How to go on

[allysophia]

When I first started BF I did it day by day. Knowing that getting to 6months was great, wonderful and the best. I had it in my mind that I'd finish at around 1yr, but now have read the WHO guidelines and that BF babies:

Are healthier, get great antibodies from mums, need doctors less and less, and this applies up to at least 2yrs of age!

Who here is extended bf? And how do I psyche myself up for the challenge?

[punkbaby]

I fed my oldest till 18 months ds was a short stint 4 months and dd was 14 months i guess as they were happy and healthy and i work at home i didnt have to worry about expressing etc i was lucky i just went with it and when they had enough i stopped.

I know there are alot more who have fed longer than me so be interesting to see what they do :D

Well done on feeding for 6months though thats great!

[abibelsmum]

I fed DD1 for 14 months. After that she wasn't interested anymore and I didn't like to push her ( I figured it was the painless way for her to stop, although I was quite sad). I guess we'll see what happens with #2.

[Beany]

Getting to 6 months was a huge milestone for me and the next milestone became a year. Now that I'm only 2 months from that, I find myself unwilling to give up then. You will probably find the same thing - it's a less a need to psyche yourself up as it doesn't have nearly as many challenges to overcome anymore. I'm finding that the idea of weaning is requiring more psyching up than that idea of just going with it for a while longer.

[~Emmylou~]

Getting to 6 months was a huge milestone for me and the next milestone became a year. Now that I'm only 2 months from that, I find myself unwilling to give up then. You will probably find the same thing - it's a less a need to psyche yourself up as it doesn't have nearly as many challenges to overcome anymore. I'm finding that the idea of weaning is requiring more psyching up than that idea of just going with it for a while longer.

Same for me.
I originally just wanted to get to six months, now aiming for 12 months. The thought of weaning makes me cry and I doubt I'll be ready to stop then.

I plan to keep going as long as both of us are happy and enjoying it. Hopefully that will be another year or so. I really take it in little steps and I dont' like to get too far ahead of myself LOL.

[MonkeyMum05]

During pregnancy, I intended on breastfeeding until bub self weaned...
though when he arrived it was more of a 'take each day as it comes' approach...
I too set goals, of 'one more week' then, 'one more month' and eventually it was just so easy that I didn't think about it.
He turns 2 tomorrow, and is still not quite weaned, though I am very nearly dried up.
I did attempt to start weaning him a few times, but found it too difficult... partly because he made it very difficult and partly because it made me sad. It just seemed easier to keep going.

[meme]

i too i think have a take each day as it comes approach.
i didn't really consider weaning at some specific point. i think that breastfeeding is a relationship between you and your child and as such working out when you and your bub want to end it is an individual thing.

if you can get to an ABA group in your area, you will prolly find this very motivating as their will be other mums their who are breastfeeding, or who care about children having access to breastmilk for as long as mother and child bothe desire.:thumbsup:

[jarrahsmumma]

i plan on BF DD for as long as she desires, definatley past 2 yrs.

i know it is the best thing for her and me, as the longer you BF the less chance of cancer (breast and ovarian)

i probably wouldn't think this way unless i had been surrounded by like minded mums and good information, there is a lot of bad info getting about, like baby will be TOO attached, wont eat anything, you will mentally damage them...need i go on.

i couldn't feed my DS, so i want to give my all to DD

[shed]

I always knew I would feed for a year. Now that we are ten months along I cannot imagine giving it up.

I have just finished reading a book on child-led weaning.

The hardest part is facing the criticism -the 'comments' have already started about STILL breastfeeding. Gawd, imagine when we are still going in a year's time!

I am maintaining my weight without trying :D
I know he's getting all the nutrients he needs without me stressing over his food :D
I also know he's getting good immunity etc :D
I don't get AF (yay) :D

...so the thought of stopping all that terrifies me. eek, I can't! Its too scarey!

[lukaelmo]

I ended up feeding Luka for about 13 months, when he self weaned, and have now been feeding Felix for 3.

I never set any goals, never thought, "I have this amount of time in mind", and just relaxed and took each day as it came. For me it has been natural to do it like that, no pressure to reach any particular milestone, so no stress.

With Felix now I don't think of it either, he is there, he gets hungry, I feed him and I don't think about giving up or not giving up. I guess when the time comes to stop I will just know.

Wow, how earth mother am I? :laughing: ! :D.