Dana wrote: <<<<The baby
is 6 months old and nurses about 4 times a day and sleeps all night (and
has for a while). Wet and dirty diapers within normal amounts. Baby has
only just started solids a few days ago.  No time restrictions are
placed on feeds. Most of the other women's babies have had about the
same "success". They all have at least 3 children. These mothers are
very attentive to their babies. It is puzzling to me and I don't seem to
be able to convince them of the issues because their babies are doing so
well. They never supplement. >>>

this is not uncommon here. Actually I see this a lot. For women who have
large storage capacity of the breast and have healthy babies who nurse
effectively, it is possible to do it this way.  However, even then I see
the milk supply drops around 4 to 6 months. Another problem I often see
with these babies is that the babies start to protest against the schedule.
They start to bite, do intensive gymnastics at the breasts. I've been
puzzled about this for a long time , bc I also see this when the mother has
a good milk suypply, until I realized the babies start to protest against
the regime that is put on them. As a newborn they just took the things the
way it came, but older they try to put in more influence of themselves. But
not knowing how to do that, they start to protest to nurse that long. They
would prefer to nurse shorter (and more often), and not overload their
stomoach every time they 'have to' nurse. In other words, nursing is not
such a pleasure for these babies. They also often 'wean themselves' around
9 months.

Annelies Bon
breastfeeding counsellor of the Dutch bf org "Borstvoeding Natuurlijk"
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