Comments on: Breastfeeding until age 3, 4, or 5: more common than you think? http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/ Just another mama musing about her kids, Attachment Parenting, green living, activism, living with an anxiety disorder, and life in general Wed, 23 May 2012 15:01:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: mommabeck http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/comment-page-4/#comment-29917 mommabeck Fri, 18 May 2012 09:31:16 +0000 http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/#comment-29917 I nursed my 1st through a pregnancy with my 2nd& he self weaned almost immediately upon delivery proclaiming he did not like the new milk & asking me sadly several time to turn my momma faucets off. :( He was about 3 1/2 the last attempt he made to nurse, but he hadn't *really* nursed the previous 6 months...just brief attempts. I am still nursing #2 at 2 1/2 yrs & the now 5 yr old often come s& cuddles us during nursing & it very much still feels like his way of "nursing" still. I have a small online network of support sisters - but IRL I know NO ONE that has nursed nearly this long. I never would have imagined *I* would be "that mom" lol. Imagine, before pregnancy, I had never even considered nursing. Just goes to show no one is a lost cause - keep educating mommas - that is what woke me up. I am thankful for the info & support of online lactivists & their education of me. It is why I nursed & then when I nursed for so long too. Now I try to go out there & share what I know & offer support & encouragement to other moms. I am not a closet nurser. I am loud & proud. :) I nursed my 1st through a pregnancy with my 2nd& he self weaned almost immediately upon delivery proclaiming he did not like the new milk & asking me sadly several time to turn my momma faucets off. :( He was about 3 1/2 the last attempt he made to nurse, but he hadn’t *really* nursed the previous 6 months…just brief attempts. I am still nursing #2 at 2 1/2 yrs & the now 5 yr old often come s& cuddles us during nursing & it very much still feels like his way of “nursing” still.

I have a small online network of support sisters – but IRL I know NO ONE that has nursed nearly this long. I never would have imagined *I* would be “that mom” lol. Imagine, before pregnancy, I had never even considered nursing. Just goes to show no one is a lost cause – keep educating mommas – that is what woke me up. I am thankful for the info & support of online lactivists & their education of me. It is why I nursed & then when I nursed for so long too.

Now I try to go out there & share what I know & offer support & encouragement to other moms. I am not a closet nurser. I am loud & proud. :)

]]> By: Lindsey http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/comment-page-4/#comment-29913 Lindsey Fri, 11 May 2012 01:56:29 +0000 http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/#comment-29913 Thank you again for the read, it's good to hear after all the negatives we hear. Just putting my own experience in - my son lost interest in breastfeeding at about 14 months, my daughter still woke for a night feed on occaision till she was a little over 4. In response to the question of how long it takes for you to not have milk anymore - I found after my son weaned that I still had some supply right up until my daughter was born 3 years later. It wasn't a lot or enough to cause discomfort, nor was it enough to actually feed a child but I wondered if it would come back if stimulated by feeding. I honestly didn't realise it was still there until about a year later. I've always been amazed at the mother's body and her ability to produce food as needed, whether it be a few weeks or a few years - truly incredible design! Thank you again for the read, it’s good to hear after all the negatives we hear.

Just putting my own experience in – my son lost interest in breastfeeding at about 14 months, my daughter still woke for a night feed on occaision till she was a little over 4.

In response to the question of how long it takes for you to not have milk anymore – I found after my son weaned that I still had some supply right up until my daughter was born 3 years later. It wasn’t a lot or enough to cause discomfort, nor was it enough to actually feed a child but I wondered if it would come back if stimulated by feeding. I honestly didn’t realise it was still there until about a year later. I’ve always been amazed at the mother’s body and her ability to produce food as needed, whether it be a few weeks or a few years – truly incredible design!

]]> By: Sarah http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/comment-page-4/#comment-29908 Sarah Tue, 01 May 2012 20:47:34 +0000 http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/#comment-29908 I do not know why it was stated that children get "funny" shaped mouths from all nipples be it breast or bottle. In fact children who breast feed develop strong cheek and jaw muscles which keeps them looking youthful well into middle age and beyond!! I do not know why it was stated that children get “funny” shaped mouths from all nipples be it breast or bottle. In fact children who breast feed develop strong cheek and jaw muscles which keeps them looking youthful well into middle age and beyond!!

]]> By: abigail-mynappytales http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/comment-page-3/#comment-29906 abigail-mynappytales Tue, 01 May 2012 17:38:49 +0000 http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/#comment-29906 I nursed my son till he was 2 years old this norm is widely accepted in my home country (Philippines) and now that I am pregnant with baby #2 I'm looking forward to breastfeed her till she's ready to move on. It makes me sad though to hear some parents claiming that you should only breastfeed till the baby is 6 months since after that they are no longer getting the nutrition required. I nursed my son till he was 2 years old this norm is widely accepted in my home country (Philippines) and now that I am pregnant with baby #2 I’m looking forward to breastfeed her till she’s ready to move on.

It makes me sad though to hear some parents claiming that you should only breastfeed till the baby is 6 months since after that they are no longer getting the nutrition required.

]]> By: Amy L http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/comment-page-3/#comment-29895 Amy L Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:01:22 +0000 http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/#comment-29895 My sweet girl finally stopped nursing, at 3 years and 3 months. I have to say, both of us miss it, but nursing has been replaced by "just" snuggling, chatting, and hanging out. I don't regret a single day of nursing. Not one. Love to all of you! My sweet girl finally stopped nursing, at 3 years and 3 months. I have to say, both of us miss it, but nursing has been replaced by “just” snuggling, chatting, and hanging out. I don’t regret a single day of nursing. Not one. Love to all of you!

]]> By: Momma70 http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/comment-page-3/#comment-29894 Momma70 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:49:15 +0000 http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-until-age-3-4-or-5-more-common-than-you-think/#comment-29894 I want to quickly respond to Taylor's question, "What is the benefit to it, if a mother no longer has milk?." The system is beautifully simple. Your breasts replace the milk that is removed. So we can make milk for as long as our children want it. When our children want more, they nurse more frequently and stimulate more production. It works the same with a 3 or 4 year old as it does with a newborn. Over time as our children wean, they nurse less and less frequently, so our breasts have less to replace. What I don't know is what the minimum is. I've heard of women going on trips for many days but still producing milk when they return. I'm curious about that. I want to quickly respond to Taylor’s question, “What is the benefit to it, if a mother no longer has milk?.”

The system is beautifully simple. Your breasts replace the milk that is removed. So we can make milk for as long as our children want it. When our children want more, they nurse more frequently and stimulate more production. It works the same with a 3 or 4 year old as it does with a newborn. Over time as our children wean, they nurse less and less frequently, so our breasts have less to replace.

What I don’t know is what the minimum is. I’ve heard of women going on trips for many days but still producing milk when they return. I’m curious about that.

]]>