How long is the best time to breastfeed

Release time : 01/18/2025 18:13:27

I believe that friends who have watched "Song of Ice and Fire" will be deeply impressed by the scene of the wolf mother's sister feeding breast milk to her 4-year-old son.

There are many benefits to breastfeeding, but can breastfeeding really feed children until they are 4 years old? How long is it best to breastfeed? Currently, the World Health Organization believes that breastfeeding can be carried out until a child is 2 years old.

How long is it best to breastfeed? It is generally believed that 6 months to 2 years old is better.

How long it takes to breastfeed depends on the physical condition of the wet nurse.

It is generally believed that the optimal weaning age is 8 to 12 months after birth in cities and towns, and can be extended to 12 to 18 months in rural areas.

However, if the nursing mother is in poor health and has insufficient lactation, she can be weaned in advance.

If the nursing mother is in good health and is still in a vigorous state of lactation, or the baby is frail and sick and weaning is detrimental to the baby's health, the weaning time can also be appropriately postponed, but it should not exceed 2 years old at the latest.

Additionally, the timing of weaning should be during spring or autumn.

The World Health Organization strongly recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

From 6 months to 2 years old or longer, supplement other foods while continuing to breastfeed.

The World Health Organization confirms: "Breast milk is the best nutrition for infants."

Breast milk contains a variety of immune components, more unsaturated fatty acids than milk, and taurine, which promotes infant brain development.

Therefore, the duration of breastfeeding can be appropriately extended, rather than the conventional concept that "breast milk will have no nutrition after six months".

The benefits of breastfeeding can be summarized as follows: 1. Nutrition. Breast milk is rich in nutrients and contains rich and easily absorbed protein, fat and carbohydrates.

Breast milk contains more albumin and less casein, making it easy to digest and absorb.

The fat in breast milk is unsaturated fatty acid and has high nutritional value.

Small particles are beneficial for digestion and absorption.

Breast milk contains a high amount of lactose, which is conducive to the growth of lactobacilli.

Although breast milk does not contain much iron, it is easy to absorb and utilize.

The iron utilization rate of breast milk reaches 50%.

Breastfeeding prevents later childhood obesity.

Breast milk has many immune-enhancing components, which help children avoid certain diseases.

Breast milk contains a bifidus factor, which helps the growth of lactobacilli in the infant's intestines, prevents the growth of harmful bacteria, and thereby prevents diarrhea.

The composition of breast milk can change accordingly as the baby develops.

The milk that my mother secretes 1-2 days after giving birth is called colostrum. It is yellow and thin, contains more protein and solid ingredients, and also has a laxative effect, which helps newborns to expel meconium.

II. For mothers, breastfeeding can also stimulate the contraction of the uterus in the mother's body, promoting its early recovery.

Breastfeeding mothers are also less likely to develop breast cancer.

Breast milk can also consume excess fat and water in the nursing mother's body, which is conducive to postpartum self-cultivation.

The sucking of the newborn can stimulate the secretion of prolactin in the pituitary gland of the mother, promote lactation, and facilitate uterine contractions, which are conducive to the restitution of the uterus and expulsion of lochia in the postpartum period. This helps to reduce the occurrence of hemorrhage and other infections.

The sucking motion of the baby also causes the mother's body to secrete hormones that help relax.

Many working mothers have reported that after a busy day, breastfeeding can help them relax and naturally alleviate fatigue.

III. Economical and conveniently affordable.

Lactation is not a luxury, it's just a matter of adding 500 calories to your daily diet.

It's neither too cold nor too hot, and the baby can suck whenever it wants.

IV. Enhancing Mother-Child Bond: In the process of breastfeeding, close skin contact between mother and child can strengthen their emotional bond. Additionally, it allows the mother to promptly detect whether the infant's body temperature is normal, thereby identifying potential illnesses in a timely manner.

When should breast milk be stopped? Most infants in China stop breastfeeding between 6 months and 1 year.

This is closely related to the length of maternity leave.

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, with breast milk lasting for at least two years or longer.

Many mothers continue to breastfeed completely or partially after working.

It is best to wean the baby when they need it, which makes them more easily adaptable.

You may consider weaning the baby off breast milk when the baby is already eating solid foods or starting to use a cup for drinking.

The duration of breastfeeding in China is 7.42 months (±5.60) with a range from 1 to 40 months.

With the growth of children, the rate of breastfeeding decreases significantly. 47.75% of infants aged 6 to 12 months are still breastfed, and the proportion of breastfeeding in infants aged between 12 to 18 months is 16.94%.

No matter when you start, weaning should not be a stressful thing (avoid starting when there are major family changes).

Breast-cutting should be gradual.

Ideal breastfeeding may take weeks or months.

Stopping breast milk step by step is good for both mother and baby.

How to cut off breast milk in breastfeeding The traditional method of cutting off breast milk is no longer out of date and is a heartbreaking punishment for both mothers and children.

What is a reasonable and compassionate method for weaning the breastfeeding? The timing and methods of weaning depend on many factors, and the experience of mothers and babies in weaning varies from person to person.

If you are well prepared and the baby is ready, then the time for weaning is ripe. You can quickly wean the baby from breastfeeding.

If the mother has to go on a business trip for a while, it is very likely that she will completely wean in just a few days.

If Mom doesn't breastfeed after work, her milk supply will quickly dry up during the day.

Most babies have the habit of nursing milk in the middle of the night and before going to bed at night.

Perhaps the most difficult thing to cut off is breastfeeding before going to bed and in the middle of the night. You can cut off the night milk first, and then cut off the milk before going to bed. At this time, the active cooperation of your father or family members is needed.

It is best to wean in the spring and autumn seasons when the climate is suitable. In a relatively comfortable temperature and environment, babies can easily adapt to the changes caused by weaning, and it will be relatively easy to spend this physiological and psychological transition period.

Weaning should be done step by step, and the child should be naturally weaned by lengthening the interval between breastfeeding and gradually adding complementary foods, rather than cutting it off all at once, so as not to make the child mentally uncomfortable.

Depending on the weaning method and the drugs consumed, it usually takes between a week and a month.

What is the case that I can't breastfeed? Although we often say that breast milk is the best food for babies, this is not universally applicable. Not all moms are suitable for breastfeeding.

When encountering the following circumstances, you must stop breast milk in time. There are some diseases that are not suitable for breast milk from the beginning of the baby's birth.

1. When suffering from severe cracked nipple and mastitis, when your mother suffers from diseases such as severe cracked nipple and mastitis, she should suspend breastfeeding and treat it promptly to avoid exacerbating the condition.

But you can squeeze breast milk to feed your baby.

2. When suffering from an infectious disease, the mother cannot breastfeed when suffering from a serious infectious disease to prevent it from being transmitted to the baby.

If your mother suffers from hepatitis or lung disease, she must stop breastfeeding.

Radioactive iodine therapy is contraindicated because iodine can enter breast milk, which may impair the baby's thyroid function. It is advised to temporarily cease breastfeeding until after the treatment period has concluded and the level of radioactive iodine in the breast milk has been tested to ensure it is within normal limits before resuming breastfeeding.

4. Exposure to toxic chemicals or pesticides may cause poisoning in infants through breast milk. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid contact with harmful substances during lactation and keep away from harmful environments.

If the mother has been in contact with a person who has had TB, she must stop breastfeeding.

5. During the period of medication, if a mother is ill (such as catching a cold or having a fever) and must take medicine, she should stop breastfeeding and resume feeding after recovery from the illness.

However, it is important to note that milk should be expressed daily at the feeding time.

To avoid lactation, pregnant women with consumptive diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes may decide whether to breastfeed based on the diagnosis of their physician.

Under normal circumstances, mothers with the aforementioned diseases who are able to give birth can breastfeed. However, it is important to pay attention to nutrition and rest, and appropriately shorten the duration of breastfeeding based on the physical condition.

When mothers are diagnosed with illnesses and require medication that can harm their infants, such as chemotherapy drugs, breastfeeding should not be allowed.

8. If a mother has severe complications during pregnancy or postpartum, resuscitation is needed, the breastfeeding should be suspended or delayed.

If the mother's condition permits, she can be assisted by healthcare personnel to breastfeed, in order to maintain lactation. Once the mother recovers, breastfeeding should resume.

9. In the case of infants, some infants with congenital deformities such as cleft lip or palate, or premature babies who have difficulty in sucking may temporarily not be fed by breastfeeding but instead be fed by expressing breast milk through a stomach tube, drip bottle, or spoon.

The sections of medical information presented in this text are for reference only.

In the event of discomfort, it is advised to seek medical attention immediately for a diagnosis and treatment by a professional in person.