Extended breastfeeding is breastfeeding your child past a year old.
Extended breastfeeding doesn’t really seem that common or maybe it just isn’t talked about enough.
The benefits of breastmilk don’t just magically expire when your baby turns one.
The nutritional value of breastmilk does not decrease as your child gets older. It’s actually been shown in studies that breastmilk will change and adapt as our babies get older.
“As long as you breast-feed, the cells, hormones and antibodies in your breast milk will continue to bolster your child’s immune system.”
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Breast-feeding beyond infancy: What you need to know”, April 15 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org.
Our children will have better immune systems
We always hear how breastfeeding creates a strong immune system when they’re infants. So why would that change just because our children turn one? Our amazing bodies will keep making antibodies. And let’s not forget the studies that show Covid antibodies getting passed to babies.
“Breast-feeding for 12 months or more cumulatively in life has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.”
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Breast-feeding beyond infancy: What you need to know”, April 15 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org.
Extended breastfeeding is also beneficial to mothers!
It’s truly amazing our bodies can not only feed and nurture our babies but it can also help prevent things like breast and ovarian cancer!
There are so many benefits to extended breastfeeding
Yet so many mother’s don’t do it. Unfortunately, society has made it this way. I think a lot of mothers that breastfeed past a year usually get comments from someone. Whether it’s family, friends, strangers or even doctors.
I’ve gotten comments before. But you know what? These are MY boobs and I will continue to breastfeed MY child until we’re ready to stop.
I’ve seen other women not support extended breastfeeding which is really mind boggling. As women, we really need to support each other. It is freakin hard being a woman in today’s world. Becoming a mother makes it even harder.
Extended breastfeeding needs to be normalized. There is nothing wrong with nursing a one year old or a two year old. I think the people who have a problem with it really need to focus on themselves and figure out why. It’s biologically normal to feed our children.
I’ve seen so many disturbing comments on pictures of mother’s breastfeeding their children. But the more breastfeeding pictures that are posted on social media, the more people get used to it! So you go momma’s, keep posting those pictures!
Breastfeeding is f’ing hard!
Breastfeeding is already stressful and hard enough as it is. Let alone dealing with a society who frowns upon extended breastfeeding.
It was an extremely hard journey for my son and I to breastfeed. So yes, I’m damn happy we’ve made it to almost 2 1/2 years. And so should you!
It’s countless sleepless nights. Painful, bleeding, cracked nipples. Wanting to give up when your touched out. We deserve to be proud of our huge accomplishment!
Momma, breastfeed wherever, however and for as long as you and baby want to. People will always have their opinions. But we do what’s best for our babies!
