Re: extended breastfeeding :)

[Guest guest]

Wendi,

That was beautifully written!!!!, In fact I think I will send it to my mom

(who thinks I will stop bfing before a year, because my milk will just " go

away " .... and I am pretty sure she doesn't agree with extended bf at all)

and my brother.. (who told me it was perverted.. but later said that he had

heard other info and that maybe I was right about it being ok) I think it

will help them understand a little more. (especially the brother who isn't

so set in his ways) Thankyou for posting that wendi! I still haven't

made it back over to the web page:( but i will soon! Jenn

At 10:25 PM 4/25/99 -0700, you wrote:

>Jenn,

>

>That is interesting. I just wrote the extended nursing section for my

website today. I pasted and copied it here so you can read it. It says

some of the same things.

>

>Wendi

>

>In the United State it is a common belief that nursing shouldn't extend

past one year. It is a very common sentiment that if the baby can ask to

nurse, they are too old to be nursing. This is far from the truth. The

World Health Organization (which monitors worldwide health) recommends that

nursing continues to at least the end of the second year. The average age

of weaning around the world is 4 years, meaning many children are nursed

even longer than this. In the United States most women don't make it past

6 months. The lack of support for breastfeeding in our society creates an

environment for early weaning. Education and support are the most

important aspects other than a mother's commitment to nursing.

>

>The positive health benefits of breastfeeding don't magically stop at a

year of age. They continue on throughout the nursing relationship. The

child is always getting new protection from disease, especially ear

infections (antibodies), digestive enzymes, complete proteins and various

vitamins and mineral from breastmilk. There are other benefits of the

extended nursing relationship. The physical closeness of the mother and

child help to lower each other's stress levels. The mother is getting

hormones from nursing that help to relax her and make her a better mother.

These hormones greatly help the over-stressed mother of a toddler. The

time spent nursing allow both mother and child to spend some well-needed

quiet time.

>

>At the end of one year children do not stop needing comfort. Extended

nursing is a great way to give that comfort while increasing the health of

mother and child. In a toddler's active world there are many overwhelming

situations. Toddlers are constantly checking in with mom to get

reassurance. A few minutes of nursing can calm and soothe a very

overstimulated toddler. Of course there are other ways of comforting a

toddler, but none with the positive health benefits to mother and child.

Certain toddlers will not stop for a minute unless forced to. They will

grab their bottle and be off, never stopping long enough to regather

themselves. Breastfeeding by its very design forces a child to spend a few

minutes being calm and quiet in mom's lap. This can make the difference

between a calm even-tempered child and one that is feeling chaotic from

lack of down time.

>

>Nursing an older child is much different from nursing a baby. The time

demands of nursing a baby are quite overwhelming. An older child has much

less demands for your time. They are eating solids and drinking other

liquids so aren't in such great need for breastmilk. Many older children

only nurse at bedtime and waking. This creates a time of connection for

mother and child at the start and finish of each day. This time spent

nursing an older baby can help both mother and child prepare for and

complete each day in a calm, quiet fashion. This helps to sustain

peacefulness throughout everyday.

>

>Each mother and child needs to find their own rhythm and their own

stopping point. What is right for one nursing couple isn't necessarily

right for another. The main point is to trust your instincts and not to

let someone else's ideas about right and wrong dictate your actions. Just

because nursing to a year is the accepted standard in our society, does not

mean that it is right for each nursing couple. It could be just enough

time for some yet others might need the comfort and closeness of nursing

much longer. Each mother must trust her child to know when is the right

time for weaning. Many children need the closeness and health benefits of

nursing for a much longer period of time. Trust yourself and know that

nursing past the first year is not only normal but much better for mother

and baby in the long run.

>

>

>

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