Wednesday 5 March 2014

Still Breastfeeding at One Year

This is not a post I expected to be writing, yet here I am, still nursing Archie at one year old.  When I was pregnant with Dylan, I knew that I wanted to breastfeed, and thought six weeks seemed a good length of time.  I didn't really know anyone that had fed past a couple of months and that seemed to be the natural point to swap to formula and bottles.

The six week mark came and went.  We had established our routine, my milk had come in and settled and things were going smoothly.  The idea of sterilising, buying powder every week and carrying more around in my already bulging nappy bag was not appealing, and I decided that I may even feed my son until six months.  By then he would be sitting up, eating solids and not needing to nurse any more, or so I thought. I started going to the local breastfeeding support group, mostly because it followed on from baby massage, but I started to see people feeding children from babies up to one year olds, and the idea of feeding a little longer was a lot less strange.


We surpassed the six month mark and in the end Dylan was nearly nine months when he had his last feed. There were so many contributing reasons to why we stopped, but ultimately, I was ready and so was he.  We transitioned easily to a new routine of bottles and I found myself pregnant with a second child very soon after.  

I knew I would breastfeed my new squish, and hoped to do the same nine months that I did for his brother.  Thankfully everything went so smoothly for a second time, and Archie and I enjoyed our little bond, our snuggly moments in a busy day.  


We reached the nine month mark, but this time I knew that neither Archie nor myself was ready to give it up, and with his apparent aversion to any milk that doesn't come direct from the breast, we decided to continue for as long as we both wanted to.  If Archie stopped wanting it then I would take his lead, and if I stop enjoying it then I will bring about the end.

And that is how I found myself, sat in a quiet dark room at the end of a busy day, my sleepy one year old in his pajamas and gro-bag, curled up in my lap, nursing himself to sleep.  We no longer feed out the house and he rarely feeds in the day, but as soon as he wakes in the morning, he joins me in my bed for a sleepy cuddle and milk, starting the day slowly but together.  Our day ends the same way, with milky cuddles that either send him to sleep, or soothe him enough to settle himself, a little bit of calm, and excuse for a cuddle before we say goodnight.

For me personally, I consider nursing beyond one year, to be extended.  It is not common in this country, it is not seen often, and it is furthur than I ever imagined this journey would take us.  I have no idea how long we will continue for, another year or another week, but right now, as my baby is sleeping peacefully on my chest, as he likes to do with a tummy full of breast milk, I can honestly say there is nowhere I would rather be.

11 comments:

  1. I also thought that we'd only bf for a few months, and here 9 months later we're still at it with no signs of it dwindling yet! The sleepy snuggles I will certainly miss, and the fact that she needs a boob to drop off is a bit of a problem too!

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    1. Archie still likes to be fed to sleep but luckily if I am not around he is fine. Sleepy snuggles are the best!

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  2. Bex I love this post and I could have written it myself. We are also still breastfeeding, something which I didn't think I would be doing, I stopped with Mads at 11 months. But we are happy with doing it, and she loves it. I don't feel like stopping soon so we are just going to carry on and see what happens. xx

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    1. I think with them being our second babies they still feel like babies still too. Archie is still so little!

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  3. Bex that is amazing! Way to go you!!!! I fed Buba for a year and loved ever last moment of it. Do what you think and feel is right and it looks like you are. Congrats because I do think that it is such a great thing to do for our kids. I was devasated when health reasons and Missy Moo made me stop at 6 months. At least I got a year with Buba. In the end it was way farther than I ever thought I would get with either of my two so I am ok with it now. Lovely post.

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    1. I think once you get past the first few weeks it only gets easier (usually), and it is still so convenient some times! I am really happy we have made it this far actually

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  4. I'm beginning to wonder if it is actully quite common to feed beyond a year but its mainly done behind closed doors... Little Owl is nearly 2 and yet we're still going, but I haven't fed her in public for about a year. Well done for writing this x

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    1. I think it is more common than we know, but definitely less visible, and I don't think people are as open about it past a certain point. Thanks for commenting and I hope you and little owl carry on happily as long as you want to.

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  5. Lovely post Bex, I read it with a pang of jealousy. I too fed JB with the same ethos 'for as long as he wants it' which for me was until a week before his first birthday. He stopped of his own accord and I admit I felt quite sad about it especially when he was poorly two weeks later and couldn't settle. Knowing that a breastfeed could have helped to settle him was heart wrenching as I had nothing left. I am happy that I made it to a year though. Well done xx

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  6. Lovely post. I fed Kat until she was over 18 months old - neither of us were ready to stop. My Mum was a bit horrified that I was feeding a walking and talking child but it felt right to carry on. Just stop when you and Archie are ready and enjoy it. xx

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  7. Still feeding here too at one year old! I'm pleased and I don't think Charlie will be giving it up anytime soon haha x

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