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Birth & Beginnings: childbirth conversations

Hello mothers and mothers-to-be! This blog focuses on pregnancy, childbirth, children, and parenting. Along with providing helpful information and resources, it is also a place to discuss choices and trends in these areas. The blog will inform and encourage mothers as we share and learn from each other. It is not a place to say that one opinion is better than another; instead it is a forum for camaraderie and for sharing personal experiences. So feel free to read, respond, and absorb information on a daily basis as together we traverse this world of motherhood.

Laura Tolman, CCE, LSP

Laura Tolman is a local certified childbirth educator and labor support professional. She also works as a postpartum doula. She and her husband are long time Alaskans and are the parents and forming relationships with families while learning about other cultures. In her free time Laura enjoys writing freelance articles, poetry, and the performing arts. Her favorite pastime is being with family and coaxing uproarious laughter out of her young son.

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How long to exclusively breastfeed?

Posted by mamas

Posted: May 15, 2008 - 4:56 pm

How long did you exclusively breastfeed your baby for? Do you plan on exclusively breastfeeding? Due to increased availability to moms of on-site lactation rooms and breast pumps, many mothers are making the choice to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. However, even with the research that has been presented on how a child benefits from breast milk, there are not many exclusively breastfed babies that reach six months of age.

A recent report published on Women’s E News discusses this topic. To read the full report, see Women's eNews.

I have met women who decided to introduce formula or solids in the first few months of live, while others have waited an entire year. There is a lot of controversy on this subject and much of it is due to culture or geography. Societal pressures come at moms from every angle and cause difficulty in decision making.

What are your thoughts on how long an infant should be breastfed exclusively?

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10 June 29, 2008 - 8:43pm | zoya

World Health Organization Recommendation

The current World Health Organization (WHO) Recommendation is for EVERY child to be breast fed for 2 years. This includes the United States.

As quoted from the WHO website:

"Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed(1) for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health(2). Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding from birth is possible except for a few medical conditions, and unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production."

July 3, 2008 - 9:52am | akvalleygirl74

The last sentence

of that post is so right on. It's why strict schedules for breastfed infants is so dangerous to successful breastfeeding. Books like Babywise can be great for mom (from what I hear) because they put baby on a strict schedule, but I have heard from MANY moms who used it and said they didn't have enough milk to keep their baby satisfied. If they'd have b/f on demand then they could have kept up with growth spurts and urged their bodies to produce what baby demanded.

As a mom of twins I'm a BIG proponent of schedules, but that involved waking the other twin when one twin wanted to eat and feeding them at the same time, bathing them one after the other, ect. Evenings were predictable in routine. But until a great milk supply is established, strict schedules that don't take into account a baby's hunger are so dangerous to successful breastfeeding. In other words, if there is any question of supply, a mom needs to become a human pacifier that is available whenever that baby fusses....a woman's body responds to her baby most times, but only if that baby is allowed to latch on and encourage more production.

9 May 31, 2008 - 11:27pm | steinfeld

babies

I have fond memories of nursing both my children. It was a special time - knowing that I was providing healthy nourishment while bonding/loving them. Baby #1 began to slowly wean herself and about age one was not very interested except at bedtime when she was sleepy. She got her teeth late so I had no problems with biting. Baby #2 weaned herself earlier, about age 7 or 8 months. She got her teeth early and sometimes would bite, ouch! One time she bit me very hard. I was sad when she weaned herself so early but it was probably okay since I was tired of being sore.

8 May 31, 2008 - 11:25pm | steinfeld

babies

June 1, 2008 - 11:06pm | mamas

biting and nursing

Ouch biting! My son had his chompers come in very early and he was always cutting teeth. Thankfully, he understood after the first couple of teeth, that breasts are not teething rings and there were other things he could chew on if that was his need. Nursing really became a comfort to him. It's amazing how children wean themselves at completely different ages and stages, they are all so unique.

7 May 27, 2008 - 9:46pm | zoya

Breastfeeding Makes Sense

When I had my kids, I never imagined I would breast feed for as long as I have!

Breastfeeding made so much sense-free, convenient, and such an easy way to sooth my kids. I breastfed my daughter until she was 22 months, and tandem nursed for 4 of those months. (My son is 15 months old and still nursing).
It is my experience that letting the baby wean when they are ready is the easiest for the mom and the baby. The research supports breast feeding for health benefits to the mom AND the baby.

I breastfeed in public places to help improve the awareness and acceptance of nursing women--it is so healthy for our kids and is the best gift we can ever give them. Mommy milk is nourishment for their bodies and souls. The nursing provides not only 100% perfect nourishment but bonding time too!

Neither of my kids have ever had formula and I am happy about this.

6 May 24, 2008 - 12:55pm | akvalleygirl74

I love this topic!

I b/f my oldest exclusively until she was about 5 months old and then introduced some solids a little at a time. She didn't have cow's milk until she was 1 and then broke out in excema from head to foot. She went on soy milk (and soy cheese and ice cream), and still b/f until she was 2 because we were both happy with it.

The twins were a bit more tricky, but I was a little older (30) and did a lot of research from other twin mommies. It was the hardest thing I've ever done and had major obstacles, but I b/f the twins until my dd was 18 months and was too busy and my ds was 2 and my dh and I went on a cruise and he didn't have access to me for 5 days. I am thankful I was forewarned as to how hard it would be, because if I'd have thought it was going to be as easy as it was with my oldest singleton I'd have been so shocked and overwhelmed I'd have given up.

My son took to nursing right away and had no issues at all. My dd was born at 5 lb 1 oz and got too tired and upset to nurse in the hospital so they wouldn't let me leave until I supplemented with formula (my milk wasn't in yet and they were worried about her weight loss). I had awesome lactation consultants at Prov that showed me how to use a hospital grade pump, and I pumped successfully for her while still keeping up my supply for my son. I kept trying to get her to nurse as the weeks went by, but she preferred the bottle (which was heartbreaking but understandable since it was easier). Finally at 6 weeks we had her at a really healthy weight and gave her slow-flow Aventi bottles that are very similar in feel and shape to a human nipple, and made her work for the pumped milk.

She decided one day that nursing was ok, and we never looked back. :) It was the happiest day ever, and I cried in joy! There were rare occasions when I needed a break and would leave them with dh and some pumped milk, but my son would fight it and would wait as long as he could for me to get home, only taking the bottle when he was famished. Stubborn boy.

They both took pacifiers from Day 1, and at 4 months old dd decided she liked her thumb better. At 6 months we took my ds's away from him and he found his thumb, which worked fine. I am glad we weaned them off of the pacis that early, because I never wanted to have my toddler walking around with a paci in her mouth. I found them obnoxious. LOL I'm also thankful we never had to wean them off of bottles, which can also be a big undertaking the older they get.

There are many moms that can't b/f for many reasons, and I would never judge them for that. Life can't always go as we plan and no mom should judge another until walking in their shoes. But there is a LOT to be gained by getting in touch with other nursing moms and La Leche League if any problems arise, instead of just assuming that the bottle is the only route to go. If you want it bad enough, there might be ways to overcome the obstacles placed in front of you. Not always, but many times. Even moms of multiples who think it can't be done.

5 May 17, 2008 - 9:49am | Beth_451

Neat Stories

I love these stories. They are all very encouraging! Thank you!

4 May 17, 2008 - 8:50am | mamas

Nursing Journey

I had to return to work when my son was 10 weeks old. That was difficult, but I was determined to keep my milk supply up and not supplement at all (unless something drastic happened. Whoever said "don't cry over spilled milk" never expressed breast milk before and then had the container spill the contents everywhere). I pumped day and night in-between feedings to make sure I would have enough milk for him while I was working. I was able keep him on breast milk exclusively for the first six months. However, he had several teeth at that point and was making a huge fuss when people would eat in front of him. We introduced solids and continued breastfeeding.

When I became pregnant, he was just over a year old, but neither of us were ready to give up nursing. I nursed him through the whole first trimester (I did take some additional vitamins and took in some extra nutritional calories as well). He had all his teeth and was eating three solid meals a day, plus snacks. Still we nursed. Then at 15 months, he was just ready, and weaned.

I loved nursing my son, even with the awkward situations that sometimes occured there was support from other mothers. One time I was in an airport bathroom, breastpump on the counter, pumping away in full view of the ladies. Admidst aghast looks, one woman came up to me and said she was a lactation consultant and wanted to applaud me! I had similar experiences and for every negative or hateful comment or look from a strange, I received double the kindness and support from other women.

I can't wait to begin the nursing journey with my new infant when she arrives!

June 25, 2008 - 11:00pm | zoya

Wow!

Wow! Great story-especially the part about pumping in the bathroom. Kudos to you and what a wonderful gift you gave your son-all of that wonderful breastmilk and bonding time for all those months.

I nursed through my pregnancy and it sure is exhausting. I empathized when you talked about taking the extra vitamins, eating more, etc... I remember feeling like I could eat all day!

And I agree, that nursing is worth the akward moments. My girlfriend said she nurses in as many different public places as possible just to improve breastfeeding awareness and I try to do this when I'm out and about (within reason). The more casual breastfeeding moms are about it, the more accepted it will become. We have to tackle it one feeding at a time! :)

3 May 17, 2008 - 6:23am | akvbacmom

Ideally, until solids are

Ideally, until solids are introduced around 6 months of age and then breastfeeding continuing on at least until one. Although, orgs like the World Health Organization recommend up to age two. I know social and other barriers make this difficult to do and some women don't choose this route. Still,the health benefits of breastfeeding don't stop when solids are introduced or when a child turns one so continuing as long as is mutually agreeable between mom and baby is great.

With my first I only breastfed exclusively for the first 3 months, then I started supplementing some with formula. I was working at home but leaving my son with grandma at times because of some large projects I was working on at the time. I had a cheap and useless electric breast pump and a manual pump that worked well, but was time consuming, so I wasn't pumping enough and at the time I really didn't think it was a big deal for him to get an occasional bottle. I also usually gave him bottles when we were out because my husband wasn't so comfortable with me nursing in public. My son was still mostly breastfed though. However, at 8 months, he decided he was done with nursing. First he started refusing to nurse during the day and then altogether.

With my second, we had a lot of trouble starting out nursing due to his 13 day stay in the NICU and health problems. This time I got a hospital-grade pump to use and other than the first few days in the NICU, I was able to supply him with all the milk he needed. He had nipple confusion from the bottles and some other latch issues too. I actually didn't get him latched on until he was almost a month old. After that his health issues prevented me from exclusively nursing he was half nursing and half taking expressed milk. No formula though. He had to have major surgery at 3 months old and after that, he was able to nurse full time and actually refused bottles from the day he was discharged from the hospital after his surgery.

I exclusively nursed him for 6 months after that. I decided to delay introducing solids until 9 months when I felt he was more ready. This time, since he wouldn't take a bottle, my husband had to just get used to the fact I would nurse in public so we did anywhere and everywhere. I'm happy to say he's changed his attitude about that and fully supports women feeding their babies anywhere now. My son continued nursing until he was 19 months old and he weaned on his terms.

2 May 16, 2008 - 11:48am | ximi2003

I breastfed my son for 11

I breastfed my son for 11 months , and I would have loved to continue longer but a medical issue forced me to stop breastfeding him. Although he was also eating baby food by then , I returned to work when he was 6 weeks old so for the first 6 months I pumped milk. The good thing about my job was that after I had my son I changed my career path and decided to work in a day care. I saw him all day and when it was needed I was given breaks to feed him, and the milk I pumped was for when I was too busy to feed him.
While I was in Europe I saw many mothers feeding thier children to the age of 5. Personally I think 5 is alittle too long , but thats just my view.

1 May 16, 2008 - 9:10am | Beth_451

My thoughts

Here I am, the unexperienced one again weighing in!

I would love to breastfeed my baby as long as possible. There are so many studies showing that breast milk is the best possible food for babies, on many different levels, and there is no substitute. I would love to breastfeed for over a year and will do everything possible to encourage my milk supply to be available for as long as possible.

That being said, I do know that babies begin to want more variety around six months or so and since this coincides with new teeth and ability to eat it, this seems natural to me. I hope to get one of those food mills and make my own baby food from vegetables and some fruit, slowly incorperating other things. I have learned that introducing grains too early can lead to allergies as babies do not have a lot of the enzymes to digest grains until they are about two. Soaking the grains with a little bit of lemon juice before cooking them can help make the grains more digestable (for anyone). I hope to do a lot more research.

I hope that I NEVER have to use store bought formula. The ingredient list on many is nasty (soy, HFCS, etc). Add to that the chemicals that they have recently found leached into the formulas (from the containers), and it seems something to avoid entirely. I have been reading up on alternative formulas that I can make at home. I might just stock up on those ingredients so that I have them on hand for if I absolutely need them. This is what I say now, but if it came down to feeding canned formula or nothing, of course I would never let my baby starve.

Most of the women I know with babies right now don't breastfeed for many different reasons. Guilt tripping or shaming is mean and inappropriate. I know I will probably do things that others don't approve of, and I don't want people following me around telling me what a big mistake I'm making. Obviously many, many babies have grown up healthy and strong on canned formulas. But if anyone ever asks me what I think, I do have an opinion which I can share kindly.

May 17, 2008 - 9:41pm | mamas

Research

I think that it is admirable that you have done so much research in this area. A lot of people start solids when the doctor says to and start on grains because it is the norm. But with all the new information that is coming out, it's good for parents to be educated in this area. Thanks for sharing.

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Laura Tolman, CCE, LSP

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How long to exclusively breastfeed?