How long is too long to breastfeed?

if you can feel teeth, they aren't nursing properly.

 

If you're breastfeeding, you shouldn't feel teeth. And breastfeeding for 12-18 months will ensure that you're breastfeeding a baby with teeth.

 

Okay, this might be stupid and OT, but I was watching old episodes of ER the other day, and one of the characters had twins. One baby down, one to go - they take #1 to the nursery and say she'll come back after the other one is out. She says "what if she wants to nurse? I'm breastfeeding" and they just say "oh it's okay, we'll just supplement"

I wanted to be outraged when I saw this! There wasn't even any question of it, just "we'll supplement". Seems to me like baby's first meal should be mama's milk if it's at all possible. But then it occurred to me that maybe this is normal and acceptable for a twin birth.

Either way, it's just tv I guess - the whole thing just kinda pissed me of, though...
I'm putting far too much thought into it!

 

Even twins can nurse at birth. But it is standard procedure in some hospitals to just supplement. Most mommas, from what I've read, have to be really loud about how they want their child dealt with for anything to be done properly.

 

ER is very anti breastfeeding. There was a show a few years ago, where a womyn supposedly KILLED her baby by taking a pharmeceutical dose of amphetamine while breastfeeding to stay awake for her full time job and "night feedings."

Some of us on Lacnet did some research and it was discovered that so little amphetamine is excreted in breastmilk, the mother would have to take enough to die EIGHT TIMES OVER in order to even make the baby sick through her milk. In other words, in order to have enough of the drug in her milk to have killed the baby, she (the mother) would have been dead for hours before she even got to the baby to feed him.

Most TV shows are supported by big drug companies, many of which have branches with make forumla. They have an interest in making bottle feeding the "norm" and making breastfeeding look as difficult or weird as possible, and, in some cases, as dangerous as possible.

You can put a NO SUPPLEMENT order on your Birth Plan. I did with my last three kids. As long as the doctor signs it, and you get enough copies to the hospital in time (my OB likes the Birth Plans, all 7 copies of them, submiited to him to sign and send off to the hospital by 34 weeks gestation.) Then they will ONLY supplement if it is MEDICALLY neccesary (which is damn rare) and they have to get your written permission to do so.

As for the teeth, what the other mamas said. I've nursed kids with a full set, molars and everything. If the baby is latched properly, the teeth will cause NO problems at all. You do not feel them.

And some babies get teeth at three months of age, in most situations, WAY too young to be weaned.

 

totally depends on your hospital, some would supplement your baby regardless of your birth plan, then the nurse just claims ignorance, or standard procedure, she was fixing bottles for all the babies in the nursery... If they give away formula samples, best thing to do is keep baby with you or your partner at all times, never let them out of your sight. But, it is your choice to make, not theirs. Mom gets to decide what they do to her and her babies. Doctors and nurses cannot override parents wishes except in life and death situations. All you have to do is stand firm with them (which is not always an easy thing to do).

My mom's generation was of the mistaken idea that babies should no longer nurse once they get teeth. I was one of the lucky few, I didn't get my first tooth until I was 15 months old and she was pregnant with my sister!!

 

kai got teeth really early, but hell, i hardly felt them at all, and only when she would start teething again and sometimes she's bite down. but nipples are pretty durable. kai was exclusively breastfeed for nearly 8 months, then she was suddenly read for solid foods. by the time she was a year old, she didn't want the breast at all, she wanted finger food and water. god, this kid drinks a lotta water.

 

My son Wilne is still BF'ing, he's a real nipple-twister tho. Sometimes he goes back and forth btwn the 2 like in a trance.

I had to deliver in the hospital for failure to progress, and he developed a respiratory distress syndrome ( paper-work snafu having to do with Group B + strep, being positive and not knowing it), anyway, I kept telling them not to suppliment, and they kept telling me his blood glucose levels and alluding to brain damage. He also had a hard time getting the latch on thing. I pumped and drank that mother's milk tea like it was going outta style. No breastfeeding? NOT an option. So anyway, they supplimented while he was in the NICU, and when we went home, we nursed.

He is still a crazy boobie-boy, and I personally am over it, but cannot imagine weaning. I guess we'll just keep on nursing until isn't his thing anymore. I've discovered that dentist's try to get you to wean using the dental-caries myth as related to night-nursing over 12 months. WRONG. We brush, with a natural bristle brush and weleda baby toothpaste, rinse, also sometimes use a washcloth.

My Son tends to not drink a lot. Sometimes I wish he would drink more. And then there's this nipple issue. Twisting and turning. My boobies are no longer mine, but I don't care anymore!

 

guess that means that we're exactly average.

i can remember, in my life pre-child, reading a magazine article that talked about some 'scandelous' situation where a 4 year old grabbed at his mama's blouse and screamed for breastmilk in the checkout line at the grocery. Now, i think about that story and wonder why the child wasnt taught any nursing manners. i mean, really! sheesh...it's just not polite to be screaming at pple or tearing at their clothing. The 'still breastfeeding at age 4' thing totally doesnt phase me, it's the lack of teaching respect that irks me. And, that mother could be a bit more in tune with her kiddo too. maybe they've already done 8 other errands, and it's past time to eat something or take a break already... bleh...sometimes pple expect too much of small children.

...Anyways, perspective changes as people become more experienced.

 

My kids, once they were a year or so old, never "tore" at my clothing and screeched. Like you said, this thing was more the mom waiting too long to tend to the child. Although some kids have a quick flash point, and can go from calm, to nutty in a matter of minutes or less. (My first kid is like this. But she never screamed for the breast in inappropriate situations.) I taught my kids, when they could speak, to ask nicely. And once they are over a year and a half or so, depends on the kid, they usually can wait until you can get to them.

Poor Sage, the youngest of 4 kids. She started calling breastfeeding "Mina mina."(with a short i .) She would say, "Mama. Mina mina?" I thought she was trying to say "nummie nummie" which is what we call it. My dh pointed out, "You often say, 'In a minute, Sage.' Because you are so busy." She was probably trying to say "in a minute" (she was only about a year old.) OMG. I almost cried when I realized that was the reason. But, even at this age, she was polite about it.

 

Wilne says "tee-tee" and points to his cheek. I tried to teach him the sign for milk, but it evolved from that into the pointing to the cheek, and saying nee-ner-nee-ner to tee-tee. He sometimes has manners, and sometimes not. Usually when we're out and about, he waits until we get into the car. The lactating Goddess has blessed me with the ablity to nurse while he's strapped into the carseat. That helps.

 

I could see my oldest screaming to nurse, but not at four, maybe at two... because when she goes too long without nursing she gets completely unglued. It's just a matter of recognizing and respecting the child's earlier signs of needing to nurse, before it gets to that point! She calls it "nummy-nums" or just "nurse" and the little one calls it "yummy nummy"


It is so funny how your perspective changes. Not too long ago, my little one was a little agitated by so many people at a friend's baby shower, and put her arm inside my shirt to comfort herself. I didn't think anything of it, and said something to my pregnant friend like "yup, that's a breastfed baby for you" and then happened to see the look of horror and revulsion on someone else's face. Okay, so I didn't know many of these people, but I had to nurse my baby a little later, and I did it right there on the sofa while everyone watched the mom-to-be open her presents beside me where they all had a very clear view of my toddler being fed like it was the most normal thing no big deal, and without me showing the slightest bit of skin. I found it amusing and was so proud of myself, but with my first child at that age, I probably would have gone somewhere else to nurse out of sight.

 

I'm so proud of you YOU GODDESS YOU! Hey, I had a moment like that when I flew out from Denver to Cali. when Wilne was 4 months old, I had to whip it out on take-off with all business ppl surrounding me, the only one who got bent outta shape was the woman. Go figure. I sweated a little. P.S~ by the pic. om your siggy~ beau-ti-ful babies!!

 

IMO, there is no such thing as breastfeeding for too long.

 

I think everything I would have shared has already been covered (especially the Kellymom links - I LOVE Kellymom!), so I'll just share my experiences. My husband was breastfed till he was almost 5. He is SO close to his mom, plus he's really smart and healthy (except for that little bit of pudge round his belly ). I plan on doing child-led weaning with my son Taylor. He's now 14 months old and still nursing. I want to go for at least two years (the MINIMUM recommended by the World Health Organization). When he's latched on right, I don't feel his teeth at all (he's got six) and if he bites, he's not nursing, so boobie goes away. I love being able to cuddle my little boy, all soft and wet and warm, fresh from the bath, and nurse him. I love kissing his hands and nibbling on his toes and tickling his ribs while he nurses and looks up at me so sweetly. *sigh* Now I'm getting all mushy...

 

I never saw this thread before. Whoa. I thought I'd add my experience.

My first born, who is now six-years-old, stopped nursing at 10-months-old. He just wasn't into it anymore, I guess he was just more satisfied with a bottle. I was in school, and his dad would give him one while I was away. Maybe I dried up. Who knows. I wish I could've nursed him longer, but since he wasn't into it, I just let it go at that.

My daughter, who is now 19-months-old, is still nursing. She absolutely loves it. There are times when I'm just not in the mood though. If she's being extra rough with me, like squeezing and pinching, I'll tell her no and that "mommy needs a break right now". Sometimes she throws a fit and others she understands. She always has to have it when I come home from work. She says, "Boo boo, and sometimes she sings a little song. "boo boo boo booooooo boo bah booooo". Ha ha ha, this is why I just can't bear to take it away completely. She's just so secure when she has it. I'm stoked I can make her feel that way. Even though sometimes mommy's tired and just wants to sleep, she'll curl up next to me in bed and go right to sleep with me. It's bliss.

 

Sorry if I missed it, but how old is yer lil guy?

 

I HATE nipple twisting. I just don't allow it, as it makes me feel creepy. I say, nicely, "No playing with the other one." And then give the child a toy to hold in the hand which is near the nipple. Some mamas where "nursing necklaces" that have interesting beads, big enough for "twiddling" to take the baby's mind off of playing with the other one.

 

nursing necklace worked great for my first child, starting at about six or eight months when she reached that highly distractable stage where she wanted to keep popping off to see what fun she might be missing. She started hugging her favorite stuffed animal when I was pregnant with the little one and she was only nursing at bedtime. Little one likes to hug a stuffed animal, just because big sister does it! It keeps that free hand occupied very well. Just don't let them nurse with a hard plastic toy or a book, you'll end up with a black eye or a bloody nose... :&

 

He'll be 18 mths on the 22nd. Tried the nursing necklace, tried to occupy the other hand, still trying....sometimes he even zerburts and plays his lips on my nipple (I makes me feel creepy too) We do stop the nursing when he twiddles and twists and gets all crazy. He screams and cries and I say ~ I know, I know, but Mommy needs a break...I guess we are in that time of waiting for him to get it and adjust. There's a lot of screaming in frustration these days too... he's doing a lot with his hands, putting things together and taking them apart, which feeds his frustrations...tinker, tinker- WAHHHHH!!