How long did you breast feed for?

[DlkinVegas]

18 months waaay past when I wanted to stop. If there is a next time I definitely wont BF that long.

[sarahsar]

20 months with my first. 9 days (so far) with my second.

My plan with my first was to make it to a year. I went back to work when she was 9 weeks old, and pumped for that whole first year, which was not a lot of fun. I am sort of dreading doing that again, but that is the plan so far. In terms of weaning, I just decided to see how it went, and wean when one or the other of us was ready. I really thought she would wean at about 14 months, when I was away from her for a couple of days on a trip, but she picked right back up where she left off when I got back.

The last few months were more "social" nursing I would say, though. Just once or twice a day and not every day.

To the OP - you should feel good about however much breastfeeding you managed to do. It's still beneficial. And I would second whoever said breastfeeding is a learned art. If it hadn't been for some determined lactation consultants with my first, I'm not sure I could have done it. We had a rough start. Breastfeeding may be "natural," but most of us aren't in a setting where we have lots of other women around who have done it to show us things and give us advice and encouragement.

[Kristen]

With my 6yr old I breastfed her for 20 months. And ive been breastfeeding my 3month old since she has been born. I plan to go as long as I did with my first

[kimberf]

Originally Posted by Lululapell

I absolutely agree. But.... I think that instead of just telling people right off the bat, "Oh, it's okay to give up", I would suggest alternatives as well. Like making sure you get the lactation consultant to come into your hospital room every day while you are there so she can help you with latching on and angles. We tend to forget (or at least I did) that BFing is an art, a learned art, and not something that comes naturally. Not sure why that is, but with all the moms I've dealt with, I have yet to have one that got it the first time and never had issues or questions. The other big issue is lack of milk, or what we percieve as too little milk. I always recommend turkey and apple juice as a booster. As well as keeping up an ample supply of water. Oh, and I know I lived on Purple Thistle Teas pre-baby and then post. They helped with milk flow and general mindset. I always get a backet of these for expectant moms (and still use the Postpartum tea for me - my youngest is 6) http://www.albuquerquehomebirth.com/TEA.html

I totally agree that it's a learned art. I just don't think there are many people these days telling women that it IS ok to give up, at any point, and I know a lot of women who beat themselves up over it, which it sounds like OP is doing.

I think it's absolutely necessary to get good help from a lactation consultant (or two or three, even), and to be aware that it's hard for almost everyone but generally gets better, and that there are lots of things you can try (galactogogues, supplements, pumps, nipple shields, SNS, etc). But I think that a lot of women, at least those I know, get a lot of unsolicited advice and pressure, even from total strangers. If you've tried everything you feel capable of or willing to try, and you want to stop, then it's the right decision for you, and it's not anyone else's place to criticize you for it.

[artjen]

9 months. Stopped because of working more hours and convenience of formula. I felt that 9 months was good. It wasn't solely nursing by then, probably about half formula and half nursing.

[lara0112]

12 months with number 1, and i hope to manage the same with this one, although now I have to pump and it is HARD. I have started feeding solids now (4 months) and when I manage to replace one meal with solids I think it will be easier. although I am deadset against formula, I occassionally overcome 'dry spells' with it because what can you do...., you pump until nothing is left to manage the day but at the same time your baby is hungry. sometimes I honestly feel so desperate, which never happened with my son since I was working from home then.

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

Wow! Solids at 4 months? Are you in the USA?

[twinkle.tink]

Originally Posted by Swanky Mama Of Three

Wow! Solids at 4 months? Are you in the USA?

4 months was when I started solid for my kids too....I know the norm is 6 months now, but when I had my first it was 4 months....and it always worked well, so I will probably do that again.

[DlkinVegas]

I dont think she is.?

You dont have to wait until 6 months although it is encouraged. I understand they changed it due to food allergies, the obesity problem etc. but chances are if your kiddo is allergic to say peas at 4 months most likely he/she will be allergic at 6 months & likewise.

[ChristyR143]

Shoot, my mother had me on solids when I was 4 WEEKS old and wanted to know why I wasn't doing the same! (At the same time, she also took me off of formula and put me on 2% milk per her doctors instructions, since I was a "fat" baby - can you believe that???). I told her things had changed just a little, LOL.

[lanasyogamama]

I waited until 6 months too. Mostly because I was BF'ing, but also because feeding solids is a lot of work!

[twinkle.tink]

Originally Posted by ChristyR143

Shoot, my mother had me on solids when I was 4 WEEKS old and wanted to know why I wasn't doing the same! (At the same time, she also took me off of formula and put me on 2% milk per her doctors instructions, since I was a "fat" baby - can you believe that???). I told her things had changed just a little, LOL.

, isn't that the truth! Sometimes, I wonder if they really know...so much has changed between all my kids, since they are spread so far apart.

[sedmackay]

My first baby I didn't b/f at all! Didn't think I 'could' do it! My second dd I b/f for 14 months and weaned because I needed 'me' back! My ds I b/f for 13 months (was pg and HAD to wean d/t sore nipps! omg!). My last dd had many issues, and so she b/f the longest, 25 months! She self weaned, with a 'tiny' bit of help from me!

I've covered everything almost!

Jen

edited to add that b/fing is natural in only two ways... breasts make milk and babies drink milk! Otherwise, it's a learned activity, and it's not easy! There are so many roadblocks that can get in the way! I say get help immediately if you start having a problem, not when your nipples are bleeding and hanging on by a thread!

[kimberf]

Originally Posted by twinkle.tink

4 months was when I started solid for my kids too....I know the norm is 6 months now, but when I had my first it was 4 months....and it always worked well, so I will probably do that again.

My pediatrician was fine with it anytime between 4-6 months. He said we might as well wait till 6 since DS wasn't a big eater, but that I could feel free to start experimenting any time after 4 if I felt like it. We tried cereal a 3-4 times after 5 mos., and waited till after 6 to really start.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition actually recommends starting cereal between 4-6 months, though this is contradicted by their Committee on Breastfeeding. There have been some studies showing that if you wait until after 6 months to introduce cereal, there's a higher risk that your child may have a wheat allergy. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/533897

[ChristyR143]

^ To add to that, when I was nursing my first son I had many friends who were extremely zealous about nursing and not introducing solids until much much later (think closer to a year) and I can tell you that every single one of them had a terrible time trying to get their babies to take solids.