Breastfeeding is more than simply a way to nourish your child. It is a special bonding experience that brings mother and child closer together.
The most important thing to understand is that there is no right time or wrong time to wean. Every mother and baby must find a balance and stop nursing when it feels right to them, not when they are told to be outside influences.
How Long to Breastfeed?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants are breastfed at least for the first year, and longer if possible. Some mothers will nurse their babies for a much shorter period of time than this and some will nurse their babies well into the second and third years of life.
Breastfeeding involves a mother and baby team. If either member of the team is no longer interested in continuing the breastfeeding relationship, then it may be time to consider weaning. Babies can sense when a mother is no longer as committed to breastfeeding and will often self wean at that point. This can happen for a number of reasons. Some mothers may become embarrassed nursing an older baby in public. Some mothers may be ready to get back to a more active lifestyle and may feel tied down by breastfeeding. Some mothers may simply sense that their baby or toddler is ready to move on to the next stage of their lives.
Babies come with their own personality. Some may want to breastfeed for as long as they can while others may self wean early on. Often, an infant who has been introduced to solid foods and has begun drinking from a sippy cup will simply become less interested in nursing as she becomes less dependent on it for her sole source of nutrition. A baby that is trying to self wean may nurse for shorter periods of time and have longer periods of time between nursing sessions. Babies may begin to get a larger portion of their nutrients from solid foods and liquids from a cup.
Weaning After Returning to Work
While it is very possible to continue breastfeeding after returning to the work force, many mothers choose not to. A mother who has decided not to continue breastfeeding at work will want to be sure that she is set in her decision, because once a baby is weaned it is very difficult to build up a milk supply again. To prevent painful engorgement, it is best to wean gradually, preferably several weeks before returning to work if that is the goal.
Weaning During Pregnancy
While breastfeeding by itself is a natural form of birth control, it is not 100% effective. It is possible to become pregnant while still nursing another baby. It is possible to continue breastfeeding during pregnancy provided the pregnancy is not high risk and the mother’s doctor has said that it is safe.
Breastfeeding for Closeness
Some infants may be nearly completely weaned, but still choose to nurse for comfort before naps or bedtime. This is fairly common and can continue for an extended period of time. Once an infant is no longer nursing regularly throughout the day, a mother’s supply of milk will drastically decrease. An infant will not receive much nutrition from these comfort nursing sessions but may enjoy feeling close to her mother.
