I wanted to add my .02 worth to the discussion on weaning.  Prior to my
move I worked in a 600 bed hospital in Atlanta.  Most of the nurses there
breastfed during their maternity leave and many returned to work and
continued to breastfeeding until their baby started solids.  Our employer
provided an electric hospital-grade breastpump and room to express.  The
NICU nurses were especially committed to breastfeeding.  I believe that
for the past five years every child born to a nursery nurse has breastfed
for at least a year.  However, these nurses all reported that their
babies weaned themselves around 12 to 18 months.  Obviously this is a
pretty small group of women but perhaps they created a cultural
expectation that their babies would wean around that time based on what
they observed with their peers.  I am happy to report that one renengade
mom is nursing a two year old now so perhaps the age of weaning for this
little culture will rise.

laura hankins, rn, tandem nursing mom
charlotte, nc