Breastfeeding Beyond Year One

I nursed my first daughter until she was 20 months old. I probably would have gone longer, had I not become pregnant. (Take note: It is possible to get pregnant while nursing!) My obstetrician told me I needed to stop breastfeeding so my body could concentrate on growing a baby and not divert any critical nutrients to making breast milk. Truth be told, once I became pregnant, my nipples became so sensitive that it was painful to nurse anyway. Though I hadn't planned to wean my daughter yet, the reasons were so compelling that I was willing to do it without regrets or too much emotional distress.

My second daughter Anna is now 20 months old, and shows no signs of wanting to wean. I am still enjoying nursing, and am cherishing every moment as I will not be having any more children. Thus, I haven't had any compelling reason to actively pursue the weaning process. In fact, I recently discovered a benefit to extended breastfeeding time.

Last week Anna caught a cold, or so I thought. Her illness started with the usual runny nose and cough, but quickly took a nastier turn. She threw up, and then a couple days later developed diarrhea, and then vomited again. For about four days she ate and drank very little. When I realized that she didn't seem to be getting better, I took her to her pediatrician, who informed me that she had probably caught rotovirus. The most dangerous aspect of rotovirus is dehydration. Between the vomiting, diarrhea, and not consuming a lot of fluids, dehydration is very likely. However, we were fortunate. Her pediatrician said that she was not dehydrated, and would probably start getting better soon. In fact, Anna did start improving the next day. Both her pediatrician and I, believe that a major component of her recovery was that she continued to nurse while she was ill.

Breastfeeding your sick child not only provides comfort, but also nourishment and liquids. This becomes much more important if she is unwilling to take any food or liquids by mouth. If your child is able to nurse, she will be much more likely to avoid dehydration.

We have all been told about the myriad health benefits of breastfeeding for babies. What I've realized is that these health benefits go beyond just the first year. While breastfeeding is not necessarily as critical to your toddler as to a baby, you may find that nursing can continue to benefit your growing child in ways beyond simple comfort, especially as she discovers the world around her and encounters germs and childhood illnesses.

With so much perceived societal pressure to wean at one year, I was gratified to realize that breastfeeding beyond that time provides more benefits to the baby beyond just comfort and closeness. I'm not just doing this for me; I'm doing this for my baby.

If you are fortunate to be able to enjoy the experience of breastfeeding, there is no reason to have to wean at an arbitrary pre-designated time.

Author's Note:
This article was first published on ClubMom.com in February, 2006. I ultimately nursed my daughter Anna until she was almost 3-1/2 years old. When she finally weaned, it was a very easy, low-impact experience for both of us. There was no engorged breasts, tears, or other trauma. When the time is right to wean, you and your child will know. In the meantime, enjoy the experience. After all, your babies are only babies for such a short time!

(The website ClubMom.com will cease operations as of December 31, 2008, so I am republishing my articles here).