How long should woman breast feed for?

[Cassandrajane]

I'm watching this thing on tv, this woman breast feeds her daughter who is 8 breast milk. I read something a few days ago her son is 14 and is still breastfed.
I am all for breast feeding personally I cant do it, but I will express so it gets breast milk. I am not comfortable with breastfeeding. But expressing Yes...
Am I wrong for expressing and not breast feeding.
Because baby's daddy wants to feed too because he will be at work 12 hrs a day and wont get much bonding and he feels this will help bonding, And my dad felt left out because my step mum breastfeeds where as I was bottle fed and my dad got to feed me,

Anyways....
Its not really a question. But I think 8 and 14 are WAY tooo old to still be on the boob? Or am I being a hypocrite? (I cant spell)
and am I selfish for wanting too Expressing but not feeding directly from the breast??

x

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I won't BF past 1 year.  My little Mary just turned 10 months old July 10th.  I am looking forward to having my boobs back to myself honestly.  And I love BFing my babies, but since I am doing it exclusively, I am just ready for my boobs to belong to me again.  LOL!  It is great and I DO love it, but it is also very demanding; especially when you have several other kids to take care of.  After one year, it isn't medically necessary anymore it just doesn't feel right to me anymore.  I am not saying anything about anyone that does the extended breastfeeding thing, but I don't.

As far as 8 and 14......Ewwww!!!  What they do in other cultures is what they do in other cultures, but I am from THIS one and I think that at that age, is just plain yucky.

[LauraB78]

Breastfeeding is a very personal topic. If you are unable to BF, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with pumping and feeding your child from a bottle. Michael Jordan was breastfed until he was 7 or 9 years old. I can't remember which, but I read an article about it 6 months ago. Actually, Americans BF far shorter of a period than most other cultures in the world. With that said, I get a little annoyed with many of these BF issues because oftentimes, people are very anti-formula, and breastmilk is the ONLY/BEST way to go, and that hurts me personally.. I wanted to BF my child, but you know what.. I didn't produce ANY milk.. NONE.. Not a drop. I am good friends with the LLL (Le Leche League) leader in my area, and she was at my house, I spoke to a lactation consultant, AND had the the L&D nurse at my home 2 days after being discharged from the hospital, and NO one could figure out WHY.. I just didn't produce milk.. IT NEVER CAME IN! There was NOTHING.. I pumped for nearly a week, every hour! AND NOT A F-REAKING a drop of breast milk.. Sooo, I think sometimes people should be more sensitive and realize that not everyone CAN breastfeed, and if people are considering other options.. BE supportive..

[JoyRenee]

I hadn't read any of your other comments about your nipple complications. Expressing is definitely a great alternative to formula feeding. No matter how you get that breastmilk to baby the breastmilk will be the best food for them. Expressing/pumping is definitely a viable option.

[msteri]

sorry... the site is kelly mom . com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html

[msteri]

Here is info from ************ about heating milk:

To warm milk

Heat water in a cup or other small container, then place frozen milk in the water to warm; or
Use a bottle warmer.

NEVER microwave human milk or heat it directly on the stove.

The cream will rise to the top of the milk during storage. Gently swirl milk (do not shake) to mix before checking temperature and offering to baby.

***********************/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html

[Cassandrajane]

Okay,
Well at my last midwife apt she said I have no more????
untill some one rings me?? But I wanna be put into classes to be more comfortable but I dont think I will be?? because I apprently dont have no more midwife apts??

But everything will be fine im guessing?

x

[Clysta]

I've never heard of anything being lost. It's still breastmilk, even if it's not directly from the breast.

[Cassandrajane]

I plan to heat it in boiling water... in the bottle like boil the kettle and then stick the bottle in a jug full of hot water... Because I dnt like microwaves and milk LOL....
So yeah...
So you doubt nothing will get lost from expressing??

x

[Clysta]

I wouldn't imagine it does. I know heating it improperly can. You can talk to any consultant and they'll be able to explain it to you. I never checked because I don't intend to express often so what she's fed will likely be straight from breast to bottle to her belly.

[Cassandrajane]

But you dont lost any of he goodness if you express do you??
Its all the same right? Nothing gets lost and its just as good just from a bottle!!! I am so scared!!! Can you heat up breastmilk if you express a few at a time to last through that day?
I dont want formula... I just dont, again I'd be paranoid and everything about it...
I want to express... And my midwife thinks this is good I am comfortabble just scared that the goodness will get lost or something?? And then its not getting the things its meant to out of breastfeeding!!
It doesnt get lost does it?/
x

[Clysta]

I think it's to each their own. I intend to breastfeed (and if she'll take bottles) to express so DF can feed her, along with my family. But if she doesn't take em, can't really force it. I think BFing at 8 and 14 is a little extreme, but each culture is different. In fact average breastfeeding length is till a child is around 4 years old, just because many cultures let the child self wean. This is good because in many places, formula is far too expensive, water is unclean and it's just all around better. If you choose to express, do it. That's your choice.

[Cassandrajane]

Im not against breastfeeding. My boyf wants to feed like I said because of his hours and stuff....
I want to still give it breastmilk but cant from my breast because of my nipples...
so it willbe expressed... I just dont wanna seem stupid for not breastfeeding... and stuff...
I will be more comfortable as a person within myself with my BDD and anorexia depression and stuff if i expressed....
It is the same isnt it... I will still feel close in other ways, and everything....

expressong is the same as breastfeeding just not from the breast right?? Nothing is lost or anything?

x

[JoyRenee]

I've heard it explained like this- baby cows drink cow milk because they come from cows. Babies come from their human mother. Why would you feed a baby or child milk that is not meant for them? Women lactate for a reason. Babies should have human milk, not cow milk.

Cow milk is actually very difficult for us to digest. If you drink too much you will throw up and it can cause intestinal and digestive problems.

That being said I don't necessarily agree 8 and 14 year olds should be breastfeeding. Perhaps the mother expresses her milk to give to her children rather than buying cow milk. The human body is truly amazing.

I'm still breastfeeding my almost-9-month-old daughter. However her older sisters were formula fed because I wasn't prepared to breastfeed whatsoever and gave up. The reason I succeeded with breastfeeding this time was persistence and small goals. My first goal was reach 4 weeks, then 3 months, etc., etc. My baby refuses bottles even though I've tried to express/pump for her.

Breastfeeding, rather than expressing, in the long run is going to be better for your breasts and milk production. Even if breastfeeding seems "weird" or kooky to you it is the most natural thing in the world. That is what breasts are for. You may change your mind and find that you truly enjoy breastfeeding and having such an intimate closeness with your child that you can't and don't have with anyone else.

[Cassandrajane]

Oh if its ffor religion and stuff then yeah, but I understand for comfort and things, im not ssaying its wrong, its just i thought 2 and a half was the yeah...
my nipples are sore 24hrs a day and everything, plus its what i feel bettter doing as well. Becauuse my SIL planned to breast feed for a week and her daughter doesnt take bottles at all... now she is stuck doing something she didnt want to actually do for longer than a week. But it will be having breast milk so it will get the 'best' as they say. Just not straight from my boob....
I wont be able to because of my nipples...
So yeah, plus I dont want my BF to be left out... because of his hours and everything, he wants to bond and feels thats one way how and stuff.

But as long as its getting breast and im comfortable it should be okay right?

I also suffer from BDD.... because of my anorexia which will also make it harder to feed because I will just find stuff wrong and panic (even if there is nothing wrong) I will see spots on my face that are NOT there but i can see them... All linked to Depression and Paranoia...
But my things on my nipples are there LOL.... My gp has seen them and doesnt know what it is. and my Boyf comments on them all the time and it puts me down because i feel he is sickened by them and stuff.... the same with the whole of my body!!

LOL..
x

[Spiket77]

Cassandrajane...that sounds like a good option considering your breast issue. You could always talk to a lactation consultant and find out what they recommend.

I wanted to comment that in some cultures women breastfeed for longer than you might be used to. I don't know about the situation you are referencing from television. I have to admit that 14 seems extreme. But, in some areas breastfeeding longer is not only a matter of health but also a economic must. Just something to consider.

I'm going to try and breastfeed for a year but I'm not going to beat myself up about it. Sometimes you have to stop earlier. I'm a little afraid of teeth :)

[zazou]

I love to BF my daughter, it creates a wonderful special bond and I know exactly when she wants to feed, and when she sees my breasts she gets soooooooo excited. My daughter is  13 months old and I still have alot of milk, thankfully and plan on BF until she is 2. But I have to admit 8 and 14 is a bit long....

Every one has their own reasons, but if you want to pump then that's great as nothing beats breast milk. Why don't you give it a go and then see what it's like????? About weaning, I know many babies that wean off on their own, every baby and situation is different, it's gradual and can't happen at once.

[Cassandrajane]

Its not I am uncomfortable, I wouldnt be able too...
I have weird lumps around my nipples that pus, but they are not spots or zits I duno what they are ive had them since ive had boobs really. So it would scare me. but my GP said I can express and it be fine. because I can put something over the 'spots things' and express.... whereas I wouldnt be able to put a plaster on and breastfeed, I am always on the go, and the dadddy wants to bond due to working 12 hour shifts 6 days a week. He REALLY wants to feed or he will feel left out. Plus he said it would help him quit smoking as well...
HE REALLLLLLY WANTS TO FEEED. LOL.
But I will express so it gets everything,
and I will not be able to wean them off whereas I would with bottles I have done it with my brother and sister, my step mum finds it hard to wean them off....

Its something I want to doo... But just worried. But I want it to have the best... Breast and expressing is the best option for me I think...
im not being stupid about it am i??

x

[jschoch8]

ideally for at least 1 year so your baby wouldnt have to be given formula. why are you not comfortable with breastfeeding? the best is to breastfeed exclusively for 3-4 weeks and then you can pump when you like after. I will probably pump for when others will watch her or if the hubby wants to feed her. there are many other things the father can do to bond with the baby and he can be the one to burp after.

[NicoleW09]

No, I sort of feel the same way. I'm all for breastfeeding, and I will most likely express my breastmilk as well. I feel like breastfeeding children who are 8 and 14 is just...well, honestly...gross. I may be wrong for saying that, but I feel like it's wrong for your 14 year old son to come home from high school and stick his head under your shirt and nurse. Then again, I knew a lady who had a toddler who ate solid food and he would just walk up to her an say, "nurse." and stick his head under his mom's shirt and start breastfeeding. I feel like breastfeeding is a wonderful thing, but there comes a time when you have to stop because it becomes unhealthy...in a way.