Extended Breastfeeding: It's Definitely NOT Weird!

Over and over I have seen posts on Facebook about people either defending or demonizing extended breastfeeding. I've seen people go as far as to say breastfeeding your toddler makes you a pedophile!

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) states the following:

"As recommended by the World Health Organization, breastfeeding ideally should continue beyond infancy, but this is not the cultural norm in the United States and requires ongoing support and encouragement. It has been estimated that a natural weaning age for humans is between two and seven years. Family physicians should be knowledgeable regarding the ongoing benefits to the child of extended breastfeeding, including continued immune protection, better social adjustment, and availability of a sustainable food source in times of emergency...There is no evidence that extended breastfeeding is harmful to mother or child...If the child is younger than two years, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned."

I've been extremely lucky to have a supportive family as well as a pediatrician that commends our breastfeeding journey.  Beyond the hateful comments of strangers, having someone close to you or especially someone who is supposed to be an expert on children, telling you that there is something wrong with you or with your toddler has to be a horrific feeling. 

There has not been a lot of research done for breastfeeding past a year. Hopefully, that changes soon so more people can understand the benefits that do come with extended breastfeeding. 

It has been found, though, that human milk in the second year postpartum contains a significantly higher concentration of total protein, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and Immunoglobulin than milk bank samples. 

A report done by UNICEF, Preventing Disease and Saving Resources, explains how the longer a baby is breastfed the greater the health benefits for both mother and child.  The article is quoted as saying, "Enabling women to breastfeed for as long as they choose to is a health issue where the interests of the mother, baby, and the health services all align." It takes between two and six years for a child's immune system to fully mature. Human milk does not stop magically contributing to the immune system at one year old; it continues to complement and boost the child's immune system for as long as it is offered. Research on the occurrence of certain illnesses, like diabetes, asthma, and coeliac disease, in breastfed or weaned toddlers show this to be true. 

Norma Bumgarner explains in her book, Mothering Your Nursing Toddler, how breastfeeding provides so much more than just food to your toddler. She says, "Breastfeeding can provide feelings of love, comfort, and protection. When a mother makes herself available to nurse her child through a situation that he can't handle alone, he will likely develop independence based on faith that mother will be there to help. Allowing a toddler to nurse (or wean) at his own pace is an expression of trust that contributes to his self-esteem."  Children love the security and comfort of breastfeeding while breastfeeding mothers benefit from being near their children. Having to involuntarily stopped because of society attempting to look down on it actually causes unnecessary emotional distress as well as the loss of health benefits to both. 

Bottom-line, extended breastfeeding definitely is NOT weird! A decade ago, in her term as Surgeon General of the United States, child psychiatrist Coello-Novello said, "It's the lucky baby, I feel, who continues to nurse until he's two." Continue doing what's best for you and your child knowing science backs you up. 

Me, Demi (3 years old)
and Jean Luc 

Sources:

Renfrew, Mary J., et al. Preventing Disease and Saving Resources: the Potential Contribution of Increasing Breastfeeding Rates in the UK. UNICEF, Oct. 2012, www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/11/Preventing_disease_saving_resources.pdf.

“Breastfeeding, Family Physicians Supporting (Position Paper).” AAFP Home, 17 May 2017, www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/breastfeeding-support.html.

Bumgarner, Norma Jane. Mothering Your Nursing Toddler. La Leche League International, 2000.

Renfrew, Mary J., et al. Preventing Disease and Saving Resources: the Potential Contribution of Increasing Breastfeeding Rates in the UK. UNICEF, Oct. 2012, www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/11/Preventing_disease_saving_resources.pdf.

“Breastfeeding, Family Physicians Supporting (Position Paper).” AAFP Home, 17 May 2017, www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/breastfeeding-support.html.

Bumgarner, Norma Jane. Mothering Your Nursing Toddler. La Leche League International, 2000.

Renfrew, Mary J., et al. Preventing Disease and Saving Resources: the Potential Contribution of Increasing Breastfeeding Rates in the UK. UNICEF, Oct. 2012, www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/11/Preventing_disease_saving_resources.pdf.

“Breastfeeding, Family Physicians Supporting (Position Paper).” AAFP Home, 17 May 2017, www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/breastfeeding-support.html.

Bumgarner, Norma Jane. Mothering Your Nursing Toddler. La Leche League International, 2000.

Renfrew, Mary J., et al. Preventing Disease and Saving Resources: the Potential Contribution of Increasing Breastfeeding Rates in the UK. UNICEF, Oct. 2012, www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/11/Preventing_disease_saving_resources.pdf.

“Breastfeeding, Family Physicians Supporting (Position Paper).” AAFP Home, 17 May 2017, www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/breastfeeding-support.html.

Bumgarner, Norma Jane. Mothering Your Nursing Toddler. La Leche League International, 2000.