When to finish breastfeeding: advice to moms

Woman's Day decided to get a competent answer to thethis burning question and turned to Marina Trotsky, a consultant on HB, an expert of the Prognosis Project, a member of the Union of Professional Maternity Support (SPPM).Photo:Getty“No matter how long the rope twists, there will always be an end,” my mother used to say. So no matter how long you breastfeed, this period of your life with your child will end. Just as the expectation of pregnancy once ended, and then the pregnancy itself. So, the newborn period has given way to infancy, and now you are already thinking about the time when your child will not need breastfeeding. How can you understand that this time has already come? Who can say with complete confidence that it is time to wean? There are different points of view on this issue. Someone believes that the best option is when breastfeeding gradually fades away, simply because the baby no longer needs it. Numerous scientific studies are taken into account here. They talk about the positive effect of prolonged breastfeeding on the immunity and general health of the baby, on the development of mental abilities and neuropsychic development. This option is suitable for parents who know that breastfeeding is not only nutrition, but also communication, comfort and much more. With this approach, the age of the child at the end of breastfeeding can be one year, three, or five. There are those who are guided by the recommendations of the World Health Organization and end breastfeeding at about two years.A photo: Getty Many mothers are guided by the child's readiness to be excommunicated. He eats well the lure, he knows how to fall asleep and consoled without a breast, he sleeps all night without waking up, which means that you can gently turn off the process. It is important to consider the readiness of the mother herself. If the breast does not overflow without applying for six hours or longer, then it will be much easier for you than in a situation where tides happen quite often. A lot of parents are sure that breastfeeding should not last longer than a year. Their arguments are that a longer period of breastfeeding leads to excessive psychological dependence of the child on the mother, the inability of the child to comfort herself, adversely affects the woman's health. Although those who feed longer, relying on their experience and research, persistently refute these approvalPart of other mothers, taking a decision on the completion of breastfeeding, guided by intuition. Others - their own fatigue from feeding. Once I heard a funny opinion that there is a short period, just a few days (about one year old), when the baby suddenly loses interest in the chest. And if the mother can not track this moment, she will have to breastfeed for a long time and painfully, until about the age of majority. As you can see, there are no clear and universally recognized criteria by which you can find out that it is time to wean your baby. As a rule, this is a matter of your knowledge, beliefs and a mother's flair. Strive to ensure that your decision is not spontaneous and momentary. Weigh all the factors. Think about how your life with your baby can change if you stop breastfeeding right now. If possible, consult a breastfeeding specialist and make an individual plan for completing breastfeeding or do it yourself. And act! Good luck! Attention! Completing breastfeeding, be careful with your body. Remember that pulling your chest or restricting food and drink to reduce the amount of milk can do you harm, as are the medicinal methods of stopping lactation. Almost in 100% of cases, it is possible to stop the production of breast milk without medication, and all the more without the outdated methods that our great-grandmothers used! Read also: When did you finish breastfeeding?