What is your goal for breastfeeding your baby?
In other words -- how long have you planned on breastfeeding?
Three months? Six months? Nine months? Twelve months or longer?
Are you reaching that goal?
According to most surveys, while about 65% of mothers start breastfeeding, only about 30% are still breastfeeding at six months and only about 15% are still breastfeeding when their baby is 12 months old.
This is well below the Healthy People 2010 Targets, a set of national health objectives, that 50% of mothers are breastfeeding at six months and 25% at 12 months.
Also remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that 'breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.'
Of course things don't always go as planned. But if you are enjoying breastfeeding and things are going well for you and your baby, you might consider continuing to breastfeed until your baby is at least 12 months old. And if you begin to have breastfeeding problems that are getting in the way of your goal, don't hesitate to call your pediatrician and/or a lactation consultant to get some help.
These breastfeeding problems might include:- biting
- a nursing strike
- decreased milk production
- early weaning
Sources: CDC. Breastfeeding Report Card, United States — 2007: Outcome Indicators. Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk, AAP Policy Statement. PEDIATRICS Vol. 115 No. 2 February 2005, pp. 496-506.
