I kind of hate the phrase ‘extended breastfeeding’, it makes it sound a bit like an unnecessary indulgence.
Though, of course, there are worse things that nursing a child into toddlerhood have been called.
Susie O’Brien of Australia’s Daily Telegraph once weighed in on the extended breastfeeding debate with an opinion piece titled: “Who does extreme breastfeeding really help: a child or their mum?”
In the piece O’Brien suggested that:
“Rather than break down barriers, extreme breastfeeding has the opposite effect. It turns people off, and fuels the misconception that breastfeeding mothers lack the appropriate discretion for nursing in public. It’s a pity, because Australia’s breastfeeding rates are way lower than they should be.”
That’s a pretty tough (and ironic) break for breastfeeding mothers, isn’t it? – being burdened with an entire continent’s low breastfeeding rate.
The benefits of extended or full-term nursing remain the same as initial breastfeeding. The milk still provides immunity and is an excellent source of essential fats, vitamins A, D, K and C.
The American Academy of Family Pediatrics states that:
“As recommended by the WHO, breastfeeding should ideally continue beyond infancy, but this is not the cultural norm in the United States and requires ongoing support and encouragement. It has been estimated that a natural weaning age for humans is between two and seven years. Family physicians should be knowledgeable regarding the ongoing benefits to the child of extended breastfeeding, including continued immune protection, better social adjustment, and having a sustainable food source in times of emergency. The longer women breastfeed, the greater the decrease in their risk of breast cancer.”
I weaned my son when he was six-months-old, so I was curious about the experiences of a mother who nursed her child into toddlerhood and asked actress, founder of SuperHands (baby sign language courses) and mother to six-year-old Robin, Miriam Devitt to share some of her insight.
Prior to having Robin did you have an idea of how long you would like to breastfeed for?
I knew I wanted to breastfeed; it was very important to me. I was hoping to exclusively breastfeed for six months and then I think I was aiming for 12 months and willing to see how things were going from there.
Did you feel comfortable breastfeeding in public?
I first went out for lunch when Robin was eight days old. It was in my local pub in West Clare. I took a deep breath and whipped out the boob and fed her and I knew we’d be grand from then on.
Did you feel less comfortable breastfeeding in public the older Robin got?
Not really. It was so normal for us at that stage and mostly people didn’t even notice she was feeding, they just thought she was having a snuggle.
Did you encounter judgement around your breastfeeding experience?
I was ready for battle when I started breastfeeding – I’m the sort of person who would not shy away from confrontation when it comes to things I believe in. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find very little negativity around breastfeeding directed towards me. I consciously surrounded myself with like-minded people; going to the local breastfeeding group and La Leche League every month. Sure, people project their own sh*t on to you, but that’s going to happen no matter what choices you make in life. I remember going to my regular breastfeeding group and the usual midwife who ran it was away. When I arrived the new midwife was giving out to a pregnant woman for eating Weetabix because it would “give you fierce constipation”. She looked at me and nearly got sick in her mouth when she realised I was nursing a 2-year-old. “Can she not drink from a cup?” she shrieked. It made me laugh, but I was very, very glad I hadn’t met her when I was a fragile new mum.
How did you wind up weaning Robin? Was it a decision you made together?
It was definitely not her idea! The poor child, I’m pretty sure she would have kept breastfeeding until she was 5 or 6-years-old, in all seriousness. She was two years, seven months, two weeks and three days old when I last fed her. Yes, I know her exact age. And we were both a bit heartbroken. I just felt knackered and very skinny and there was a lot of change going on in my life at the time and something had to give. I think if things had been different I might have gone on another six months or so. Sometimes I feel guilty, but mostly I feel happy that we kept going for as long as we did.
How do you think it impacted on your relationship with Robin?
I think it had a hugely positive impact on my relationship with Robin. She was always a very snuggly baby and is still a very tactile child. She hated being put down so I carried her in a sling a lot and she could get “me-me” any time she wanted it. I think it has helped her to be a confident and securely attached little girl. I hope the closeness of our early relationship will be a strong foundation to weather the inevitable storms that will come over the years. So far, so good!
How long did you nurse your babies? Were you sad when you stopped? Tell us in the comments…
