Your Breastfeeding Timeline
Solutions for the first day, week, month and beyond.
by Jeanne Sager
February 2, 2009
Weaning Time: Whenever You're Ready
There comes a time for every mom when she's just done. Some do it earlier than others (the AAP, WHO and CDC all recommend you nurse at least a year), some later.
Some let the baby decide when to stop, some quit when they feel they've had enough or when a new baby's on the way.
The secret is in slowly cutting down the number of feedings at the breast, until there are no more.
"Nothing every turns out exactly as you think it will," Silverman says. Some women think they'll never breastfeed and end up nursing for well past the year mark, others vow never to buy an ounce of formula and end up supplementing throughout infancy.
Related Resources
Weaning Articles on KellyMom
Weaning Your Child, on KidsHealth
Weaning Basics, on BabyCenter
Depression and Weaning, on Berkeley Parents Network
"The same goes for weaning," she says. "You'll set an end date. Then, lo and behold, it changes . . . so wean yourself. Wean yourself of all your preconceived notions about breastfeeding. It might be tough. It may even be as challenging as weaning your baby from nursing."
What if you tried everything, and breastfeeding still doesn't work out?
You're not alone. According to a CDC look at moms who gave birth in 2005, seventy-four percent initiated breastfeeding, but only forty-three percent were still nursing at six months, and just twenty-one percent still were at one year. Approximately thirty-two percent of infants born in 2005 were exclusively breastfed through three months of age, and twelve percent were exclusively breastfed for six months.
"Of course, I believe in breastfeeding," Keegan notes, "but I also understand women who don't. Sometimes it's too hard for preventable reasons; sometimes it's too hard because they just have no support. Breast is best when it's working for both mom and baby."
©2009 Jeanne Sager and Babble
About the Author
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Jeanne Sager is a freelance writer and photographer living in upstate New York with her husband and daughter, Jillian. She maintains a blog of her award-winning columns at jeannesager.blogspot.com. |
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