LO had her 6 month appointment today and we went over her feeding schedule fro BM/solids. She said to keep breastfeeding until a year, but not to go past 2 years. We would probably stop breastfeeding around 1-1.5 anyway, but I felt it was very odd she recommended we stop at two years. Has anyone heard of this before, and why this may be? The only real answer she gave me was because of her oral health (same affect as a pacifier)...I LOVE her pediatrician but I guess I'm not sure that was a real valid reason. I'm just looking for information on this, if anyone can help!
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That is really weird advice. I guess I would ask for further reasoning if you are considering nursing past two.
We weaned around 18 months and I feel like that worked out well. I would have probably went longer if I didnt WOH.
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@Bao: Suckling for nursing requires different mechanics than sucking on a pacifier or bottle... AND breastmilk is equated to water when it comes to possible "decay" like we see with bottlefeeding to sleep so I don't see the issue with oral care & bf'ing.
Personally, as I've called around for new pedi's I've found most are pretty uneducated on breastfeeding mechanics & benefits. Our original pedi told me my breastmilk didn't have enough calories for P at 6+ months & baby food (veggies) were necessary (many veggie jars actually have LESS calories than bm) and I another pedi I called to interview told me "Well I guess if you want to bf for a year but 6 months is really all you need"... sigh.
I rely on resources like Kellymom and her sited sources when it comes to breastfeeding info b/c I've yet to find much in our medical community. =/
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Breastfeeding is still not the "norm" even though it is being pushed. So, many doctors aren't lactation experts and have little education in that area. I would ask la leche and do my own research. If I weren't so ansy to get preggers again we would probably keep going.
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I over heard some women talking at the bookstore who stated their dentist recommended they stop breastfeeding. Their children were all between 1-2.
Our pedi's staff always assumed LO was no longer breastfed even at 6 months. I always had to tell them no he is breastfed and it was so annoying! Our pedi that we reguarlly see encouraged me to nurse as long as I could keep up my elimination diet or until LO self weaned. When we took LO to the dentist she did not mind him being breastfed and actually said there was nothing in his diet that should be of real concern for cavities.
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That does seem like odd advice and an odd reason for it. I think a lot of doctors are not fully educated on breast milk and breast feeding.
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I think I need to do some more of my own research and make my decision off from that, rather than what is "recommended" to me. I know she is LO's pediatrician, but I don't think doctor's "always know best"....again, we may not nurse much past one but I don't want to feel like I can't breastfeed as long as we wish.
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@Bao: A good place to start is always WHO and I believe even AAP which both say there are lots of benefits to BFing to age 2 and then more beyond.
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For me that's just one of those "smile and nod" moments. When I asked our pedi how to transition from pumping to cow's milk she told me to do this and that, and STOP nursing. Which was clearly not what I was asking. I love her though so I just go the route of passive resistance.
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8 comments