How many have or are "Extended/Sustained breastfeeding past 12 months" on BB?

[AnyDream]

Before I started BFing I had this notion embedded in my brain that I would be pregnant for 9 months and then I would BF for 9 months and that was a perfectly reasonable timetable.

WELL...I think it took exactly 1 and a half coffee mornings at ABA (used to be called Nursing Mothers back then) - which I joined more for support since we had just moved to a new area - to throw that notion out. I read a lot, talked to other mums alot, and became very passionate about breastfeeding. Which is good because establishing BFing with DD1 was very very hard - the hospy that I was at gave all sorts of terrible, conflicting, bad advice - but the support and info I had through ABA meant I knew what I needed to do - even if it was a bit unconventional (i used to use a dummy to get DD sucking before whipping it out and popping my BB in LOL) to get going properly.

I adored BFing. I had a very traumatic birth and was frequently quite dissociated from my body for months afterwards - but BFing was the one constant that anchored me to my baby and allowed me to pour my love out physically. I was able to continue to BF until DD was nearly 18 months, when she self-weaned with minimal encouragement from me.

With DD2, I was determined to BF as long as possible, even well past the 18 mth mark, but it wasn't to be. I didn't enjoy the physical sensation of feeding as much this time round - in hindsight most of the pain and problems were probably due to a large breast tumour which wasn't diagnosed until DD weaned at 16 mths and the extent of the lump became apparent. This time I actively encouraged the weaning because I was having surgery - I was sad at the time but later very relieved because it would've been heartbreaking to have to wean because of the cancer treatment. We have continued to have special cuddles in the armchair where I always fed her, but it makes me a bit sad that she doesn't seem to remember BFing like DD1 did.

[Jaycee]

I stopped breastfeeding 2.5 weeks ago. DS was 15 days off of his second birthday.
He was definitely ready to stop, I just gave him a gentle push, and he hasn't looked back.
I miss it so much!
My first bf goal was 4 months, I was going to wean due to returning to work, but luckily for me DS wouldn't have a bar of the bottle. We worked around my returning to work and my next goal was 12 months - that came and went with no sign of DS wanting to stop, so we kept going and made to a smidge off of him turning 2.
DS was always a feed to sleep baby, right up til the end and I have ha absolutely no trouble what so ever in getting him to sleep. We just have a drink of milk and quiet time on the couch, then we take him to bed, read a story or two, DS gives us a kiss, gives his teddies a kiss and off to sleep he goes, not even a whimper. I really am lucky, I thought we'd have a terrible time.
So all positives here!!

[tan32]

with DD1 I breast feed for 4 months. It was a hard struggle and I had no support from her Dad, my milk dried up from stress.
With DS1 I feed him until I had to return to full time work he was 10 months.
DS2 arrived and latched himself on straight away, he seemed to be a natural, I however was a major stress head and was sure I never had enough milk for him. Our first few months were very rocky and he became fussy at the breast. I was sure our journey would end before he reached 6 months.
He is now approaching 18 months and is still a champ at feeding. I sometimes get a bit tired as he still tends to feed at least 5 times a day, if we skip a feed he wakes in the night to catch it up. He is a good eater and has lots of snacks etc through the day as well as his main meals.
I was recently thinking of starting to try and reduce his feeds a bit. I would be happy with a morning and night feed but only time will tell.
I never thought i would be feeding past 12 months.
Breast feeding is our special time and when we bond, he is such an active busy little man that its the only time he is still..

[Gigi]

Before I started BFing I had this notion embedded in my brain that I would be pregnant for 9 months and then I would BF for 9 months and that was a perfectly reasonable timetable.

WELL...I think it took exactly 1 and a half coffee mornings at ABA (used to be called Nursing Mothers back then) - which I joined more for support since we had just moved to a new area - to throw that notion out. I read a lot, talked to other mums alot, and became very passionate about breastfeeding. Which is good because establishing BFing with DD1 was very very hard - the hospy that I was at gave all sorts of terrible, conflicting, bad advice - but the support and info I had through ABA meant I knew what I needed to do

I adored BFing. I had a very traumatic birth and was frequently quite dissociated from my body for months afterwards - but BFing was the one constant that anchored me to my baby and allowed me to pour my love out physically.

yeh that. snap.

[Heaven]

Awesome thread!! This will be us in a couple of months.