Extraordinary Breastfeeding program

[krisp]

Did anyone see the Extraordinary Breastfeeding show in Fox last night?? It was great. Amongst other bits they profiled a Mum weaning her 2.5 y.o twins and how it was for her and them, a Mum who was breastfeeding her toddler and adopting a baby trying to get the baby who had never been breast fed to take the breast and a Mum who still breast fed her 8 y.o daughter. Now I get the breast is best thing and I agree breast milk is perfect and it is what nature/God intended for us to feed our baby but 8 years old

[Barb Glare]

Yup - even good for 8 year olds. Don't knock it til you've tried it!

[krisp]

Not knocking exactly, I simply think 8 years old is waaaay out there. The girl and the Mum seemed to enjoy though....but 8?????

[Catastrophic]

I atched it a couple of weeks togo... and although I think those 8yo (her n her sister) and an unusual facination ith breastfeeding - It worked for them...

What i found interesting was that she lost her sucking reflex....

But seriosly - I take me hat of, stand up an clap to those mums - how fantastic to not care hat is the "norm" and do whats best for them an their children...

[Traveller]

If the mum and the girl enjoyed it, I don't see a single problem. 7 or 8 is the natural weening age for children, although 4 is the average worldwide.

[Jennifer13]

I found it interesting that finally it was put out there that children naturally lose that ability to suck for a bf. Doesn't that tell you something about when nature intended children to be bf to? My DD weaned herself at four. The average the WHO says is between two and five years. I can see how some children who are more attached and interested would last to 7 or 8. And I love that they remember the feeding and the taste of the milk - all that effort on Mum's part and you get some appreciation in the end!

[beckoes]

i didnt see it but i remember reading somewhere about the link between 'milk teeth' and the natural weening age, when the baby teeth start to fall out that was consiered the weening age. I personally dont think i would feel comfortable feeding till DD is 8 but i if they are both happy then good on them!!

[krisp]

Why do they lose the ability to suck? I found it really interesting and TBH I didn't really get that bit.

[Jennifer13]

Apparently the shape of the mouth and tongue must work to wrap around the nipple properly to create the suction (for eg babies have recessed chins and other physical attributes that facilitate bfing). With baby teeth gone and the growth and change in the tongue and mouth it must change enough so that suction can't be created. DTMS?

[helle]

I just watched this tonight! It aired again... good old Foxtel

I think those twins were gorgeous, and that poor mumma! She was strong tho, I must admit I wouldn't have been able to go cold turkey the way she did.

8 Years old... well each to their own

I'm probably going to get slammed here, but I felt a little sorry for the adopted girl. She was probably kept in a place where that kind of contact was a big no no and she seemed to be a bit out of her comfort zone... i dunno... but then I guess it's not much different to trying to coax a BF baby into taking a bottle.