For the parents, quick question.

[Fluff]

Watching this program about breastfeeding tonight. The mum was still breastfeeding someone who was 4 years old, I'm not a parent but I thought that was quite a long time.

Am I right in thinking that after child birth, as long as the offspring are still being breastfed the mother will keep producing milk till she stops them and starts getting them weened off? Or do they stop working after a certain period of time after birth e.g. 2 years?

[Paddy]

There was one lady on the program who was still producing milk for her 8year old.

You are right, as long as there is a demand for it, supply will be met.

From a selfish male point of view, i wouldn't let anything near me once it had developed a full set of teeth!

[dZeus]

you're not letting a full set of teeth near something you hold much dearer? (of course not letting her use the teeth)

[Paddy]

I like 'em soft and gummy. Bring on the wrinklies!

[KRSESQ]

Generally speaking (and ignoring cultural differences for the moment), most experts agree that breastfeeding past the age of two is unnecessary. Breastfeeding past the age of four can cause unhealthy psychological attachments. Breastfeeding at age eight is just wrong.

I recall hearing of a woman who was still breastfeeding her 12-year-old !

Kevin

[Paddy]

According to the program, the WHO recommends breast feeding upto the age of 4.
That is longer than I thought...

[KRSESQ]

The best rule of thumb I've heard is that when they get old enough to ask for the boobie, it's time to stop.

Kevin

[KRSESQ]

According to the program, the WHO recommends breast feeding upto the age of 4.
That is longer than I thought...

That may be true in less developed countries, but in the western world, where malnutrition is not a major issue, the point may be moot.

Kevin

[Gurm]

Breastfeeding up until 4 is insane. Breastfeeding past 4 is criminal.

Let's be honest - breastmilk is very nutritious. But it's ALSO absurdly high in fat. There's no need to feed your child PURE FAT past the age of a year or so old.

But from an orthodontic standpoint, once the child has teeth it's bad to let them breastfeed because it's bad for their teeth.

And it DOES do bad psychological things to the kid past a certain age.

The WHO doesn't know its ass from its elbow.

At any rate, our policy has always been "once they bite, it's over". Teeth or no teeth.

[Fluff]

Cheers for the answers people.

Final milk related question....

Is it the same with regards to cows, they need to have a calf before they start the making milk and then it continues for the rest of the cow's life?

[KvHagedorn]

Generally speaking (and ignoring cultural differences for the moment), most experts agree that breastfeeding past the age of two is unnecessary. Breastfeeding past the age of four can cause unhealthy psychological attachments. Breastfeeding at age eight is just wrong.

I recall hearing of a woman who was still breastfeeding her 12-year-old !

Kevin

When they get a hardon while breastfeeding, something's just not right.

[Gurm]

Cheers for the answers people.

Final milk related question....

Is it the same with regards to cows, they need to have a calf before they start the making milk and then it continues for the rest of the cow's life?

ROFLMAO.

Umm... most of the time yes you need to get pregnant (actually near the end of the pregnancy) before lactation begins.

However, unlike cows the milk does not "continue for the rest of the cow's life". If you stops a-sucklin', it done dry up!

However, have you ever heard the term 'wet nurse'? It will keep going as long as you keep sucking on them.

Also, even after it dries up, you can still get a bit out for quite some time afterwards - up to a year or two in some cases. TRUST ME on this one.

[schmosef]

Rancid milk, gross!

I can't remember where I heard this and maybe it's not true but I heard that sometimes semi hard clumps can form inside the breast and they have to be sucked out quite forcefully and it can be quite painful for the woman doing the feeding. I think that I heard that the babies tend to cough those up instead of digest them.

[Jessterw]

Yes, that's possible schmo. Women can also incur milk fever, which occurs when there is a (abrupt) stop in breastfeeding and there becomes an over-abundance of milk still in the breast. Rather painful from what I hear.

[Jammrock]

I've always heard around a year to stop breastfeeding, but that's the US. If you live in an area where the water is dangerous and the cows don't produce a lot of milk I can see breastfeeding until 2-4 years.

All mammals, that I know of at least, produce milk until the demand for the milk stops. Some animals, dogs in particular, can produce milk even without getting pregnant. If a bitch (the four legged version) has more pups that tits for the puppies, it is common that another bitch, whether she has had puppies or not herself, will produce milk for the extra pups if they attach.