Hello everyone.  This is my first time that I am attempting to post so I
hope I get through okay.  I just wanted to share a little information
from my experience about  child led weaning.  The personality and nature
of the child along with support are key factors for extended nursing
past six months of age.  I made a conscience decision to work from home
and be available to my children after the birth of my first high need
child.  She nursed very often ( every hour at times and never slept
through  the night until she was two).  She still wakes and needs only
eight hours though she has quiet time every evening till she falls
asleep.  She really enjoyed nursing and nursed through my pregnancy
which was very uncomfortable.  She nursed even when I was in labour
(very quick labour) and was convinced to wean after her sixth birthday.
Her brother weaned at four years of age shortly after his sister
weaned.  I find that I do not share this information with too many
people because our society finds it difficult to see a six-month old
still enjoying the warmth of his mother's breast.  Through the four
years of tandem nursing there were many times when I had enough and
wanted to wean abruptly.  Without the support of my spouse it would be
virtually impossible to continue.  Women need one person in their corner
to help them through the difficult hills and valleys of parenting.  We
as women tend to blame ourselves for many things and nursing is the
first on our list. Not sleeping, fussy, high need etc.. is a result of
nursing.  I find that there is not much support for extended nursing and
therefore in my experience not many mothers experience true child led
weaning.   I am not sure where I found the strength to nurse my 11 lb. 3
oz newborn and my two year old toddler.  I met many obstacles where ever
I went . Even at some La Leche League Meetings I found many Leaders
commenting on and pointing out the shock of nursing an older baby ( six
months+) as if it should be shocking instead of presenting it as a
matter of fact.  I know when I was first pregnant the thought of nursing
passed nine months seemed odd to me but I felt like I was the only mom
that nursed passed a year in a developed country until I heard of
Lindsay Wagner (The Bionic Woman) nursing her 3-4 year old.
We are always worrying not to alienate a new mom but we also have to try
to plant the seed of information as well and let them decide.  I wish
more literature presented information on extended nursing as natural and
done here by professional, educated, conservative women.  When I teach
my Breastfeeding Classes I mention that the length of time you decide to
nurse depends on your own personal view and the support system around
you. Whether it is four days, four weeks, four months or four years all
have many benefits of nursing.  I do not present the information with
any biases.  Four years is presented the same manner as four months.  In
my experience many women that choose to extend nursing have returned to
work at six months and find extended nursing is possible and rewarding.
They spread the message to others and more women are now trying to find
information on how to continue to work and breastfeed. A nice change
from six years ago.  Even though they are still small in numbers it is
slowly growing.

Yvette Nechvatal-Drew, BSc,IBCLC, LLL, ICCE, Doula, mother of two
wonderful children 8 and 5 years of age.

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