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Post by basilhorse on Mar 10, 2014 10:02:29 GMT 1
You have managed to feed through the hard bit while establishing supply now you get to experience the easy bit where you can feed and comfort your baby anytime, anywhere without having to faff around heating and cooling bottles especially in the middle of the night. You'll save money on formula and follow-on milks too.
Getting teeth is not necessarily difficult. But if biting does become a problem there are strategies to help.
The immune protection of breast milk doesn't ever go away while you are feeding. Only you can decide how long you are prepared to feed for for that benefit.
I personally fed my daughter until she was 3. Obviously she wasn't feeding as frequently as she had as an infant when she was 2. There was a gradual slow down in frequency. Once she was past about 16- 18 months (my memory is hazy) I no longer fed her in public as she didn't feed that often.
Ignore the people who are putting pressure on you to stop and listen to your own intuition. If there is anything worrying you then find people who have fed (google extended breastfeeding) and talk to them. Also, even if you do decide to feed to a year or even past a year then it doesn't mean you have to carry on for a long time. I know there are atories of feeding well into childhood in the press. That wasn't ever on the cards for me but I am glad I fed to 3.
Modified to add - I stopped when my daughter decided she no longer wanted milk. I remember exactly when it was. She was down to feeding only once a day at bedtime at that point anyway and we went on holiday and she went to sleep without feeding every night while we were away. She carried on the same when we got home and has not asked again since. It was a very gentle end to breastfeeding for both me and her.
Good luck with whatever you decide. There are no wrong decisions. Do whatever is right for your family.
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auburnalia
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Post by auburnalia on Mar 10, 2014 16:52:00 GMT 1
I have just stopped breast feeding the twins, literally 2 days ago and that was only because they have self weaned!! They're just coming up 9 months. I replaced my afternoon feed with a follow on formula bottle when I weaned at just over 6 months just because it was more convenient when I was out and about (they would not feed well when so much was going on!!), but kept the morning, mid morning and evening as breast fed - then cut out the mid morning at about 7 months, again because it was easier to bottle feed then bf when out, the evening at about 8 months (because they were fussing and not feeding properly) and now they wont take me in the morning!! :-( Poor rejected mummy!!!
You just do what ever you feel is right - everyone else's opinions don't really count. I had lots of people telling me I should just bottle feed as it would be easier for me, but I wanted to do what I felt was best, not what was easiest. :-)
I think the world health organisation recommend to bf for a year but they are the "world" health organisation and luckily here in the west we have some amazing formulas which other countries don't.
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Post by penny70 on Mar 10, 2014 18:34:44 GMT 1
I've got 4, BF all of them, wherever and whenever they needed it. Have been asked to feed them in the loo - refused (would the want to eat their lunch in the loo?) and have never been back there. Have been asked to leave places because of BFing, refused to do that too, and in fact, they then let me stay. Have found many places that are brilliant with BFing mums, including the cafe at my local supermarket! Also am a BFing peer supporter, at local baby cafe and at the baby cafe in our local hospital. Really important, if you can, to keep BFing till your baby is 2 (or older), as they won't get all they need from food until then. And remember that all the good things that BFing does for babies continues...the magic keeps working, and working. And of course, there are many health benefits for you too. Age-wise, my 4 all stopped at different ages. Number 1 self-weaned at the age of 16 months. I stopped number 2 from having any more just as he turned 2, and stopped number 3 just as he was turning 3. Number 4 still has a little in the evening when she goes to bed, and a little in the morning when she wakes up, and she is 4. I expect I'll leave her to self-wean. I never feed her in public any more - too many odd looks, and 'isn't she too old for that' etc even when she'd only just turned 3. In the end though, you've got to do what you feel is right, just make sure you don't feel pressured into giving up by anyone.
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wills
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Post by wills on Mar 10, 2014 21:49:22 GMT 1
Just a wee note for those not bfo g or moving on from it - follow on milk offers no extra benefits than full fat cows milk...
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Post by amelia on Mar 11, 2014 10:05:38 GMT 1
People really do need to stop forcing their opinions on others - just do whatever you think is best for you and your baby.
Tbh before having Jasper the thought of bf grossed me out a bit, I know it's totally natural but I've never even liked my nipples being touched particularly so didn't think I'd take to it at all - I already had a back up of formula to hand! But as soon as he was here it just felt like the most natural thing in the world and I love feeding him. I'll prob have to go back to work when he's only about 6 months old so will need to make sure he is happy to accept a bottle as well, hopefully expressed if possible and I'd ideally like to continue bf at least one feed a day until he's 1 year but I'll take the lead from him.
I Still have issues about getting my boobs out in public (don't have issues with other people doing it I'm just incredibly self conscious) so I bought a bebe au lait nursing cape and it's brilliant
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auburnalia
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Post by auburnalia on Mar 11, 2014 10:36:28 GMT 1
Just a wee note for those not bfo g or moving on from it - follow on milk offers no extra benefits than full fat cows milk... Cows milk should only be given as a drink when the baby reaches a year, so whilst I agree that it provides everything the baby needs from that stage (provided the baby is getting a varied diet and obtaining all the iron it needs from that diet) before that point and whilst weaning is still being established I think the follow on formulas have a place and provide peace of mind that your bubba is getting all the iron and vits they need to grow well, I suppose really what we're all "supposed" to do is exclusively breast feed to a year, because by that point they will be eating anything and everything and then swap the breast milk for full fat cows milk.... but life rarely works out like its supposed to!! I do however think that the stage 1 milks and follow on milks are pretty much the same, but then they are the same price too so I guess if you're going to feed them, it doesn't really matter which one you buy!
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Post by basilhorse on Mar 11, 2014 11:18:03 GMT 1
I think you should be very proud that you fed twins to 9 months yourself. That is awesome.
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auburnalia
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Post by auburnalia on Mar 11, 2014 11:38:31 GMT 1
I think you should be very proud that you fed twins to 9 months yourself. That is awesome. Thank you! Was not easy at first as I was having to express after every feed to get the supply up, even at 4am in the morning! I actually think I was in a blurred haze of madness!
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Post by amelia on Mar 11, 2014 12:07:34 GMT 1
I think you should be very proud that you fed twins to 9 months yourself. That is awesome. Thank you! Was not easy at first as I was having to express after every feed to get the supply up, even at 4am in the morning! I actually think I was in a blurred haze of madness! I have no idea how you managed it - bf one is challenging enough! I completely lose track of when he's fed in the night despite checking the time at every feed - it's all just a complete blur!
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wills
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Post by wills on Mar 11, 2014 16:10:43 GMT 1
Just a wee note for those not bfo g or moving on from it - follow on milk offers no extra benefits than full fat cows milk... Cows milk should only be given as a drink when the baby reaches a year, so whilst I agree that it provides everything the baby needs from that stage (provided the baby is getting a varied diet and obtaining all the iron it needs from that diet) before that point and whilst weaning is still being established I think the follow on formulas have a place and provide peace of mind that your bubba is getting all the iron and vits they need to grow well, I suppose really what we're all "supposed" to do is exclusively breast feed to a year, because by that point they will be eating anything and everything and then swap the breast milk for full fat cows milk.... but life rarely works out like its supposed to!! I do however think that the stage 1 milks and follow on milks are pretty much the same, but then they are the same price too so I guess if you're going to feed them, it doesn't really matter which one you buy! Yup agree completely Should have been more specific what I meant was the toddler milk ie the aptamil ones that have a 1 year + then a 2 years + and so on
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auburnalia
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Post by auburnalia on Mar 11, 2014 16:58:38 GMT 1
Ahh yes, I haven't got to that stage and forgot they did them for toddlers! You're totally right - its just advertising that makes us think that we must feed them! Naughty really!
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companymagic
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Post by companymagic on Mar 12, 2014 21:04:50 GMT 1
Thanks everyone for your support and advice. Some serious mummies here, twins and extended feeding wow ladies I take my hat off to you! I shall continue to feed my baby as long as he wants for us there is nothing more comforting than cuddling up together while he drifts off to sleep feeding awwww its been a journey that's for sure but well worth it!. So glad I started this thread some lovely advice and stories x x x
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Post by portiabuzz on Mar 13, 2014 12:44:49 GMT 1
reading with interest for the future xx
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Post by spanisheyes on Apr 19, 2014 22:14:47 GMT 1
Haha I only planned to do it for 6 months but my daughter will not under any circumstances take a bottle and although she now drinks from a cup she loves boob. I get self conscious feeding in public so use a hooter hider. I'm hoping that by the time she is 1 she will be down to a feed first and last thing. I miss wearing normal bras so much!
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Post by portiabuzz on Apr 20, 2014 8:51:05 GMT 1
Hooter hider ... Lol pmsl !!
Sent from my GT-I8160
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