Natural Feeding
"Some of the most physically and emotionally healthy children in my practice are those who have been breastfed in terms of years." ...Dr. William Sears
"You're Still Nursing?"
Mothers of nursing toddlers hear that question a lot. Yet, we didn't start off nursing toddlers -- we grew into it, just as our babies grew into toddlers. Most of the women I know who have nursed their toddlers never planned on doing it that long. I started out saying that I would give breastfeeding a six week 'trial period'. My mother talked me into giving it at least 3 months saying that "It takes six weeks just to get the hang of it, if you quit then you won't get to enjoy it." By the time Alex was six weeks old I had decided to give it at least six months. When we got to the six month mark it was going so well I knew we would easily make it a full year. When Alex started teething, around eight months, we developed a sever case of thrush - but breastfeeding was well established so I knew nursing shouldn't hurt. Eight months of enjoyable nursing gave me the will power to survive through the next four months of unbelievable pain. By the time Alex turned a year old we had the thrush mostly under control and I wasn't about to quit after that battle. Besides, I couldn't imagine weaning him at that point when it obviously meant so much to him.
Do the benefits of breastfeeding magically disappear the day your child turns 1, or 3, or 5? Of course not! Breast milk is constantly changing in composition to meet the changing needs of your growing child. Breast milk changes from feeding to feeding, day to day, even year to year to meet the needs of you child at any age. But what are the actual benefits of nursing so long?
"Protection against disease does not end when colostrum converts to mature milk The production of...immunoglobulins continues throughout the nursing period and, in the case of some compounds, even increases....The disease-protective factors in mothers milk remain effective well beyond infancy. In many instances, the longer the duration of breastfeeding, the longer the period of immunity...some of these benefits are life long." Breastfeeding Your Older Baby - Elizabeth Horman, Mothering, Winter 1993 (page 85).
But the benefits are not only for your child. Breastfeeding can reduce your chances of developing ovarian cancer. It has been found that women who breastfeed for a lifetime total of at least two years have a 40% reduced risk of developing breast cancer and women who breastfeed for a lifetime total of six years or more have a 66% reduced risk. Also, your chances of developing osteoporosis are reduced because bone density increases with each child who is nursed.. Another benefit, long-term breastfeeding often results in a natural child spacing of approximately 2 to 3 years between siblings due to the suppression of ovulation.
In loving memory of Bonnie Bedford - (May 26, 1953 - July 11, 1997)
Samhain Night by Heather Madrone,
a HAIKU in remembrance of Bonnie I stumbled across one day. Check out Heather's other poems too!
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Natural Mothering: Natural Weaning Page
First on-line: 6/28/1996