So tell me about full term b/f and child led weaning...

[TacoFest]

Hi ladies :wave:

I have always know I wanted to breastfeed my babies, but the more I look into it, the more beneficial I realise it is for both mothers and babies. I have always been told from family, friends and even some health care professionals that breastfeeding until 6 months was all baby needs. However I now realise this is untrue.

I have read that some doctors recommend a minimum of 2 years. Is this true? I have no problem with breastfeeding this long, it just seems to be others around me telling me its wrong, but how can it be if its best for my baby? DP wants me to do whatever I feel comfortable with.

I really want to learn more about full term breastfeeding and child led weaning so would appreciate any info or stories. When I talk to family and doctors about this issue, I feel they are writing me off because of my age. I am so sick of being told I don't know how hard it is yet and I'll be lucky if I make it to 6 months. :hair::banghead: I'm sure it will be hard at times, but I want to give my child the best start in life.

So please help me with this one lol

[Tam-I-Am]

I'm not really sure what you're asking for? :)

The World Health Organisation recommends a MINIMUM (not maximum!) of 2 years of breastfeeding, with at least the first 6 months being exclusive breastfeeding - that is no solids or foods other than breastmilk at all during the first 6 months.

I think if you take the attitude that you do whatever's best for your child, and you think breastfeeding IS best for your child - then you find a way to make it work. I've breastfed one baby for 2 years, and am currently breastfeeding my 8 month old, with the aim of breastfeeding him for at least 2 years too....longer if he wants to. I've worked part-time and still managed a social life, without compromising my breastfeeding relationship. Yes, it is hard - sometimes harder than others....and I had to overcome a LOT of obstacles at the beginning of breastfeeding DD (my eldest...not so much with DS), but with the right support I managed to do it.

It's great that your DH is supportive. I'd suggest if you're truly serious, contact the ABA early and attend one of the pregnancy breastfeeding classes. Ask about your hospital's breastfeeding policies. Have a fairly strict birth plan that includes no room for formula supplementation in hospital. Get the contact details for a lactation consultant just in case you need one after the birth.

Good luck - it can be a hard thing to do - and it's certainly not the 'normal' thing to do in Australia - but the effort is well worth it :)

[workin'mumof2]

look at the world health organization, Australian breastfeeding association, kellymom.

there the ones that helped me show other people that what i am doing is perfectly normal

i get stupid comments and my daughter is just under 10months

tell your gps, tell your friends. show them this info and inform them that its normal and its what your doing and get there support.

your attitude is amazing and a great start:yelclap:

[AM]

I am a fullterm breastfeeder, I am currently nursing my two sons, they are almost 5, and 3 years old. :)

My 5 year old only has a tiny bit in the morning and before bed now, so he has pretty much weaned really, my 3 year old still wants it a fair bit :D

I just went with the flow really, you don't need to 'make a decision' about it really, it all got very easy when I decided to take myself out of the equation, and just say I'm going to let them decide, what ever my children decide is what I will do.

I found being obsessed with the topic of breastfeeding very useful, as the more I read about it, and the more I learned about the amazing benefits of it to me and my sons, the more committed I felt.

And if anyone comments (no-one does any more) I would just spout off the myriad amazing benefits of breastfeeding to all and sundry, i can keep it up for hours you know, so I think I've sufficiently bored the pants off any naysayers now, so they just 'don't go there' :laughing:

I am lucky to have a lot of supportive people in my life who see it as normal to feed toddlers etc...

I LOVE this article by Kathy Dettwyler...

The Natural Age of Weanning:

www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html

Other good sources of info are the books "Adventures in tandem nursing" & "Mothering your nursing toddler"

Good on you for looking into this topic, it is one very dear to my heart, and I feel very important to the ongoing health and wellbeing of our children, not only physical, but spiritual and emotional as well...

[BJelly]

I BF my DD until she was 18 mths. I weaned her then because I was pregnant and was feeling a bit tired. I'm still BFing my DS and he is nearly two. I weaned him off night feeds when he was one, and I weaned him down to one morning feed a day when he was 18 mths- for my own convenience - so it isn't necessarily all or nothing - you can wean to whatever level suits you and your child.

However if he gets sick I give him more BFs - helpful in various ways as it calms and soothes him, and also if he has a cold etc I can pass on antibodies to him. If he has a tummy bug then he gets some protein he otherwise probably wouldn't tolerate from solids.

I found it very difficult to BF my DD as she didn't attach very well. My DS caught on very quickly, so if you need help ask the midwives and lactation consultant at the maternity ward while you are there - so hopefully you'll have it under control by the time you go home.

Don't be surprised if some midwives start suggesting trying the bottle before you get home - I got that with my son as he was unsettled and kept everyone awake - I just stuck to my guns and had no problems - he got his birthweight back in a week.

[pkbub]

Good for you doing your research! :thumbsup:

I feel that I was a full term breastfeeder. My DS self weaned at 13 months. We had many hurdles at the start and the first 10 wks of it were very hard for me - but I did not consider FF an option for me, because I knew I could do it! I knew it was the most normal and natural thing for my body to do.

From about 11 months I think we were down to 3 feeds per day, then 2 at 12 months and 1 at 13 months (just in the morning, when DH would go get him and bring him into our bed for a cuddle and BF).

One morning DS just pushed away and said "nah" and was not interested at all. If he had showed an interest another time I would have offered it, but he never did. It really felt like a natural progression and not forced at all. And he was a very good eater, loving a wide variety of foods by that point.

So that's my story. When I had rough times I saw a lactation consultant and called the ABA and DH was also very supportive. Once you are over the first couple months you are likely through the hardest part and will easily continue past the 6 month mark if you wish to. I know many mums who set 6 months as a goal to reach...many then switch to formula. Some women really do not enjoy BF and are happy to get that far and then stop.

As for a "minimum of 2 years" I would say that is very dependent on your child and when they want to stop - could be sooner or longer. It would not have worked for me even though I was willing to try.