I think I may (sort of) understand the moms who breastfeed for far too long

I've got to wean Maggie soon and I'm thinking that it's really going to suck not being able to eat without worrying about packing on pounds, dammit.

Breastfeeding... truly the best damn diet ever.

Diet is certainly one aspect of breastfeeding...

I don't think, though, that it's a major factor for moms who nurse their children for a long time...

I hope that you will wean your daughter gently, and with love...

I'm sure you will!

I'm curious as to how old she is, and why you must wean her...

But only if you feel like talking about it...

:hi:

I was mostly joking about that being the only aspect of why a mother would breastfeed for too long. I think there are a lot of emotional issues involved there as well.

She's 10 months old, getting teeth and I'm thinking that she should probably start slowly weaning pretty soon, with the goal of having her weaned shortly after her first birthday.

As long as she's ready...

Teeth don't matter in a nursing child...

I nursed my second one till she was about 22 months old, and with a mouthful of teeth...

It was only once a day, at naptime, but it is a precious memory...

Does your daughter take milk from a cup yet?

If she does, then she's more likely to not object to stopping...

So far, she's not really feeling the cup thing... we'll keep at it.

In all seriousness, regarding what you said about precious memories, that's what I'll miss the most. There's an incredibly close bond formed when you breastfeed and it really is a beautiful thing, isn't it?

My daughter is now 36 years old, and a mother herself...

And I still remember holding her in my lap, watching her go to sleep at my breast...

It was such a tranquil and lovely time for both of us.

If she's not ready for the cup, I wouldn't push weaning.

There's no reason for her to be weaned at around a year and there are plenty of good reasons (health-wise) to keep on...

I pushed my first-born to be weaned by a year, and I regretted it...

She was ready, but I wasn't...

So when I had my second child, I determined to nurse her as long as we both wanted to, and I did...

It really worked out well, and there was no trauma at weaning.

I am working outside the home now, versus the at-home stuff I did for the first 9 months, so I'm thinking it might be a good thing to start weaning now. Thinking more about it, maybe not :shrug:

... your words really touched off my own memories. My son will be 35 next spring - and I, too, remember breastfeeding him as though it were yesterday. What a wonderful feeling that was.

It's one of my most cherished memories...

:hug:

Although my son would rather not be reminded of the experience - as I found out a couple of years ago, when the topic of breastfeeding came up at the dinner table when he brought two of his business friends along to share Thanksgiving dinner.

"Ah, ma :blush:, could we talk about something :blush: else?"

actually quite calm in our house.

The baby will ultimately wean itself, some just do it, others need the time.

my son stopped when he was about that age, prior to biting, thankfully.


I think any amount of time that you do it is good.

took the breast away, put her down for a nap and left her alone. She hated being left alone. Never bit me again

two years, I did mine that long.

:popcorn:

As in, breastfeeding a 5-year-old and, if memory serves me right, there was a story about a woman in the UK who was breastfeeding her daughter when she was 8.... would you call that far too long? :shrug:

I didn't understand it, but it wasn't my business. Just seemed odd.

Sorry, but you got issues if you're still breastfeeding a 5-year-old.

My personal opinion is this:

If a woman wants to breastfeed, support her.

If a woman doesn't want to breastfeed, don't condemn her. A mom can still be a good mom and not breastfeed.

If a woman can't breastfeed, don't make her feel like she is inadequate or that she didn't try hard enough. Again, a mom can still be a good mom and not breastfeed. And if she wanted to and can't, you'll just make her feel worse.

If a woman weans before six months, or before one year, or before two years, don't give her grief over it.

The World Health Organization says breastfeeding until at least age 2 is a very good thing. Don't tell women with kids under 2 that they need to stop breastfeeding. There is reams of documentation to say that it's just fine for her to breastfeed that long.

I personally wouldn't say anything about a 3 or 4 year old -- I don't think it scars a kid. I've known adults who were BFed until a few months before they started kindergarten, and they are well-adjusted socially and don't have boobie fetishes any more than usual (for the boys) and the girls aren't lesbians (not that it would be a bad thing if they were, but I'm just saying that it didn't give the women I know who were BFed a long time any issues that I know of).

I am kind of with you about the whole BFing while in kindergarten thing. I think that's when it's gone too far, but it's mainly because I would hate for a kid to be teased if he mentioned to a classmate that he still nursed.

"If a woman can't breastfeed, don't make her feel like she is inadequate or that she didn't try hard enough. Again, a mom can still be a good mom and not breastfeed. And if she wanted to and can't, you'll just make her feel worse."

We don't show this much respect to women who can't have children, much less those who can't breastfeed!

:nuke:

This needn't turn into an Olive Garden or cornflake-encrusted fried chicken thread... breastfeeding is a good thing :P

:scared:

last Dec. She was 13 mos. old and chewing me up. My appetite seriously decreased, I was 140 lbs, I am now 115 lbs, 15 less than when I got preggers. I did go back to work full time nights waitressing, so that may have helped as well.

even I could still do that eight months later and I'm still lactating.

heh, I've considered it just to give the girls a little "lift"....bf'ing left'em floppin in the breeze....

x(

preemies with the whole antibody thing.

I was bummed that we were past that part of our relationship and that my baby was growing up.

I also felt that way when she moved into her own room at a few months of age, when she started walking on her own, when she was able to do stuff for herself--ALL those little milestones triggered a sadness that my child was growing to "need" me less. (About the only milestone I was not sad about was potty training--for obvious reasons.)

Funny thing about it, however, is the realization that if I am doing my job as a Mom she WILL need me less all the time. It does not mean she loves me less, it means she is becoming less physically dependent.



Laura

it's just different I think.


And with more attitude! :rofl:

Breast feeding my boys was the most precious time of my life. First one weaned himself at 12 months. He's now 33 and a dad himself. My second one weaned himself at 22 months. He's now 19 and a DU member. He still likes breasts, don't ya kid?

When my babies breast fed, the most tranquil calm feeling came over me. It's free, it's good for both mum and babe. I miss the good old days before I got really old and stuff.

taken any drugs that made me feel any more relaxed than nursing did. I would zonk out almost immediately; there is some sort of hormonal connection to the let down reflex that causes that feeling.

You all scare me!

Does it come with a parachute?

:shrug: Once you get the hang of it, it's easier than actually nursing because (assuming your bra will hold the flanges) your hands are free.

:)

Yeah, I'm sure I will get used to it when I get there. The backpack really cracked me up, though. :)

production cycle going so you don't lose supply during the work week, and gives you ready to go bagged milk for the baby sitter when you are not there. Just drop it in the nurser holder and it is ready. And
DON'T EVER MICROWAVE YOUR BREAST MILK..
All you really need to do to thaw it is run warm water over the little bags. Microwaving can destroy all the good antibodies and stuff. Breast milk is NOT warm in its natural state. Kind of coolish, actually.

Now all the neat things said by Moriah in post # 16 are wonderful, very well put.

That's what my Dil did when she went back to work.

so I never bothered with a pump, giving 'em a squeeze over a bowl worked fine, and I always had tons of extra. I would have donated, but that the time the closest drop off point for a milk bank was 60 miles south and I didn't have a car.

that's what a lot of working/scholar mom's do.


I was waiting for the pump discussion..... :rofl:

BabyMidlo was 16 months old when she weaned herself. All three of mine weaned themselves.

Debi, Jr. ended up back in the hospital and had a cold on top of all of it. Needed to switch to bottle feeding (when he was born I was nursing every two hours...was just getting exhausted...but got to hold him almost 24/7) he ate faster/more w/bottle feeding and slept longer too. I still held him as much as I could.

I luckily haven't gained too much pregnancy weight so far. Only a little over 20 lbs. I have about 4 weeks to go. But I would like to lose a little more than I gained. Of course that isn't the reason I will be breast feeding, but it is a plus!!

I shit you not.

Eleven with the pregnancy and TWENTY-FREAKING-SIX nursing! I was insanely hungry and I ate like a vacuum- consequently it was not the best diet for me.

:rofl:

He weaned himself.."no more murse", by then he was only nursing at bedtime and when hurt. I missed it for the longest time