Approximately for how long do you ladies breastfeed your child?
Just want to have a general idea.

    

Well i just found this on breastfeeding.com

Someone asked me the other day why I continue to pump for my 8 month old daughter. I didn't think much of it at the time, after all I get "those looks" every time I pick up my black bag and take the elevator down to the pumping room at the office. So, a little time went by and started to wonder what the big deal was anyway, I mean why would I stop pumping for my 8-month-old? Do people really think that formula is better than mommy milk? I did a little informal poll, here are some of the answers from assorted office workers of varying levels of education :

How long should a baby be breastfed?

* 6-8 weeks (2 people said this)
* 1 or 2 days
* 1 year
* 6 months (3 people said this one)
* until mom goes back to work
* they don't need to be
* don't know

How long should a mother express her milk for the baby?

* 6-8 weeks
* Express? What do you mean?
* That's gross!
* I don't know.
* Why would she do that?
* Until things get started.

Do babies need bottles?

Yes - 85%

No - 11%

Don't know - 4%

What would you tell a mother if she were having problems (not defined) breastfeeding?

* Quit
* Give the baby a bottle
* 4 people told of a negative experience their mom or wife had (infection, no milk?, sour milk?, not enough fat in milk?)
* Not everyone can do it
* It is hard, not a big deal if you quit
* "Formula is the same thing, they added that 'stuff' in to make babies smarter, you know"

Where do you think that nursing/working moms should pump?

* Bathroom (10 respondents)
* Car (4)
* Her office (2)



I polled 20 people for each question, these are only some of the results. I think that most significantly, not one person mentioned a lactation consultant as a resource or even La Leche League for help. About 2/3 of those polled were mothers and only 4 had even attempted to breastfeed their infants. One of those mothers breastfed for exactly one year and then weaned her son, of course I commended her for a job well done.

Formula companies have been so successful in undermining a mother's ability to succeed at breastfeeding. I tend to be rather vocal in educating the public about the benefits of nursing, I am a cheerleader for the pumping moms coming back to work, I voice my hope that each new baby born will be breastfed, and I never - ever - give bottles or binkies at baby showers. I may be only one person, but by helping new moms understand all the benefits of breastfeeding I could help an unlimited number of children.

It totally depends on your personal physical health and your time constarints. many women who go back to work soon have to stop feeding by 6 months. Many like feeding till one year, but basically the doctors feel that once the child is standing and walking one should move them over to other milk

know that this is a personal decision for you and your child. Some babies may want to wean themselves as soon as they experience other forms of food or drink from a bottle whereas others may want to be breastfed until they are two or even three years of age. You may not completely wean your child off of breastfeeding right away, but you should introduce other forms of foods once the child turns about six months.

The World Health Organization encourages mothers to breastfeed for two years or beyond because of the nutritional benefits. Mothers also greatly reduce their chances for breast cancer and ovarian cancer if they breastfeed for two years. US is in the minority when it comes to extended breastfeeding. Many countries let their children wean naturally, yet somehow we lost that tradition. I, myself, am an extended breastfeeding mom with a 2yr old.

When I had my first I wanted to breast feed but she was a preemie and we had some issues that were so stressful that I gave it up early unfortunately because she needed a special formula and it broke my heart to confuse her with the bottle and breast feeding.

I had researched it though and learned that the milk you produce has the most benefits for your baby early on and then it starts to decline after a period of time. While it is still beneficial, the same benefits are coming from their diet after they can eat. So the just of the study was that up to 12 months and your baby got all the necessary benefits of breast feeding in relation to building its immunity and nutrition.

I was comfortable breastfeeding to 12 months with my second. I went a little longer with the last.

I planned to breast feed until 1 year just for the nutritional/ health benefits. We almost made it. At 11 mos we went to visit some family out of town and the change of schedule was enough for my son to wean himself.

I didn't have problems breastfeeding but really didn't care that much for it either. We did supplement with formula at times (mostly for convenience) but ended up with a healthier than average kid so would definitely do it again with another child.

When and how long you breastfeed is definately a personal choice and decision. I personally breastfeed my twins for a little over a year and my second child for just under one year. I did supplement some with formula usually about 1 bottle per day on average, so that I could get away. My kids did not seem to really like expressed breast milk unless it was still warm, so putting it in the fridge or freezing for later was just not an option for us. We tried warming it but it just was not the same to them. I could express and have someone feed right away such as if we were in the car on a trip I could express and then feed to them without having to stop, but never after it got cold. I do think that it is more difficult for mothers that work to continue with breastfeeding especially if the company is not very supportive in providing a place pump. I think that it is horrible that people think that pumpin in a bathroom is acceptable. Companies should have to make a private room with appropriate facilities available for mothers. Thankfully I did not have to deal with this issue as I was able to stay at home with my children. I am currently expecting my fourth and plan on nursing him until at least 9 months if everything works out and beyond if I feel the need. I do think that if you feel shorter is better for you and your situation then that is what you should do or if you think longer is needed. The only thing that I would encourage is that people at least give it a try, because for the health benefits to both the mother and the child.

I breastfed my daughter for one year. I supplemented her with formula, though, because my supply wasn't as good when I was pumping for her at work. Then when I got pregnant with my son, my daughter was 8.5 months old and began weaning herself. At one year, I only had to cut out the nighttime nursing session, and she didn't object at all.

My son was much slower to give it up, in part because I was a stay at home mom by that time. I weaned him earlier this year, about 2 months before his 2nd birthday. He was not happy, but at that time I was a couple of months pregnant with my son due in October. I hadn't planned to still be nursing him at his 2nd birthday, anyway.

Mothers vary significantly on how long they breastfeed their babies. My aunt stopped at 1 year with all three of her kids, but I've read online posts from women who breastfeed well past the toddler years (sometimes until 4 or 5). The latter goes beyond my personal comfort zone, but the decision is between mother and child.