Extended breastfeeding?

Question

Hello everyone. My name is Karen and I am a 26 year old mom to six beautiful girls ages 7, 6,4,2, and twins are 3 months old,and I am from Texas. I have been breastfeeding each child every day many times a day because after talking with my doctor he has suggested to me that it is fine to breastfeed my children until around ten or twelve years old. I found this interesting thus I have continued breastfeeding each of my children at home on my breast, also through pumping, and in public. I have found the health benefits for my daughters and I to be great, and I was wondering how many other people do something similar? The support team I have from doctors and my family is great. If my children don't want the milk from the breast, I pump and then pour it in a glass. I look forward to your thoughts and I hope to hear from you soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHRyRCHuQ7g

This is not a joke, I am serious. Three separate doctors have explained to me the benefits for the children and myself.

The video is not me at all. I do not have only two kids, and I am a 26 year old gynecologist. I breastfeed at home for the older ones, and the younger ones are pumped in a glass if we are in public. I have three doctors who have agreed with my decision in the pediatric center.

For the last time, this is not a joke. My children eat solid food like every other child, but they drink both breast milk and cows milk.

Answer 1

i think extended breastfeeding is great!

and to those who are calling us moms WIERDOS for breastfeeding past the age of one REALLY f ucking need to get a clue!!!

and no a mother's milk does NOT magically lose its nutrients after a year....so you "hear" that and that somehow makes your statement correct?

i just cannot believe the ignorance of the general populace when it comes to breastfeeding.....i nursed my daugher for more than 2 years and she is extrememly independent, secure, healthy, emotionally mature and she nor do I have any hangups

i just wanna slap some of you ignorant bit ches in this place sometimes

Answer 2

I feel that women who are opposed to extended breastfeeding are uneducated, and therefore, I do not value their opinions nor do I care whether or not they support *MY* decision to breastfeed my son. My son is now 22 months old, he still breastfeeds on demand (from the breast) AND drinks soy milk from a cup as he pleases (hey, he likes it!). I don't force him to breastfeed, but he LOVES LOVES LOVES his mama milk. And I just love how it calms him down when he is distressed, I love how it helps him heal when he is sick. I love the fact that he has only been on antibiotics ONE TIME since he was born. Never had a single ear infection....So yeah, there are definitely benefits. And because of these benefits, I am planning to let him nurse as long as he wants. As for the media, sure they are able to influence women. I don't have a TV and could care less what other people are doing. I live in an area where it is common to breastfeed beyond 2 years, therefore I am not ashamed AT ALL. I think it sucks that extended breastfeeding is viewed so negatively by the media, but that's the way it is. We have to stand up for what we believe, even if what we believe is the unpopular choice WE KNOW its the right thing to do. And so we do it, because it is the best thing for our babies! My son is my first priority, what other people think about how I raise my son is way down the list. We are also a vegan family, and I am sure that plenty of people also have a problem with that, but as long as my son is healthy it does not matter.

Answer 3

How can you possibly be 26 and working as a gynecologist? And I would think that a gynecologist would be able to think for themselves and realize the psycological damage caused by continuing to breastfeed a 7,6,4 and 2 year old. I can not imagine you doing this in public and not having been turned in yet. If you want your older children to continue to have the benefits of breast milk, then I can understand pumping it and giving it to them in a glass. But I can't not even beging to understand you still nursing them. And I can not imagine any team of doctors supporting this extended breastfeeding in any way knowing the psycological damage it is causing.

I am going to assume that this is a joke by some teenage boy that has nothing better to do on summer vacation. It wasn't very smart of you to put in your details that you were a gynecologist at 26 - common now... if you want to put joke questions up here atleast try and get the information close to accurate!

Get of the computer and go play outside!!!!

Answer 4

Well, personally I would not feed a child older than three at the breast. I am sure there are many health benefits to it, as mothers milk is designed for humans where as cows milk is not.
I am currently still breastfeeding my almost one year old daughter, the frequency of her nursing has gone down, but she seems to still need it.
I hope everything works out wonderfully for you.

Answer 5

To each their own. I breastfed my son until he was two...more so because he would not give it up, no matter what I tried. I guess if you're comfortable with it and your kids are. But I'd be careful though, your older girls are getting to the age where their friends might find out and tease them, and that could really affect them. If I were you, I'd concentrate on feeding my twins. They really need the nutrition now and I don't know how the milk can be adjusted to their needs alone if everyone else is drinking it as well. Good luck.

Answer 6

Im fine with the pumping for those above 4.

How though with twins, do you keep the supply up, Id only worry about having to supplement for them, who need it the most.
Plus the time committment, wonder if the quality of your time with them, would outweigh the benefits of the time spent pumping. Although i spose you could multitask.

I have no desire to watch your youtube video though. I see enough breastfeeding each day :)

Answer 7

I am really sorry to burst your bubble, but NO ONE in there right mind would breast feed a child past the age of 1 max I would say, I guess there are weirdos who walk around with their kids hanging on their breasts at age 2 but even then it is really sad. I think you better make sure that your "doctor" is really a doctor. I cant imagine why your children wouldnt want your breast?? THEY ARE FULL GROWN and should be eating solid foods not liquid. Please I hope to goodness this was a joke, could you let us know?

Answer 8

omg! i get really offended by narrow minded bigots! did you know that 8 out 10 women bottle feed in the uk? if they were to breastfeed we would have smarter children, less adhd, less children with allergies and long term health problems, less children with a low iq needing help in schools, less young offenders etc etc etc etc. funny how society has drastically gone down hill since the introduction of formula. if breastfeeding were compulsory we would have less teenage parents because they wont be able to palm their children on to anyone who will have them! i am not against formula but i am against plain stupidity.

Answer 9

Of course there is nothing wrong with it. All the scientific evidence is in your favor! Extended breastfeeding is just a social faux-paux. All those who answered negatively just know nothing about the matter.

Instead of always feeling the need to defend your standpoint, I would ask nay-sayers to defend theirs. What evidence do they have to support their position? We both know . . . NOTHING!!

Answer 10

I can't see what the benefit is to you.
If that chick in the video is you, you do not look 26. Obviously letting that many kids hang off you for so long has aged you terribly.