Breastfeeding after 6 months
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Anonymous
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The health benefits drop off around that time, plus you'll start solids. If you aren't enjoying it, and especially if you'll need to pump to keep it up (I loathed pumping), you should stop. I don't think anyone should martyr themselves to breastfeeding. There are great alternatives, it's fine.
I breastfed for a year but it was really for me. I liked it, I liked that time with my baby. It forced me to slow down and be still with her -- I have fond memories of sitting in the rocker nursing her and just looking out a window at the leaves fluttering in the wind. It was like meditation (and I'm not a meditation person). I think it's just what I needed at that time in my life. I loathed pumping though. I only had to do it occasionally though because I worked from home and could just nurse directly on our schedule. So I only pumped once or twice a week so I could go out for longer or have milk for a sitter or for my DH to give. If I did it again now, I'd probably pump less and just supplement with formula. At the time I was told this would undermine BFing but I think that's BS. |
Anonymous
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29084835/ |
Anonymous
Do you have your period back? |
Anonymous
| I nursed until each kid was 1.5-2. Unsure of the health benefits but it was relaxing and bonding. I wouldn’t sweat it if you want to wean though, at this point it’s about what’s convenient/comfortable for you. |
Anonymous
With my first I hadn’t intentionally weaned but I didn’t have much success breastfeeding so eventually I just slowly weaned. And for weeks I was crying all the time and just depressed. It felt like the end of the world. It then occurred to me it was related to weaning. It was probably a good two months. |
Anonymous
This study is not about extended breastfeeding, it studied breastfeeding up to 6 months. Again, show me the research. |
Anonymous
I actually just got my period but I'm also on birth control so I'm not sure if it's a true period if that makes sense. |
Anonymous
| It is good for baby to not just be dependent on milk, and you can introduce solids and not bother with formula. |
Anonymous
Yes, I think that’s true. I forget that at 6 months she’ll be eating solids so the pressure is off me a little to be providing all calories, even though I realize solids aren’t a huge source of nutrition before one. If I have to be gone for a few hours she may not even need formula if she will be having a meal/snack. Crazy to think about since it has been milk, milk, milk for so many months! |
Anonymous
Their main source of nutrition should be milk- in the form of formula or breastmilk- until 1. For example, an 8-month-old needs 750-900 calories, of which 400-500 minimum should come from milk (50% or more depending on your kid). Even if they eat an egg and oatmeal for breakfast + pancake and berries for lunch + pasta and broc for dinner its not a lot of calories nor food they are getting in their mouths. Some kids eat a lot of solids and just go for it. My son liked food but loved breastmilk. It wasnt even a contest. I also experienced meditative-like states while breastfeeding but if I was meh on it or wanted to stop I probably would have started weaning earlier. Theres just no real way to avoid breastmilk/formula until 1 (+/- 1-2 months). So if you wean now its formula but I would 100% trial formula first. |
Anonymous
Guess you're right. They didn't include a 6-12 month variable because so few women can be bothered. I'm sure the SIDS benefit evaporates 100% the day they turn 6 months, or at least you can tell yourself that I posted 5 other articles you ignored |
Anonymous
DP. You should probably read those 5 articles you posted. They don’t say what you think they do. |
Anonymous
Typical militant lactivitst, absolutely lacking in evidenced based research, just vague vibes about how women are lazy and selfish for not breastfeeding till 8. -mom who EBF past a year for three kids, but doesn't have her head up her own ass |
Anonymous
The bolded tells us everything we need to know about you. Yikes. |
Anonymous
Without trying to change my diet, I lost 25 lbs in the six weeks after I stopped breastfeeding my first. Also had the hormone roller coaster of weaning other moms mentioned. With my 2nd, I got back to my pre-baby weight while breastfeeding and have only recently weaned. Was hoping I’d easily drop another 10-20 and be back at college me size, but seems unlikely. At six mos, I introduced formula and cut back on pumping. By 9 mos, my LO wasn’t as into nursing. At 11 mos, I cut out all pumping and just nursed when she felt like it. She’s 12 mos and walking now, and v, v rarely feels like nursing. I didn’t find a big impact on illness with nursing. My older kid didn’t latch well so I exclusively pumped after 6 mos, so felt less ambivalent about stopping (which made the hormonal weepies even more confusing!!) Do what works for you, science doesn’t seem to know yet. For me, stopping meant more mental clarity and better sleep. And it was weight neutral/decreased my weight after first kid. |