Extended breastfeeding – nursing after the first year

Considering that the World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding your child until 2 years, it always surprises me that breastfeeding after the first year is often referred to as “extended”.  Personally I prefer the term “sustained breastfeeding” which I notice is used by the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

There are many good reasons to continue breastfeeding your child as long as you both feel comfortable.  There is wide spread acceptance that breastfeeding offers benefits to both mother and baby, however frequently nursing mums find themselves having to justify continuing to breastfeed their child after the first year.

Some of the benefits of breastfeeding after the first year include;

• Breast milk continues to provide immunity protection and nutrition beyond the first year of lactation.  Even if an infant is getting nutrition from solid food, there are still health benefits from the vitamins and enzymes found in breast milk.
• Strong emotional and bonding experience creates a greater sense of security for the child as they become more independent.  They will feel assured and confident due to the strong maternal relationship.
• Positive association between duration of breastfeeding and cognitive development.
• Lower risk of anaemia, osteoporosis and breast cancer for the mother.

According to Dewey KG. Nutrition, growth and complementary feeding of the breastfed infant. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2001: 48(1): 87-104, in the second year (12-23 months), 448 mL of breastmilk provides:

• • 29% of energy requirements
  • 43% of protein requirements
  • 36% of calcium requirements
  • 75% of vitamin A requirements
  • 76% of folate requirements
  • 94% of vitamin B₁₂ requirements
  • 60% of vitamin C requirements

Clearly the objections to breastfeeding beyond the first year are social ones. It can be wearing for a nursing mum to be justifying herself to family, friends and sometimes even strangers! Perhaps what is required is further education within our communities to change those social perceptions.

What do you think?

Breastfeeding Today

Love this magazine... need to share!

Check out p14/15 article Preparing for Breastfeeding.

In defence of older mums… because I am one!

Great article in response to recent reportings that older mums were selfish..(link here)

”The age of a mother isn’t the issue,” said Mr Salt. ”But, my observation of women having children later, is how they absolutely want and love and adore those children… as long as a child is yearned for, loved, adored, provisioned for, parents’ age, sexual orientation, income, ethnicity, race – none of that matters.”

School children should be taught benefits of breastfeeding

“Schoolchildren should be taught the benefits of breastfeeding to help drive a major change in society’s attitude towards feeding babies”. (link to article)

I think it this is an excellent idea. I knew nothing about breastfeeding before I had my baby – fortunately I had excellent support and received great advice, so I managed to overcome the intial challenges.

However it should be done as part of a balanced education covering safe-sex, conception, pregnancy, birth and basic concepts of parenting.  No point just talking about breastfeeding in isolation – needs a well rounded discussion that involves boys, as well as girls.

What are your thoughts?