Breastfeeding past 6 months

[tickle]

Hi all!

I have just been looking at some statistics on bfing on the ABA website. I was suprised to see the drop in breastfeeding mums after 6months. I was just wondering why this might be, out of curiosity more than anything. Is is because after 3 / 6 months many mums go back to work and find formula easier? Just after some other peoples thoughts.

It is difficult to accurately assess the breastfeeding rates throughout Australia, as there is no national collection of the statistics. However, from various State based research it would appear that 84% of babies are breastfed on hospital discharge, 61% breastfed at three months and 49% at six months. 2

ABA website

I breastfed my guy until 12 months but I am a SAHM and I was also horrible at expressing (there must be an art to this?? :confused: ). So I really wouldn't know what I would have done if I had worked. I guess this is one of the many reasons I wanted to stay at home.

Many thanks for listening to my ramble!

[Harmony83]

I breastfed my little one for three months - the reason we stopped was because I started supplementing with formula because I thought he was never getting enough as he was constantly wanting to suckle (I didn't realise babies comfort sucked) the more I supplemented the more milk supply I lost, when I realised what was happening I tried to breastfeed him more, but because there wasn't a good enough supply for him he would refuse and scream until I gave him a bottle and unfortunately I never had time to express milk. I battled with the decision to finally give up for a month, before I decided it would be best for me (I as suffering mild PND and very stressed over it) and for him (every feed was a battle and it stressed him out alot too) since switching over to formula it has been alot easier and less stressful and I am glad that I did - in saying that though when I have another bub I plan on Breastfeeding for the first 12 months - as I now know alot more about it, plus I have the wonderful support of Bubhub! :D

[Briannabear]

I personally am still breastfeeding my DD and she is 9 months old. I set myself a benchmark of 12 months. I have been very lucky though - no issues with BF'ing, and I havent (nor am I planning) to go back to work.

I know a lot of women who stopped due to the fact that their milk 'dried up' (so to speak) at around the six month mark. I think some of that was that they were supplimenting due to starting back at work.

Another reason why some women stop is because sometimes as your baby gets older its harder on your body to produce the milk therefore it can make you feel very worn out. (this is from my own personal experience)

B.t.w. Harmony83, you should be proud of yourself for giving breastfeeding a good go! :D

[Nickster]

That's quite interesting, Oliversmum, I didn't realise that was the case!
I am still BF my 10 month old, mainly because I'm too damn lazy to bother with bottles and formula - no, really, I can appreciate the benefits of breastmilk, and because I'm too damn lazy.....
I work one day a week, and she gets a couple of cups of BM and/or cow's milk while I am at work and is perfectly happy with that...we just have lots of extra nursing when I get home to make up for the cuddles and closeness she has missed that day. It's so lovely!
Lots of mums need to return to work on a more permanent basis, and I'd say that has a fair amount to do with the drop off in breastfeeding, because otherwise if you can make it to three or six months of breastfeeding, it's just so much easier to keep going. That's just my opinion anyway - what does everybody else think?

[wattle]

Ds weaned himself recently. He was getting frustrated with my milk taking longer to let down, and that would make me frustrated, so my milk would take longer - vicious circle.

I had trouble expressing enough for a feed, so it was just easier to formula feed.

Oh, he started getting teeth too. Ouch!

So all in all it worked great for 8 months, and now we're happy on formula.

[wattle]

Ds weaned himself recently. He was getting frustrated with my milk taking longer to let down, and that would make me frustrated, so my milk would take longer - vicious circle.

I had trouble expressing enough for a feed, so it was just easier to formula feed.

Oh, he started getting teeth too. Ouch!

So all in all it worked great for 8 months, and now we're happy on formula.

[our little treasures]

I've breast fed my dd and now my ds I breast fed dd until she was 14mnths then dried up due to pregnancy #2.. as I loved the bond I never introduced a bottle with ds he was just off 10pnd and I expressed at hosi just to give him nthe supply he needed. I decided this time I would express to get a rest here and there but waisted total of $300.00 on manual and hiring electric pumps and didnt have time to do it. I intend to feed ds until he is at least 14mnths but each child weans differently.

With hubbys severe atopic dermatitis and my asthma they need a little help.. And besides I would be shocking at bottles I would remember to sterilise it when the bubs was screaming for a feed, or worse I would be at the shops with a hungry bub and realise ooops I forgot a bottle. LOL

[lily81]

I am still breastfeeding my 6 1/2 month old twins. I have gone back to work 9am-3pm 5 days a week so they have one bottle of formula at 9am then I go home and feed them at 12pm then I feed them at 3 pm when I finish work. So far this is working really well for me and I plan to continue breastfeeding until they self wean. :p

[JanetF]

Feeding 23 month old ds here and hanging to be able to say he's two LOL. Yay the booby! :D

[WeThree]

yay for titty milk!!(as my aunty sue would say :D )

[JanetF]

Or as my friend's 3 year old says, "Get that baby on the titty!" hahahaha :D

[HoopDeeDoo]

My goal to breastfeed my son was 6 months as i was planning on going back to work. Turns out I'm still at home (he's 12 months) and expecting another one. Unfortunately at about 31/2 months I got a bad case of mastitus, and the anti biotics didn't work. My right boob was constantly in pain so I had to give up. I believe it was the breastfeeding that helped my son grow so quickly and healthily (he was 5 weeks prem) so I am going to bf with #2 as long as I can, but I won't beat myself up if I can't do it.
Hopefully I'll have better luck next time - I don't know about bf til 3yrs though :)

[AM]

I'm not sure why, but my bf goal was always 2 years, and when I actually had ds, very early on I decided to allow him to self wean, so we are still going strong at 19 months, and will hopefully be tandem feeding soon. :D

I think there is still a lot of mis information out there about mothers milk ceasing to be of much value after one year, or even 6 months :eek: and info like that tends to fit into our cultural views that children should be moved on to independance as soon as humanly possible.

I feel i am doing my son a huge favour allowing him to choose, especially as the human immume system is not fully developed for years, and bf is a great complement to the maturing system.