thanks

[MaturingMommy]

Breastfeeding your child past infancy is NORMAL

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child... Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother... There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer." (AAP 2005)

• The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that breastfeeding continue throughout the first year of life and 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." They also note that "If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned." (AAFP 2008)

• A US Surgeon General has stated that it is a lucky baby who continues to nurse until age two. (Novello 1990)

• The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of nursing up to two years of age or beyond (WHO 1993, WHO 2002).

• Scientific research by Katherine A. Dettwyler, PhD shows that 2.5 to 7.0 years of nursing is what our children have been designed to expect (Dettwyler 1995).

References [see also position statements supporting breastfeeding]

MOTHERS also benefit from breastfeeding past infancy

• Extended nursing delays the return of fertility in some women by suppressing ovulation (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer (References). Studies have found a significant inverse association between duration of lactation and breast cancer risk.

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ovarian cancer (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of uterine cancer (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of endometrial cancer (References).

• Breastfeeding protects against osteoporosis. During lactation a mother may experience decreases of bone mineral. A nursing mom's bone mineral density may be reduced in the whole body by 1 to 2 percent while she is still nursing. This is gained back, and bone mineral density may actually increase, when the baby is weaned from the breast. This is not dependent on additional calcium supplementation in the mother's diet. (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. (References).

• Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease insulin requirements in diabetic women (References).

• Breastfeeding moms tend to lose weight easier (References).

Breastfeeding is considered to be the best nutrition for newborn babies. Extended breastfeeding is nursing past 12 months of age, and while it is not common in North American culture, it is the norm in many parts of the world. Breastfeeding past one year provides additional health benefits for toddlers and their mothers. Breastfeeding also has many social benefits and helps toddlers develop naturally. While there are many myths and social stigmas attached to extended breastfeeding, it is in the best interest of the child to allow them to wean naturally.

Human breast milk provides the most complete nutrition for a newborn baby. As the baby grows and develops different nutritional requirements, the breast milk changes with the child. Breast milk provides age appropriate nutrition for every stage of development. It is a common recommendation to breastfeed a newborn exclusively for the first four or six months, meaning no other substance is needed for the baby. Research suggests that extended, exclusive breastfeeding for longer can provide additional benefits to babies. Breast milk protects and helps develop the lining of the baby’s stomach and this in turn helps protect that baby from allergens. Extended breastfeeding prolongs this protection which reduces the child’s exposure to the allergens. Breast milk also helps to prevent inflammation of the intestinal lining, which can trigger an allergy. In contrast, formula use can irritate the lining of the intestines. The high concentration of iron found in formula can disrupt the balance, and allow allergens get past the protective barrier, putting the baby at risk for many health allergies. For babies with special health problems, breastfeeding for longer might provide them the protection they need.

The health benefits that apply to a newborn extend into toddler hood as well. The World Health Organization recommendations are for mothers to breastfeed for at least two years. One enormous benefit of breast milk is the immunological benefits provided. There are antibodies in the milk that help protect and fight off diseases. A 12 month’s old immune system is only functioning at 60% of an adult's full immune system, and the immune system does not function fully until age six. While some argue that breast milk is low in iron, and that babies need a better source, it is important to note that the iron found in breast milk is more easily absorbed by the child’s digestive system. Children that breastfeed have a lower incidence of dental caries, and better development of the jaw, teeth and speech. Breastfeeding for longer is also associated with a lower incidence of allergies (THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING, 7th Revised Edition). Breast milk contains the perfect combination of nutrients needed for the baby to grow. The brain of a baby continues to develop after there are born, and studies have suggested that children who are breastfed the longest are smarter than their peers who are not breastfed (Mortensen, 2002).

There are benefits to letting a child naturally wean, as opposed to imposing an artificial weaning process. Natural weaning is allowing the child to decide when to stop nursing. The decision to wean is often a result of the cultural influence where the mother and child live. If it is normal to wean a child at six months, then that is what usually happens. Research done by Katherine Dettwyler sheds light onto the weaning process.

The research of Dettwyler looked at the weaning process in other mammalian species and applied various characteristics of those species to humans. Factors considered of when those animals wean included length of gestation compared to length of breastfeeding, when adult teeth arrive, fully functioning immunity, and weight gain. These factors, applied to humans, suggest that the natural age for human weaning should be between 2.5 – 7 years (Dettwyler 1995). In Canada, just over 80% of newborns are breastfed, but of those, 75% are weaned by nine months (McKinnon, 2000). Mothers who choose to nurse past 12 months are rare and extended breastfeeding is not part of Canadian culture. However, other cultures around the world nurse far longer, and the average age of weaning for the whole world is 4.5 years.

There are many reasons why mothers choose to wean sooner, and it is unfortunate that there are incorrect myths that may lead women to wean their babies. Many women give up breastfeeding early because they feel that they are not able to produce enough milk. The truth is that there is almost always enough milk, and there are other factors making women think they do not have enough milk (Newman, 2006). Some feel that children who nurse will not become independent, but weaning is part of becoming independent. Like crawling and talking, each child will wean at their own pace, and allowing this process to occur naturally will encourage independence, rather than discourage it. Some myths suggest that nursing might spoil the child. Nursing is just another way to meet the needs of the child, and it is the absence of love and care that will spoil a child (Burgarner, 2000).

There are many benefits to the mother who continues breastfeeding past her baby’s one year birthday. Women who nurse their babies have the advantage of many health benefits including a reduced chance of osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. Diabetic women who breastfeed their babies usually require less insulin. Breastfeeding can also suppress ovulation, acting as a natural contraceptive. Women who breastfeed are able to lose weight more easily post-partum. In addition to the health benefits, women also benefit in other ways. Breastfeeding is a time-saver, with no time wasted mixing formula and cleaning bottles. Breast milk is always available, fresh and at the perfect temperature. Women who breastfeed tend to have better mental health (Mezzacappa, 2004), and breastfeeding may decrease the chances of or severity of post-partum depression. For women with post-partum depression, breastfeeding can be important in helping them bond with their children.

While many in the North American culture are supportive of breastfeeding infants, the idea of extended breastfeeding is not the norm. There are many reasons and benefits for continued breastfeeding past a child's first birthday. While extended breastfeeding rates are low, it's important to educate and encourage all mothers about the benefits they could incur if they continued breastfeeding.

And this is from DH:

"I was breastfed until I was 5 1/2 years old, when I chose to self wean. As did two of my bestfriends, also male. We come from a country where "extended" breastfeeding is the normal concept of nourishing a child, its not referred to as "extended" or "full term" breastfeeding, it is just referred to as breastfeeding. Many women in our culture nurse without the hinderance of a cover, because again where we differ from American's, we do NOT sexualize everything from the little toe to the hair on someone, we view bodies (naked or otherwise) as natural. The breast is a tool that is given to women to nourish their children, and it is there to be used until the child self weans. And if this means nursing multiple children, then that is what happens. One of my best friends, actually both of them, and their wives have more then one child. With the eldest being 4, and they nurse all of their children. Beginning with the youngest, and then proceeding up in age until the oldest has nursed. The fact that we grew up in a different country, a different culture, but have all traveled the world and seen how the world works, provides us with the insight to say "America is the only country to turn everything into a sexual part or inuendo when it is not". The rest of the world besides America breastfeeds there children, on average, until the child self weans at whatever age that child chooses to. Only in America will you find the prudish, self rightous, sex addicted and uneducated people. Yes there are other places where we find these people as well, but in America they far outnumber any other country when it comes to the natural way of life, and the natural way of parenting. A childs first teeth are MILK teeth, the same as animals get, the first set is teeth that are there to be nursed with. Where animals age differently then humans, there milk teeth fall out before that of a human, a human is also meant to be nursed until their milk teeth begin to fall out or until the child self weans, whichever comes first. In not supporting your wife, your girlfriend, your fience in doing this, you are hindering not only your relationship with that person, but also hindering the growth and natural process of your child. Any parent should want the BEST and what is RIGHT and NATURAL for their child, which in many cases means back up, suck up the social stigma your country has created, grow some balls, and be a man, support your wife, support your child."

thanks to my friend for this info.