I would say like a week or so. I am breastfeeding my 10 month old and there are woman that breastfeed for a long time.

Answer 4

A woman breastfeeds for as long as she has milk and is comfortable with it. I was only able to breastfeed my daughter for 2 1/2 months, but went 5 1/2 months with my son. However, if you do breastfeed, stay away from sudafed - it will dry up you milk.

Answer 5

As long as you breastfeed regularly, your millk supply will always get replenished so it basically means you can breastfeed until your child is quite old. But there are several reasons for not doing it: 1. After the first year children need more nutritious food than breastmilk, 2. It becomes a bother for you, you might need that extra time to do something else, 3. Your body needs to restore all those nutrients and minerals that it put into producing all that milk, 4. It's a weird sight to have a 3 or 4-year-old pull your skirt and ask you for a sip.

Answer 6

Immediately. The milk is present even before giving birth. You'll have colostrum for the first few days... then the milk comes in around day 4 or 5. As long as you take milk out of the breast, it will continue to make milk.

Answer 7

A women will have breastmilk for as long as she is breastfeeding.... maybe sometimes up to 5 years after baby is born if you still breastfeed..... when you stop breastfeeding your breast will start to loose milk because your brain tells your breast that no one is taking it so it stops producing milk... good luck

Answer 8

A woman's breasts produce milk as long as their is a "demand" for it (e.i. a baby suckling on the nipple). The worldwide average for breastfeeding a baby/toddler is 3.5 to 4 years. Research has shown that AT LEAST 2.5 years of breastfeeding should take place and up to seven years a child's body is programmed to receive breastmilk.

Any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial, and the longer the better!!

Answer 9

The person above me is WRONG! Breastfeeding does not make your breast sag. Pregnancy makes your breast sag. The benefits of breastfeeding are excellent for both you and the baby. For one thing, it lowers your risk of breast cancer.

But to answer your question: Generally, around one year is best. But it is not possible for all women. A woman will produce milk as long as she continues to nurse. You can even bottle feed for some feedings and your body will adjust to make milk for the feedings that you breastfeed.

Answer 10

You can breastfeed as long as you like. It is supply and demand so as long as you nurse you will have milk. If you choose not to breastfeed it can take days to weeks for a milk supply to dry up.