Breastfeeding after 6 months

[Anonymous]

What are the benefits to breastfeeding after 6 months. I haven’t had issues breastfeeding but it’s not my favorite thing in the world to do. I’m almost at 6 months and have exclusively breastfed with some pumped milk in a bottle here and there when I’ve been out. I’m thinking about what’s next. Is there some great benefit to breastfeeding for a year? I know a lot of people here do it but I’m ambivalent about it. I’m going to have to go back to work soon but I’ll be in the office only one day a week so that’s when I’ll need to pump. I don’t hate breastfeeding or pumping I’m just kind of meh about it. I’m thinking about supplementing with formula a bit after my baby is 6 months but is this bad in some way? I figure they’ll be starting solids then anyway so adding in another thing won’t be the biggest deal but is there something I’m not thinking of (gut micro biome)? I’m willing to just straight breastfeed for a year if there’s a benefit to it. If it starts really messing with my mental health I’ll stop. Baby is gaining well and my pediatrician doesn’t seem concerned either way. Part of it is that I’m finding it very hard to lose weight while breastfeeding and I’ve heard it may be easier after weaning but I feel guilty making this choice just to benefit me.

[Anonymous]

For me, it kept me super skinny so I didn't want to give it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me, it kept me super skinny so I didn't want to give it up.

It doesn’t seem to do that for me! I feel like it either helps you lose weight or really doesn’t and unfortunately I’m in the latter camp.

[Anonymous]

I did it because…I kind of forget why, I guess convenience and I thought maybe some level of immunity benefit? If you want to stop I wouldn’t hesitate, personally.

Heads up weaning was a horrible process for me emotionally, like being postpartum again. But once it was over I was so happy. It took like 3 or 4 months after the last feed to really feel like it was normal again. Maybe even 6.

[Anonymous]

Your baby has by far gotten the majority of known health benefits from breastfeeding by this point. There is strong evidence that bc continuing to breastfeed provides benefits to YOU in terms of reducing risks of reproductive cancers. But whether that is worth it to you depends on the other pros and cons you see. I think the best reason to keep going is if you and baby enjoy it, but since you are meh on it I wouldn’t feel pressure to continue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your baby has by far gotten the majority of known health benefits from breastfeeding by this point. There is strong evidence that bc continuing to breastfeed provides benefits to YOU in terms of reducing risks of reproductive cancers. But whether that is worth it to you depends on the other pros and cons you see. I think the best reason to keep going is if you and baby enjoy it, but since you are meh on it I wouldn’t feel pressure to continue.

+1

I think an additional consideration would be uf it was fall and your baby was starting daycare because those winter illnesses are very disruptive and breastfeeding does have a marginal impact I'm reducing them. But it is almost May so I don't think the benefit will be very much as there are fewer bugs going around.

[Anonymous]

I just hit 6 months and am continuing just to not deal with weaning hormones right now. But I have very low supply and already heavily supplement.

If you’re thinking of health benefits, maybe pump and freeze a bunch of milk now? I froze a few bags just to have on hand. Figured there would be no harm even if the supposed benefits aren’t true.

[Anonymous]

Oh that’s a good point about pumping extra before weaning to keep in the freezer.

[Anonymous]

Also OP here, weaning hormones?!?!

[Anonymous]

In order:

#1 - get over colds faster
#2 - shove the boob in the mouth to shut them up
#3 - less picky eating (someone will disagree with this, just waiting for it)
#4 - don't have to worry about whatever nightmare is in store for formula supply chain

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your baby has by far gotten the majority of known health benefits from breastfeeding by this point. There is strong evidence that bc continuing to breastfeed provides benefits to YOU in terms of reducing risks of reproductive cancers. But whether that is worth it to you depends on the other pros and cons you see. I think the best reason to keep going is if you and baby enjoy it, but since you are meh on it I wouldn’t feel pressure to continue.

+1

I think an additional consideration would be uf it was fall and your baby was starting daycare because those winter illnesses are very disruptive and breastfeeding does have a marginal impact I'm reducing them. But it is almost May so I don't think the benefit will be very much as there are fewer bugs going around.

I think it makes a big difference for colds. I have three kids and the baby was always the least sick of the three when a cold was going around. I think I gave him partial immunity to basically everything. The eldest had fake appendicitis when he got covid (it inflamed a lymph node in his gut and it acted just like appendicitis). The baby was the least covid sick kid of the three. I recently weaned him and we got ran through with a series of late spring colds and everyone is equally sick. Anecdotal data, I know.

[Anonymous]

Will your baby take formula?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will your baby take formula?

That’s a good point. I don’t know. I was going to give her half breast milk half formula to get her used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your baby has by far gotten the majority of known health benefits from breastfeeding by this point. There is strong evidence that bc continuing to breastfeed provides benefits to YOU in terms of reducing risks of reproductive cancers. But whether that is worth it to you depends on the other pros and cons you see. I think the best reason to keep going is if you and baby enjoy it, but since you are meh on it I wouldn’t feel pressure to continue.

+1

I think an additional consideration would be uf it was fall and your baby was starting daycare because those winter illnesses are very disruptive and breastfeeding does have a marginal impact I'm reducing them. But it is almost May so I don't think the benefit will be very much as there are fewer bugs going around.

I think it makes a big difference for colds. I have three kids and the baby was always the least sick of the three when a cold was going around. I think I gave him partial immunity to basically everything. The eldest had fake appendicitis when he got covid (it inflamed a lymph node in his gut and it acted just like appendicitis). The baby was the least covid sick kid of the three. I recently weaned him and we got ran through with a series of late spring colds and everyone is equally sick. Anecdotal data, I know.

I agree with you - I breastfed my March baby for a year and that first winter was totally fine for her (I on the other hand did not fare so well). I think breastfeeding helped (so did genetics as DH and I have pretty strong immune systems).

In general the summer is much less of a sh%tshow with daycare bugs. Breastfeeding was no picnic for me so I can definitely relate to the OP's desire to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also OP here, weaning hormones?!?!

DP but YES. They don’t warn you about this. For someone I’m sure it’s a blip. For me it was awful. I was so happy to be stopping, but every time I dropped a feed I wept uncontrollably about nothing for a day. And my boobs did some weird stuff for a while, like randomly producing milk weeks after the last feed.