When will I stop Breastfeeding Oliver?

It is funny how the first question out of most people's mouth when they know you are breastfeeding is " How long do you plan on doing that?"... My sarcastic side wants to shout out "FOREVER" or " Until he goes to College", none the less it is an annoying and ignorant question to ask a breastfeeding mom...

     I want to begin by giving a little background on my decision of breastfeeding and the bumpy road we had in the beginning...

      Well first off I understand my role as a woman as in that I have parts that make me able to carry and feed a baby, so therefore naturally and logically breastfeeding was what made sense to me. God created me to, so therefore I will. My mother breastfed me. I gave birth naturally with a mid-wife and it was clearly told to me that breast is best for my baby. Breast milk can not be manufactured and sold because it is a complex substance with living organisms. It contains everything your baby needs and changes with the needs of your baby. Reading study after study there was absolutely no doubt that I would exclusively breastfeed my baby. The ingredients in formulas, even organic ones disgusted me. So my choice was clear! The next question was how long would I breastfeed?

Ok so my mom breastfed me for 4-6 months...details and facts on this matter are a bit vague. So I figured before Oliver came that I too would breastfeed for around 6 months... and then I took pre-natal courses at the birth center with a lactation consultant and I realized it was better to breastfeed for longer so I bumped up my goal to one year being sufficient enough...

Well once Oliver was born things were tough...he didn't want to latch on, he was a lazy latcher and my nipples were a little short on top of that... so this was our first bump in the road! If it was not from the amazing support I received postpartum from the midwives I probably would have quit on the spot... My doula/lactation consultant from the birth center was at my house the following day and brought me a nipple shield. If you were like me and had no idea what a nipple shield was... it is a device that looks like a condom for your nipple. It extends further out than your natural nipple to give the baby more substance to latch on to. You use it until their suction is strong enough to nurse without it. With the shield we were good to go and I used that for about 2 months. Pain is also a deterrent. Yes there is pain! However it is usually from poor latching so if you fix the latch the pain goes away and stays away... Also in the beginning the baby is on your boobs pretty much 24/7 and this is what I believe the number one reason most women don't want to breastfeed... they want a break or some freedom. Well I have accepted and embraced my role as a mommy and I can honestly say that I don't want or need a break! I love my little Oliver. You have to learn to be very selfless in the beginning. I had issues with feeling non productive because I was sitting all day with a baby on me watching TV and browsing the WEB. I had to constantly remind myself that I am sustaining a live baby and that is VERY productive!

Well since I had lots of time in the beginning stages of breastfeeding I joined a couple groups on Facebook that offered me tremendous support. Two of the most helpful  groups were Respect the Breast and The Badass Breastfeeder.  I think I read every single post while breastfeeding and learned so much from other breastfeeding mothers. What I learned most was that breastfeeding was not only about nutrition but a bond between mother and baby...

This is when I decided that I will not stop breastfeeding at one...so when? That will be when Oliver and I are ready, could be one, two, three or more years... So this is where the ignorance of others shows up when I hear, "When they can ask for it, they are too old for it!".  Well Oliver has been asking for it since day one (vocally)! The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends that you breastfeed exclusively (NOTHING ELSE) for the first 6 months and then continue to breastfeed until at least 2 years. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months of life. This means your baby needs no additional foods (except Vitamin D) or fluids unless medically indicated. Babies should continue to breastfeed for a year and for as long as is mutually desired by the mother and baby. Breastfeeding should be supported by your physician for as long as it is the right choice for you and your baby. (http://www2.aap.org/breastfeeding/faqsbreastfeeding.html)

The other thing people don't realize is the bond that a mother has with her breastfeeding baby. This bond is one that you can not understand unless you are in it... I didn't understand it until now. You can not just cut it off cold turkey at a magic number of months or years. It is like snuggling with your child... you don't give an age limit to that, they just grow out of it. Cutting breastfeeding cold turkey is just COLD and heartless, it does have an affect on them emotionally. It is call weaning a child for a reason... and weaning is what I plan on doing. Obviously as Oliver begins to eat more solid food he will need less breastmilk to the point where it will just be a comfort session. Even though the nutrition benefits will ALWAYS be beneficial for him and his immunity.

Another thing to consider is that the weaning age varies from country to country where you have some cultures that wean around 7 years. If that seems odd to you again check your ignorance level on the topic. Don't judge mothers negatively, when they are doing the BEST for their children. Instead encourage mothers that choose to breastfeed! They are sacrificing not only their bodies but their lifestyle too.

Here are a few links that will help you understand why I am choosing to breastfeed Oliver full term (2-4 years):

- Kelly Mom on Breastfeeding Toddlers

- La Leche League on Breastfeeding Toddlers

- Myths about Breastfeeding a Toddler

- 10 Reasons to Breastfeed a Toddler

- How to Handle the Criticism of Breastfeeding a Toddler

-  6 Month Commitment/ The Virgin Gut