How long should I breastfeed with babygirl?

Question

So far she was been breastfeed 4 2wks. I don't wanna stop. Just wanna know how long I should.

Answer 1

keep it up and if anyone is suggesting you give up tell them to mind their own business. have a look at the group called 'milk_drunk' they are a great source and inspiration. give it a go and hope to see you there.

Answer 2

There is no age at which breastfeeding stops being beneficial for the baby or the mother.

Almost all health agencies (World Health Organization, UNICEF, American Academy of Family Physicians, Health Canada, etc) recommend breastfeeding for a minimum of two years. Notable exceptions are the American Pediatric Society and the Canadian Pediatric Society.

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html
And on and on. The minimum predicted age for a natural age of weaning in humans is 2.5 years, with a maximum of 7.0 years.

In terms of the benefits of extended breastfeeding, there have been a number of studies comparing breastfed and bottlefed babies in terms of the frequency of various diseases, and also IQ achievement. In every case, the breastfed babies had lower risk of disease and higher IQs than the bottle-fed babies. In those studies that divided breastfed babies into categories based on length of breastfeeding, the babies breastfed the longest did better in terms of both lower disease and higher IQ. In other words, if the categories were 0-6 months of breastfeeding, 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18-24+ months, then the 18-24+ month babies did the best, and the 12-18 month babies did the next best, and the 6-12 months babies did the next best, and the 0-6 months babies did the worst of the breastfed groups, but still much better than the bottlefeeding group. This has been shown for gastrointestinal illness, upper respiratory illness, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, heart disease, and on and on and on. Likewise, the babies nursed the longest scored the highest on the IQ tests. One important point to notice is that none of these studies looked at children who had nursed longer than 2 years. Anyone 18-24 month or longer was lumped into big category. Presumably, the benefits continue to accrue, as your body doesn't *know* that the baby has bad a birth day and suddenly start producing nutritionally and immunologically worthless milk.

However, no one has yet proved, either way, that the benefits of breastfeeding either continue or stop at two years of age, because the appropriate studies have not been done. The trend during the first two years is clearly for continuing benefits the longer you nurse. Clearly the phenomenon of dimishing returns is at work here -- the first six months of breastfeeding are clearly much more important in terms of the baby's nutrition and immunological development than the six months from 3.5 to 4.0 years. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't continue to provide breast milk if your baby wants and you don't mind. It would be like saying, "Well Mabel, we don't get very much income from that oil well anymore. Used to get $56 a month in royalties, now we're lucky if we get $25 a year. Guess we should tell that oil company just to keep their durn money." And Mabel says, in return "Good grief, Clyde, don't be ridiculous. That check still buys $25 worth of food. Where has your mind gone to now?"


American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/policies/b/breastfeedingpositionpaper.html
If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned

American Academy of Pediatricians
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496
# Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother, especially in delaying return of fertility (thereby promoting optimal intervals between births).196
# There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer.197
# Infants weaned before 12 months of age should not receive cow's milk but should receive iron-fortified infant formula.

Extended Breastfeeding Fact Sheet
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

Answer 3

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to 1 year, the W.H.O. recommends at least to 1 year but recommends to 2 years. But you need to be comfortable too. I personally believe longer nursing is better, but sometimes kids also get it in their head they're done earlier (like at 12 months), and sometimes moms find it to take too much (like having to be with the kid every day or pumping). I plan on nursing my youngest to at least 2 years, but we'll cut it off before we try for another.

Answer 4

As long as you and baby want!

It really is amazing isn't it?

Make small goals for yourself. Make it to 6 months, then 12 months, then 18 months, and so on. We do child-led weaning so my first weaned himself at 2.5 years.

The point is, listen to your heart and nurse as long as you both want. It's always healthy for you and baby--did you know that the longer you nurse the lower your chances of getting breast and ovarian cancers? Not to mention, the longer you nurse a child the healthier they are, the fewer allergies, and the higher IQ. Healthy, free, warm, loving, nursing is awesome!

Answer 5

I would breastfeed for at least 6 months to a year. You can do it as long as you like. Depending on you and your baby.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Answer 6

The world health organization recommend nursing your baby until its two and half or until she self weans.

I nursed my daughter just past her first birthday, she self weaned. I nursed my son till he was 2 1/2

My kids are very healthy and have never had an ear infection or anything other than the sniffles.

Answer 7

Its best to breastfeed for the first year. The longer the better. She'll get sick less, have better nutrients, less issues with digestion, and just over all be healthier.

Answer 8

As long as you possible can. Go for a year and once you get there do it until the baby wants to stop herself.

Answer 9

As long as you and your baby want. Their are always advantages. I nursed my daughter for 4 years. My son weaned himself after 3.

Answer 10

Go to La Leche League's website, and find your local chapter. They are the world's experts in breastfeeding. I know a woman who breastfed her son until he stopped asking for it at 7. Of course, it was part time once he started eating food.

http://www.lalecheleague.org

Answer 11

As long as you like! The world health org recommends you do it for 2 years, I don't think most people make it that far though...