>
>
>Usually, my answer remains the same as it was when I was an LLLL: I nursed
>my babies "longer than is culturally acceptable - at least in the USA."
>
One of the reasons this is a good response is that disclosing personal
information can have disadvantages. I'm not thinking about turning women
off as much as about the possibility that the mother can feel there is a
"right" amount of time to nurse. A person who leads a meeting, is an
invited guest, or is called to talk about a topic can easily be
perceived to be an expert or a role model. If a mother doesn't nurse as
long as the expert, she has failed to reach an ideal. Or what should she
do with those uncomfortable desires to wean, or the fear that she might
not have enough milk when she has to be separated from her baby to go
back to work? In other situations, nursing longer than someone you
thought was strange can make some women feel proud and empowered, but
can make others feel lonely, without the point of reference that many
women lack and crave. Personal information should be used judiciously,
in order to keep the mother focussed on the value of her own experience.
A mother should be encouraged to breastfeed as long as *she* wants.

Other good answers are: "A little longer with each baby," "As long as we
both enjoyed it" or "For my family, and for me personally, it worked out
well for me, and I was able to breastfeed for a long time." Another
possibility is to simply reflect the feelings of the person asking: "I
know it can be surprising to see people breastfeeding toddlers and older
children, but this is actually quite common." "It sounds like you're
interested in talking about duration of breastfeeding. Ideally, babies
should be exclusively breastfed until they're about six months old, and
then continue to be breastfed as long as they want, and as long as it
works out for the mother to continue."

Jo-Anne

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