I don’t know about you but the one question I get more than any other is, “when are you going to stop breastfeeding?” It comes harshly, softly, or with a scoff. It comes from doctors, family, friends, and perfect strangers. I have learned to say, “when he is done” and try to turn the conversation to something appropriate. The truth is I love to breastfeed. Not for any odd reason but because it makes life with my son so much better. I followed the “timeline” approach with the first two boys because I never knew there was another option. With our last boy I was introduced to extended nursing (usually means beyond the first year) and what a miracle it has been. I wish I had known for the first two but no regrets. I enjoyed, and continue to enjoy those two, daily. I have learned that breastmilk does not shut off the nutrition on his 1 year birthday. We quite effortlessly nursed through  H1N1, cold and flu season, strep outbreak, etc… without getting sick. I love the “no extra co-pays” strategy of saving money. I have never been a pillar of health and I think so often how I am helping my little guy avoid a lifetime of poor health. Cancer runs deep in my family and I think often about what I am doing daily to lower my breast cancer rate and how I am lowering both childhood cancers and prostrate cancer for him later in life. I have a hole in my heart and have seen on the news the rate of heart disease skyrocketing and yet I am lowering my rate daily.  My top enjoyment is the bonding though. I have a little boy who so completely trusts and loves me that his independence flows! I can have confidence that if I leave him to go out he will be completely secure and happy. I never worry my babysitter will tell me he was difficult to manage. I know too that I am helping to make school a little easier for him each month as his IQ gets a supercharged boost. The bottom line is, breastmilk is good the infant and good for the toddler. Breastfeeding is personal; the how long and the why behind your breastfeeding relationship is between mother and child and we should honor and encourage it. It is often hurtful when I am put down for it but the confidence I have in knowing it is a gift I am giving to both of us far outweighs any bad feelings. My little guy will be 2 next month…when will I stop breastfeeding him you ask? When he is done!

I wrote this about 4 years back when I was hearing so much kickback and pressure from others towards me and towards friends of mine. The idea is to breastfeed as long is as mutually beneficial to mother and baby.