How Long Did You Breastfeed?

I planned on breast-feeding my daughter for a year, then it turned in to 18 months because it was going so well, then 2 years. She is 2 years and 3 months right now and she nurses before bed and when she wakes up (2x a day). I plan on taking her cue to wean her, she is not ready yet, I can tell she needs the time with me still. And for me, it reminds me that she is still a baby, I don't want to push her to grow up too fast.

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I started with the goal of 6 months, then a year, then self-weaning when my son was ready. He was just about 4 years old when we stopped. He was pretty much down to only at bedtime for quite a while.

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actual breasts feeding?? about two weeks... how long did she get breast milk?? 6 weeks. she was born 10 weeks early and in the NICU for the first 39 days of her life. she was tube fed my breast milk. once we got out i tried to breast feed, but she had trouble latching and i didn't have a comfortable place to feed her. i had just moved home with my parents. and they weren't supportive at all. and i had to mix the breastmilk she got in a bottle with formula anyways, so at 6 weeks we went ahead and switched. now... when i have another baby i plan to exclusively breastfeed for at least 6 months. i don't know if i will succeed, but i'd definately like to try.

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I breastfed my daughter until she turned 3. My plan was to breastfeed for one year but we just kept going. Exclusively until she turned 6 months when I introduced solid food - a few times a day until 18 months old and then twice a day (once before naptime and once before bed) until she was 3. At that point it was more about cuddling - I don't believe she was even getting that much. I got a serious sinus infection just after her third birthday and had to start antibiotics. I told my daughter we couldn't breastfeed anymore and she said (very anticlimactically) "okay" and never looked back. I missed it but was thrilled she was secure enough to not feel deprived. Again, I never planned to go that long. In fact, I used to silently judge women who breastfeed after their kids got teeth. Shows what I knew. Breastfeeding is very personal and only you can decide when to stop. I remember some family members and friends giving me a hard time but I couldn't understand why. It's not like I was whipping it out in public or subjecting anyone to seeing it etc.. Why do people get so upset over something that doesn't affect them and certainly wasn't affecting my daughter negatively? I believe it helped her greatly in avoiding allergies and some illnesses - especially ear infections - she rarely got sick. Anyway, you, as the mom, get to decide how long or how little you want to breastfeed - or not breastfeed at all for that matter. Whenever you and/or your child is ready to stop is the right time. Even just a few months gives great benefits and you can't beat the bonding and cuddle time. Enjoy!

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AAP recommends 1 year or more, World Health Organization recommends 2 or more.

The last time I fed my 4 year old was only a couple weeks ago, I fed her all through my pregnancy with my now-2 year old, who is nursing about 3 times a day at this point. I have nursed them at the same time many times. Its a beautiful thing to have two kids nursing together and holding hands or caressing each others faces or arms while doing so.

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3 years.

When my kid was born, we had a very hard time getting started with BF'ing and I didn't think I would make it 6 weeks...next thing you knew, it was easy as could be. (In the beginning, we had to supplement with formula which was just fine with me).

I'm not hardcore about BF'ing, I feel like every mom & child should do what is best for them. It is a personal decision only, it is not for anyone else to tell you what to do (except medical advice, if needed, of course).

But I do take issue with our society's idea that BFing is something that should not be done for long or that it is something to be ashamed of.

So, BF as long as you and your child want to. It's a time for you two and should be enjoyable for you both.

:)

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I practice self led weaning. Each child needs Mommy's one on one love, security, comfort and milk at different lengths - tho most will nurse until about 2 years old. I would encourage you to read up on the medicinal properties of breastmilk, and how it protects your very orally fixated infant to older toddler from the many many daycare and school based bacterial and viral infections.

My daughter weaned herself at 4.5 years old... she's 5.5 now and I'm almost 6 months pregnant with #2 - expecting to do self led weaning again. I am a nurse, and plan on getting my Masters (Nurse Practitioner-Midwife) degree in the next 3 years.

I was a single Mother for the 1st 3 years, working full time and going to school part time. Once I had a live in stable relationship with another income (my now husband), I went down to part time work and full time school to get my Nursing degree.

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1st-34 mths.
2nd is 11 months now.

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My kids self-weaned.
That is what I planned and wanted to do.

My daughter self-weaned at about 2.5 years old.
My son self-weaned at about 1 year old.

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I breastfed until my daughter was 21 months old. I EXCLUSIVELY breastfed till she was 6 months, and was down to 50% food and 50% breastfeeding when she was 1 year old. After that we slowly weaned down to just 1 nighttime feeding when she was 18 months old.

Whatever you choose... be proud and happy with yourself! 2 weeks is just fine, 6 months is just fine, one year is great... 2 years is fantastic too!

I think it is wonderful that any mom breastfeeds.. no matter how long! Just trying is commendable!

My *plan* had been to BF at night 'till my daughters second birthday... but I weaned earlier because I got pregnant and It was just too tiring for me to maintain! I don't have any regrets!

Good Luck!
-M.

By the way- I LOVE the site: http://www.kellymom.com/

It is great for finding advice and information about breastfeeding in ALL of its forms, from exclusive, to part time, to extended and is a great help in deciding what to do for your family!

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14-15 months. I loved breastfeeding my daughter, but when we were done, we were done.

Just as a random side note: Before I was pregnant with my daughter, I had attended a breastfeeding support with my sister (simply because I was in town helping her out and she was going regularly). I cannot tell you how helpful it was when it became my turn. We had a really smooth start and I'm not sure that would have been the case had I not (unintentionally) learned what I did in that group.

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A little over 2.5 years.

I said I'd try 6 mo. Then my goal was to make it a year (I was working FT and pumping). Then we crossed 2 yrs and she recently weaned. I did a little of letting herself wean (she started "forgetting" about lunch and I didn't remind her) and a little encouragement (making sessions shorter) and we got there in a gentle way that worked for us.

I agree with BP M. - I encourage mothers to try and not get sucked into negativity. People get too easily upset about ounces or teething or age or people's comments. I think our society worries too much and it leads to lower breastfeeding rates, among other things. Find support when you need it and I hope you have a successful and happy nursing relationship with your child. :)

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Just a bit past 2.5 years. Gradually weaned and it was pretty easy on my body :)

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with My first daughter i was ignorant of all the techniques, i never fed her because she wouldnt latch on, i pumped my milk for four months and fed it to her through a bottle. it was INSANE being a 21 year old first time mom, working, pumping and feeding on cue. My supply dried up at 4 1/2 months

With my second daughter im still breastfeeding, she just turned 2 and i weaned all but at night, at night she drinks to fall asleep and periodically wakes up , usually twice in order to suckle and fall asleep again. We co sleep, so this is not bothering me, and she seems to still need the comfort of me at night. I dont plan to do this much longer.

I would recommend breastfeeding past the age of 1 though, however, 1 is a great goal

Congratulations!! i assume you are pregnant, enjoy your blessing!

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My first daughter I breastfed until her first birthday, my second until she was 14 months.

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My first until 9 months. He abruptly refused the breast, and I realized I was pregnant with #2... The hormones made my milk tase different and he didnt want it after that! My second son is almost 5 months, and I plan to breastfeed him until hes 1 :)

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My first until almost a year--he cut teeth right at 11 months and simply could not nurse without painful biting, but by then he was on table food most of the day and drinking whole milk with no trouble.

My second nursed well into 13 months.

My third I plan to nurse at least a year and then we'll see, but probably not much more than that.

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Child 1 was 13 months but supplemented with formula when I was working after about month 8. Very sad at the end.

Child 2 was a little more than 18 months, little supplementation since I worked less. Just about right for me.

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I breastfed my oldest until she broke the skin and it was just to much, about 2 years. We are at 5 months with my youngest, and it was terrible for the first 2 months. If I hadn't had my daughter, I never would have stuck it out. I finally understand why people bottle feed! =) Remember, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Even once a day is wonderful for your baby!
Good luck!
R.

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1st child - 11 months
2nd child - 8 months
3rd child - 4 months

Notice the trend? I liked breast-feeding and I didn't like breast-feeding. I don't really miss it.

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My oldest about a year. My youngest I thought I'd do the same. We're at 18 months and a week.

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I breastfed my daughter until she was about 15 months; like Kate D., I was pregnant at the time with my son and it didn't seem like she wanted it anymore (although by that time, she was pretty much only nursing at naptime and bedtime). With my son, I breastfed until he was 18 months. He was only breastfeeding at naptime and at bedtime, and he was drinking regular milk from a sippy cup, so I decided to try and wean him (I rocked him to sleep at naptime and cuddled with him at bedtime) and he was fine. I wasn't really planning on weaning a specific time, just decided to do it whenever they seemed ready for it.

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My daughter i only breast feed for a month:( for some reason i wasnt producing enough milk and dried up i guess since i didnt want to eat. But im currently pregnant and determined to breast feed for the whole year. If i cant eat im def. going to alot of water down for the milk.

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I planned on breastfeeding my daughter for a year. When she was about nine months old I just kinda dried up, I guess this is something that has happened to a few ppl in my family. I am going to try for a year with my next but obviously not sure if I will be able to make it that long.

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My first- 6 mos (I dried up b/c I was pg w/#2)
My second-14 mos (I dried up b/c I was pg w/#3)
My third-10 mos (he was a biter and pretty much weaned himself)

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Oldest DD, 9 months because my job....
Younger DD, 14 months because morning sickness with recent preg.

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Fisrt one was two years and one week, second one is 1and eight months and im still breasfeedging her

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A little over two years with each of my three children.

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Hi, mine self-weaned at 9 and 10 mos, respectively. If you work at it you can keep them on the boob longer than that, but in my experience and that of my friends (contrary to what many have said here) most kids start to lose interest by about a year, or even sooner IF they are eating more solids than breastmilk/formula by then (which they should be by 12 mos).
Good luck and congratulations!

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One year for both my boys.

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Well, I hoped to breastfed exclusively for 6 months, then I thought if we can get to one year....I would be thrilled. One year came and went and it was just so easy and natural (even the pumping when my supply seemed to be dwindling) that I went to 15 months. It would have been easy for us to go on and on, but I just knew I was done at that point.

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First one 2.5 years. Too long for me, honestly, but it was good for him. Number two was 14 months, but the last eight or so were more for comfort than nutrition as I had supply issues. My last one we're up to 7.5 months. We'll go as long as she wants most likely.

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My first I can't really count since he bottle and breast fed (had a car accident when he was a newborn and had to pump for 2 months...lost a lot of my supply) with my second I nursed him until he was 18 months. I am nursing my third and plan to nurse until she is ready to wean.
L.

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My son weaned himself at two. He stopped due to us traveling and there was just too much going on for him to worry about it, I could have continued when we got back, but didn't push it (I was ready to be done as well). When I first started, my goal was 1 year. When I got there, it as 18 months, then it became two years. Hopefully your breastfeeding relationship is so good you will want to continue as well. Plus, with child led weaning, it just happens, no crying/missing it.

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My first almost 18 months when she self weaned. I plan to BF the second again as long as he/she wants to.

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I nursed my first for a year and planned to nurse my youngest for at least a year as well. But, we really only made it for four months :(--I got my period when he was 2 months old and he stopped gaining weight about then too...he still nurses once or twice a day, but I don't think he gets much...

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#1 & #3 13 months
#2 9 months. he was a biter, and was just done at 9 months.

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With my first til he was 14 months, second about 20 months. It is hard work, but so worth it if you can do it! I recommend a meeting with a lactation consultant. Check out Milkalicious in Aliso Viejo or The Pump Station in Santa Monica - both are great stores for BFing moms.

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My son is almost a year and I plannd on about 6 months..lol I am still nursing him however because he never took a bottle! We are working on weaning though. I think a year is enough.(for me anyway)

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Still going at almost 15 mos. Hadn't thought I would go past 6 mos. and here I am. Will go now until she stops most likely.

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I nursed my daughter for 15 months, she weaned herself, and my son for 19 months.

Updated

I nursed my daughter for 15 months, she weaned herself, and my son for 19 months.

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I made it just shy of 2.5 years. It was a struggle, particularly in the beginning, since he's allergic to dairy, so any time I slipped up he'd break out in hives. By 2.5, he'd mostly lost interest... he'd ask sometimes first time in the morning, but I just started distracting him then and everything was fine.

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I breastfed my first 2 daughters for a year each. My third is 4 months old and I'm planning on going the full year again.

I was willing (and still am) to go up to 18 months, but they weaned on their own and I wasn't going to force it.

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Ten months and still going. I have the same plan as you to breastfeed till 1yr.

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10 months and 15 months.

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BF only for 6 months, then she weaned herself one week before her 1st bday!! Good luck to you :)

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I was going to breastfeed my first for a year but dried up when she was 9 months (I broke/dislocated my arm). The trama killed my supply. I'm aiming for a year with the second baby.

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First one was 15 months, second one was 27 months.

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I hadn't spent any time around kids before I had my daughter, and I knew they started solid food at around 6 months, so I planned to breast feed for 6 months (silly me!). Then I learned that they need breast milk or formula until they're a year old, so I planned to go for at least a year, aiming for 18 months. I went back to work when she was 6 months old, and the pumping was a real struggle, but we made it to a year and she never had formula. At a year I stopped pumping but nursed when I wasn't at work. I gradually cut down until I was just breastfeeding her right before bed. At 17 months, I was ready to be done so we just stopped. I thought it would be hard on her, but she just cried about 2 minutes the first night and that was it (my husband took over the rocking and putting her to bed so she wouldn't be confused why I wasn't nursing her).

Good luck to you. It's a great thing to do for your baby, but it's a big commitment on the mom's part and not always easy.

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I supplemented with both, but I breastfed my first for 4 months and my second for 6 weeks.

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Two years, five days. His doctor cut him off for me and it was easy, we just stopped.

He didn't think I was even producing milk anymore and he was just using me as a human pacifier. At almost four he's still sees me as his human pacifier but now we just hold hands. On the UPSIDE this child has never been sick other than the icky teething stuff. Not even an ear ache.

I PLANNED on letting him wean himself but that just NEVER happened. It really did help when he was teething. He'd nurse and fall asleep when he was cutting teeth and a lot less crying.

Kids are so different and I really lucked out with mine in this area...good luck!

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17 months for my first. My second stopped on his own @5 months. I pumped until he was 1 year

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I nursed my oldest until she self weaned at 20 months...I was 7 months pregnant with #2 and I'm sure my milk change motivated her. I nursed my second until 19-20 months. I am pregnant with #3 and plan to nurse at least 18 months.

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We just past the year mark, and will probably go until she's done... there are lots of benefits to extended breastfeeding (though you certainly don't have to, just something to consider!)

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html