Extended Nursing

I have been receiving comments about when I am going to wean Zach and after reading Casey's blog (www.beautifulletdown.net) about extended nursing I decided to put my own reasons down. Thanks Casey. :)

R nursed for 2 years and 1 month. The only reason he weaned was because I had to get my wisdom teeth removed and I couldn't nurse him and keep up enough strength for myself. He was okay with it and hasn't missed it. He's never asked questions, he's never asked to nurse. It was time for both of us. With R I did get some comments but never many because I wasn't at home and around people. Ex did make comments so I just chose to not nurse around him. He knew I was still nursing but as long as he didn't have to see it, he was okay with it.

Z has been a booby baby from the get go. He has nursed on demand his entire life. In the beginning we had so many problems that I almost gave up. We developed thrush ( http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush/index.html ) and because of thrush I had horrible holes in my nipples. I had cracked, bleeding nipples, thrush, an over active let down ( http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html ) , a milk sensitive baby, the problems kept coming and coming. I almost gave up because I was in so much pain but I knew I loved nursing too much to give up. Once 6 weeks hit, life got better. Things finally clicked. I started block nursing to help combat the overactive letdown, thrush finally went away and our nursing relationship really began.

I was in no rush to begin solids with Z because I knew that he was getting everything he needed from nursing. When he did start them, nursing didn't decrease, in fact I think it increased some days. He loves to nurse. He loves the comfort.

So here we are, 1 year and still nursing strong. Starting school is going to put up another road block in our nursing relationship but I'm going to keep doing it. I will pump during the day if I need to and then let him nurse away at night.

Extended nursing is not for everyone. I respect that so all I ask in return is that you respect my decision to continue our nursing relationship.

Here are some wonderful resources for you to read, if you so choose, about extended nursing and the benefits.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/index.html

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496

Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection.^{30,34,128,178–184} Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.¹⁸⁵