Breastfeeding Past a Year

[BabiesEverywhere]

Next week my DD will turn one year old and hence I will have been nursing her for a year also.

Originally I was hopeing to get to the six month mark, as we had a terrible first month of breastfeeding problems but by the second month we both got the hang of it and nursing became a positive rather than a dreaded experience.

When we got to 6 months, I decided to try for a year but couldn't see us carrying on further.

I am proud that despite being very ill for months and 2 emergency visits to hospital, we kept feeding thoughout and I managed to pump enough in hospital to keep her in milk for over night and whilst I was post-op on morphine and was told I couldn't feed her myself (later found out later that I could of breastfed her, as post C-section mums get the same drugs but the doctors kept telling me to stop breastfeeding and to bottle feed my DD, as it would be easier on me whilst I was sick Not that I listened to them, it was hard emough being seperated from her without giving up feeding as well)

Now we are getting to a year and my DD shows no signs of weaning, she has 3 BLW meals plus 5/6 milk nursing sessions a day.

She seems to want to continue and I can't see any reason to stop. Is it normal for a one year old to have so much milk feeds......my mum says I should limit her milk intake as my DD is older but I thought it was always best to feed on demand. She eats plenty of solids, well a varity of solids a lot goes on the floor.

Please reassure me that I'm doing the right thing for my DD, by continuing to feed on demand, for a while yet ?

[NoBiggy]

Don't know if it's right but it's pretty much what I'm doing too.

Very impressed with your persistence, btw. Enjoy the birthday cake

[Notquitegrownup]

I did exactly what you did and intended/hoped to get to the 6 month mark. Ended up feeding both boys on demand for 2 years, and on negotiation for another year each.

Just wish I'd had MN around then. I'd have really enjoyed feeding if I had had some support and good answers for the sighing, tutting, criticising that went on.

you are giving your little one the best food there is, along with comfort and closeness to you. There is no reason to wean whilst you are both happy with what you are doing.

[terramum]

my DS is 3 & still fed on demand & will be for as long as he is bfed. I never thought I would be bfing a 3 year old...but here I am & it doesn't feel any stranger than it did when he was 6 months old. He just asks for it slightly more politely now . He feeds 3/4 times a day, sometimes less if we are busy out & about...but I am happy to let him have as much or little as he needs just as he did when he was little.

We did blw as well & it has been good knowing that he was having the right mix of bm & solids for him and although it has been so gradual that it wasn't really noticeable at the time, it has been nice to look back to see how he just started eating more solids & less bm on his own without any need for me to reduce his milk intake.

[BabiesEverywhere]

Nice to talk to other mums who are feeding older babies

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

Well I think you have done an amazing job feeding throughout illness and hospitalisation as you have done. I found it hard enough to continue after my first bout of mastitis! Well done

Having just got to the 3rd year of breastfeeding non-stop (through a pregnancy, then tandem feeding) now still feeding my 16m dd - you can guess that I support continued bf'ing.

There are still plenty of benefits for baby and mother after the 1st year. I am willing to be led by my dd as to when to stop completely. She eats very well drinks cows milk and fruit juice but she still bf's several times a day. Only at home now. There are occassions when I want to stop - it has been a long time for me without a break - but I can see getting to 2 with dd still feeding on occasion. Ds stopped feeding when he was 22m.

Ultimate decision is yours - if you are happy to continue and your dd still wants to then keep going. It is lovely to be able to provide comfort and nourishment.

Good luck whatever you decide

[BabiesEverywhere]

Thanks

I don't want to give my DD cow's milk, if I can avoid it. She reacts to ME drinking cow's milk by weeing uncontrollable with no awareness. So the longer she has breast milk the better.

[LadyVictoriaOfCake]

well done! i would say carry on as you are.

i ended up feeding dd3 for over 2years in the end, and really it was me that weaned her rather than self-weaning. i think she would've been happy carrying on till age 3+

[lemonaid]

We limited feeds because I was back at work (still nursing twice a day and DS is 2.6) but SAHMs I know who do extended breastfeeding have tended to do the same thing as you and keep bf on demand. If it's working for you and your DD, then it's the right thing.

[timetoditch]

Good for you - I BF DS until he was 18 months and only stopped as I became very ill and couldn't BF any more.

I think it's great you have BF for so long - keep at it as long as you both want

Well done to both of you