Hi all!  I am a nursing student at the University of Nevada, Reno in 
the U.S.  I have been subscribed to this fantastic list for about a month, 
and my plan is to become a lactation consultant after graduation. In the 
U.S. 70% of mothers nurse their babies, but only 33% are still nursing at 
4-5 months. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive 
breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months (1). But this count included 
women who were supplementing. Exclusive rates were 46% and 17%, 
respectively.  
I know that social perception, in the U.S., of nursing after one year 
pressures women to wean before then, even though WHO recommends nursing 
for longer. We know that nursing up to a year really helps mom and baby in 
so many ways.  But how does it affect older children and moms? I was 
unable to find any studies in the US on the topic.  Women here must 
be "closet nursing," or noone has decided to research it yet?
   Has anyone come across research that shows how prolonged breastfeeding 
affects kids and their parents?  I have only heard anecdotal evidence 
about this subject. I would love to hear what is happening in research 
abroad as well.

I can't wait to hear what you have to say.  Thanks, 
A hopeful nursing student. 






Reference:
PEDIATRICS Vol. 115 No. 2 February 2005, pp. 496-506

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