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Breastfeeding past one! |
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by PHOENIX  (January 2007) (rank 65th) |
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So I got my first comment the other day so I thought perhaps it might be time to try and educate people on what breastfeeding past one year actually means.
With my first son I planned on breastfeeding for one year and that was it, but since we had
such a terrible start to breastfeeding I change my mind. He was weaned at 23mths and looking back I really wish I hadn't allowed social pressure to dictate when that happened. We had visited the loacl Drs and it was busy. I had a terrible cold and perhaps he might have been feeling unwell. He normally only fed each morning on waking but on that day he yells across the room "mummy boobie please" well at least he used his manners and I did feed him but the stares and shaking heads and quiet murmers were just too much. I was absolutely shocked at peoples reactions.
I have become much more confident with breastfeeding and if I knew what I knew now about how good breastfeeding past one was I would never have weaned him. My yougest is now 18mths old and he is well and truly a bobbie boy. He still feeds about 6-8 times over 24hrs and thats fine by me. He eats 3 meals as well as morning and afternoon tea so its not like breastmilk is replacing his food. I made sure I called his feeds something nuetral so if he was to ask me in public I wouldn't have a whole heap of people staring at me. I had a nice conversation with an elderly gentlemen one day who was waiting for his wife to finish at the hairdressers. He was telling me what a good boy I had just laying there so quietly. He was quiet shocked when his wife walked out and complemented me on still breastfeeding. (yes I do get nice comments too) He never even knew I was breastfeeding.
I intend to breastfeed him until he self weans or turns 3 whichever comes first. No matter what comments or stares I get I won't stop, but I will be discrete not everyone is comfortable with breastfeeding in public let alon breastfeeding a walking talking toddler. The world average is actually 4.2 years, but he'll be in kindy by then and probably won't want it. I have met many women who have or are breastfeeding children over 4 and unless they told you you would never know. The kids mainly have a feed at home before bed or when they wake up. Its not likely that you will see a preschooler feeding at your local cafe.
Because I had Gestational Diabetes when I was pregnant my sons chances of developing diabetes when he is older is increased as has mine. However breastfeeding for 2 years or more reduces the chances of developing it so maybe they might cancel each other out. Breastfeeding over one has many other health benefits for mothers and babies. the World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding continue for up to 2 years a beyond. Some people have very rigid views on breastfeeding children. The most extreme views I've heard are that breastfeeding past one is child/sexual abuse. well let me tell you you cannot force a toddler/child to breastfeed. Another view is that breastfeeding an older child makes them clingy, but research has found the complete opposite and the number of clingy/dependant shildren in extended breastfeeding is no more then in the rest of children. The quality of breastmilk doesn't stop past a certain age and those disgusting toddler milk ad are sheer false advertising (an article on that later down the track I think).
So anyone who wants to continue breastfeeding past their childs first b'day don't listen to the critisism of strangers or even family. I will no longer be put off by strangers in public becasue I beleive that by showing breastfeeding a toddler as normal behaviour perhaps more women wouldn't think it is not the done thing.
Lexi xxx
