how long did you breastfeed for?

Beatrice - love the puppy ticker....

Claudia_B - Troy is also all over the place but I found if I put him facing me and stradling sitting across my lap and then he is sitting upright and can drink boobie like that, also hides a bit more as it is a mission covering up at this age. Troy hates a blankie over his head!

Nicely put Claudia, that is what's motivating me to continue breastfeeding up to a year.

Simone C that is absolute rubbish. EVERY paediatric board recommends bfding for at least a year and most recommend 2.

Breastmilk does not change in constittion in any way - it still has antibodies, enzymes, live cultures etc.. Although complimentary food is important to supplement for things like iron, (some studies say that prolonged breastfeeding is associated with nutritional inadequancies, but this is only if complemantary foods are not introduced correctly) milk feeds are most important for any baby untill the age of one (the reason you have to stick with those bottles if you are formula feeding)

A childs immune system is only fully mature at about 5 years old, so breastmilk supports an immature immune system.
Other great apes feed their young till immune system maturity (Chimps for 4 years) and anthropologists believe that the natural weaning age of humans is that as well (which is why most children have an urge to suck on a dummy etc for that long)

Prolonged bfding helps reduce certain cancers in both the mother and the baby, and there is some research going into the use of human milk in fighting cancer in ADULTS. It shows a significant reduction in the amount of childhood lukemias. Reduces a moms risk of breast and cervical cancer (bfding for 1 year reduces your risk by up to 30%, another year by an additional 15%,etc..)

I'm not saying that we should all bf for years, just the myth that it looses its value is one that has been perpetuated by the modern world who undervalues nature and likes to rely on boxes of processed, genetically modified foods and supplements in tins..

I have read that after 9m there are no more health benefits to BF other than to bond. So if its his health you are worried about....9m is really a good time...you've done well!

Hi Vash
Well done for BF for 9 months!
I BF my first until he was a year and 6 months for my second.

Feeding and standing Claudia_B - now that must be interesting lol

I was told cows milk from 10m by my clinic.

As mentioned above try expressing but really - as gloeiwurpie says if you're not enjoying it don;r beat yourself up. Also remember you can alway just replace one or 2 feeds with formula instead of all of them. Eg keep the morning and night bfeed when he's sleepy any do formula in the day. It doesn't have to be a bf or formula debate. You can do both