10 Tips to Breastfeeding for a Year
Christine Foster
Mountain View CA USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 23 No. 1, January-February 2006, pp. 4-8
The recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups is clear—babies should
be breastfed until at least their first birthday. But few mothers and babies make it that far. Although more than
70 percent of new mothers in the USA breastfeed just after birth, just 16 percent are still breastfeeding at one
year (Ruowei et al. 2005). The reasons that so few make it to that goal are complex— a society that doesn't
always support breastfeeding; alternatives that can seem easier during difficult times; a lack of education or
understanding about the significant differences between the health of breastfed babies and bottle-fed babies. But
most mothers who really want to can make it to a year, and beyond. This article provides some tips to help you get
there.
1. Find Support
Although many mothers initiate breastfeeding after birth, it's still unusual for a new mother to have a lot of
experience with seeing breastfeeding in action. The changes a new mother experiences after the birth of a baby are
hard to anticipate and oftentimes surprising. The theoretical notion of planning to breastfeed can be radically
different from caring for a real, live baby at the breast. For that reason, it's comforting to be around people who
know about breastfeeding.
One of the easiest ways to find supportive people is to attend La Leche League meetings during your pregnancy.
Experienced Leaders often note that mothers who are involved with LLL before birth tend to have an easier time
because they are more educated about the normal course of breastfeeding. Plus, if there are unexpected issues,
mothers who have already attended meetings are often more comfortable calling a Leader they already know.
It can also be helpful to educate family and friends about your goal. When Unity Dienes, a Leader in New
Hampshire, was expecting twins, she made sure that her husband, Klee, understood her goals by writing up a list of
reasons why it was so important for their boys to get her milk. Unity's advance work meant that when they
encountered challenges in those early weeks, she had his full support. "He was amazed at how many different reasons there were," she says.
2. Learn to Breastfeed in Public
Learning how to breastfeed in public can be a big challenge—especially in communities where breastfeeding
isn't as common. Women who can't get comfortable breastfeeding in public generally find it harder to make it to a
year or beyond. If she doesn't want to nurse in public, a mother would either need to limit her excursions or pump
her milk for bottles. Either of those can be frustrating and can limit the breastfeeding relationship.
Some mothers find nursing clothing to be helpful when they need to nurse in public, while others find it just as
easy to breastfeed discreetly by lifting their shirt from the bottom and making sure their baby covers all of the exposed skin. Many mothers gain confidence by practicing in comfortable environments —such as a La Leche League
meeting—or by watching themselves in a mirror so they know what they look like to those who may be watching.
Sometimes enlisting a friend to come along for early outings can make a mother more comfortable. "Even if
someone can tell you are breastfeeding, it's not a big deal," says Unity. "Try to develop that mind set. You are feeding your baby. You are comforting your baby. That's what your breasts are for."
Often a mother will actually be encouraged in her breastfeeding relationship by strangers who see her
breastfeeding. "I was very nervous about breastfeeding in public with my first baby," says Dawn Burke, a
Leader in Georgia. Once, when her daughter was about eight months old and the pair was out at a farmers' market,
her baby became desperate to breastfeed. Dawn found a secluded spot on a milk crate at the edge of the
public/employee area and sat down to breastfeed. An older male employee approached and loudly praised her for
breastfeeding. "It is good to see you nursing your baby!" Dawn remembers him saying. "I am from
India," he continued, "and breastfeeding is very important there. You keep nursing your baby. It's very
good!" Now, Dawn says, "I tell mothers at meetings to take support wherever they find it!" (For more
suggestions about breastfeeding in public, see the November-December 2005 issue of NEW BEGINNINGS.)
3. Limit the Use of Bottles and Pacifiers
Some babies clearly do use bottles and pacifiers and manage to continue breastfeeding for at least a year. But,
as stated in THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK, getting sucking needs met somewhere other than the breast is a risk
factor for early weaning. Using artificial nipples during the early weeks can interfere with a baby's ability to breastfeed effectively.
La Leche League suggests limiting pacifier use in the early weeks, which can seem confusing to some mothers in
light of the recent recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics that babies should sleep with pacifiers to
reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. LLL believes that the recommendation did not take basic
breastfeeding management into account and could threaten the development of longer-term breastfeeding relationships. According to a statement issued by LLL:
Pacifiers are artificial substitutes for what the breast does naturally. Breastfed babies often nurse to sleep for naps and bedtime. The recommended pacifier usage could cause a reduction in milk supply due to reduced stimulation of the breasts and may affect breastfeeding duration.
In other words, if pacifiers are good for babies, why not use the best—the breast?
4. Find Ways to Involve Dad
One of the most common reasons new mothers give for pumping milk is that they want their baby's father to be
able to give the baby a bottle. Frequent bottles, however, can lead to early weaning, so finding another way for
daddy to connect with his baby can be crucial. In many families, bath time or an infant massage is a special
daddy-baby bonding opportunity that offers skin-to-skin contact and comfort.
Cindy Howard, a Leader in California, recalls that her husband disliked giving their daughters bottles because
his daughters seemed to behave as if they were getting second-best. When their youngest daughter, Gwen, was a baby,
John connected with her by rubbing her feet to comfort her when his wife attended an early morning exercise class.
Jennifer Moquin, a Leader in Pennsylvania, let her husband, Anthony, take the late shift with their night owl
baby. She would breastfeed the baby and then lie down to sleep a bit while daddy walked the baby around, played
special songs to her, and showed her pictures on the wall. "She was mellow, but wide awake," Jennifer recalls. "It was always a really nice time for them."
5. Create a Daily Rhythm
Strict schedules can make it hard for a mother to respond to her own baby's cues. They can also lead to
decreased milk supply, because milk is removed from a mother's breasts less often. It can be confusing for mothers
to hear that babies are "supposed to" breastfeed eight to 12 times in a 24 hour period or that babies
"should" breastfeed for 10 or 15 minutes on each breast when their baby is doing something different.
According to THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK, "Length of feedings varies with the baby's personality and age. A
baby's breastfeeding style also may change as he grows." Many mothers find it helpful to spend less time
looking at the clock and counting the number of times their babies go to the breast. As long as your baby is gaining enough weight, simply watching his or her cues is enough.
For some mothers and babies, though, having some sort of predictability to the day is important. A mother can
gradually provide some structure by giving her baby predictable cues. Having a specific order to the day—a time
for baths, walks, or books, for example—can help the baby and the mother find a rhythm that works for them. Some
babies will fall into a more regular breastfeeding pattern as they grow older. Others will continue to want to breastfeed frequently throughout the day.
6. Breastfeed for Comfort
Some mothers worry that offering the breast for comfort when baby is upset will create an inappropriate
emotional connection with food. They worry that their child will turn to food for comfort, rather than eating to
satisfy physical hunger. They might believe that it's better to try to separate food from emotions. If we are
honest with ourselves, though, we will realize that all of us associate certain emotions with certain foods. Cindy
Howard, who is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, gives the example of the traditional
birthday cake. There is rarely much nutritional value in the cake. It's the emotional component of celebrating with others that matters.
When you offer the breast for comfort, you are encouraging your baby to turn to you for comfort instead of a
non-human object. The human contact matters more than the milk. Plus, breastfeeding for comfort keeps your supply
plentiful and reminds the baby that by breastfeeding he can help himself to feel good again.
7. Recognize the Signs of a Nursing Strike
Babies often have periods during which they seem more or less interested in breastfeeding, but it is very
unusual for a baby to actually choose to wean before one year. It is not uncommon, however, for a mother to say her
young baby is "weaning" when the baby is actually in the midst of a nursing strike or making a
developmental leap that is distracting him from breastfeeding. According to THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK, the most
typical age for a nursing strike is between three and eight months.
The key to avoiding weaning inadvertently is to recognize and deal appropriately with a nursing strike. Molly
Remer, a Leader in Missouri, remembers that when her son, Lann, was five months old, he stopped breastfeeding
during waking hours for a week due to having a cold. Apparently frustrated because he was congested and having
trouble breathing while breastfeeding, Lann simply refused. Molly breastfed him while he slept and tried various
tricks to get him back to the breast during the day. Breastfeeding while in motion worked best, so she walked and
breastfed. Lann is now two years old and still breastfeeding regularly.
Another very typical time for something that can look like weaning, but isn't, is the second half of the first
year as babies start to move and be more aware of their environment. Some are so distracted that they never stop to
breastfeed. Some mothers find that offering to breastfeed more often, bringing a baby into a dark room to
breastfeed, or taking advantage of nighttime nursing opportunities can get them through this stage. Frequently,
when babies refuse to breastfeed, though, there is something else going on that has upset the babies' lives, such
as an illness or teething or a big change in the family, such as a move. And, sometimes, rarely, babies will wean
naturally before a year. The benefits of breastfeeding to a baby's health are so strong, however, that it is worth
efforts to make sure that a baby is not simply going through a short-lived stage before stopping breastfeeding.
8. Handle One Day at a Time
Some mothers are planners: they want to decide how long they will breastfeed before their baby is even born.
They think, "I don't really want to nurse a three-year-old, so I will wean now." Others may plan to
breastfeed until a year or beyond, but may feel overwhelmed during the early days and fear that they can't possibly
make it to their goal.
Instead of making a firm decision in advance, try taking it one day at a time. When your baby is a newborn the
idea of breastfeeding an enormous 12-month-old can seem daunting. When you are helping her blow out her candles on
her first birthday, your baby won't seem nearly so huge.
Ariel Valencia, a mother in California, has used the "one day at a time" approach to help her continue
to give her son, Evren, only her milk. Ariel works outside the home and finds it difficult to pump enough milk for
him while she is away. She sets two-week goals and has already made it to five months.
9. Don't View Breastfeeding as an "All-or-Nothing" Proposition
Occasionally mothers introduce formula—perhaps to cope with a supply deficit while they are working or
because they choose not to pump milk when they are separated from their baby.
Julie Nelson, a mother in New York, introduced formula to her son, Nicholas, at nine months when she stopped
being able to pump enough for him while she was at work. She continued to breastfeed during the evenings and on
weekends and Nicholas continued to breastfeed through his first birthday.
10. Enjoy the Moment
Remember, it's okay to fall in love with breastfeeding. "It's going to be your heart, not your mind that
makes you continue," says Unity Dienes. So prime your heart to love breastfeeding. Unity suggests that mothers:
- Make sure breastfeeding doesn't hurt—you can't fall in love with something that hurts.
- Avoid having anything in between you and your baby, including a nipple shield or a bottle with pumped milk. Whenever something is between you, it makes things more difficult.
- Snuggle with your baby. Savor his sweet smell and his fuzzy head. Watch to see the milk your body made dripping out the corner of his mouth. Falling in love involves all the senses.
When a mother embraces breastfeeding, it becomes that much easier to breastfeed for a full year and beyond.
That's the true "secret" to breastfeeding. If a mother enjoys breastfeeding or commits herself to it,
it's likely that it will be easier for her to allow comfort nursing, figure out how to nurse in the presence of others, and get the support she needs.
This period in your baby's life is fleeting. As you adjust to this new experience, remember to take things as they come and try to enjoy the moment.
References
Mohrbacher, N. and Stock, J. THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: La Leche League International, 2003.
Ruowei, L. et al. Breastfeeding rates in the United States by characteristics of the child, mother, or family:
The 2002 national immunization survey. Pediatrics 2005; 115(1):e31-e37.
Last updated Wednesday, October 11, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:27 UTC 2007.
