YES I am STILL Breastfeeding

Abel's 1st birthday is being celebrated today (He is 2 days into his 2nd year of life)!! I am so excited and sad all at the same time! I am so happy to celebrate birthday after birthday with my little guy and all at the same time want him to stay little. That being said I keep hearing this question... "You're still breastfeeding?"

So for all those wondering out there, Yes I am still breastfeeding. I plan to until he is 2. The funny thing is in our society I may be the minoirty but in the rest of this world I am the majority. It is perfectly normal for our babies to breastfeed until 2. Yes I said it, it is normal.

"Thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond." Taken From: http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/exclusive_breastfeeding/en/

Some people don't see any reason for it. So I will tell you a few of my reasons =) 
It helps to prevent breast, uterian and cervical cancer for me. It provides nutrition for Abel. Also why would I give my baby the milk of a different species if I can provide it.

In the second year (12-23 months), 448 mL of breastmilk provides:

• 29% of energy requirements
• 43% of protein requirements
• 36% of calcium requirements
• 75% of vitamin A requirements
• 76% of folate requirements
• 94% of vitamin B12 requirements
• 60% of vitamin C requirements

– Dewey 2001
Taken from: http://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/ebf-benefits/

I am not taking some crazy stand like the Time magazine asking if you are mom enough. It was simply the choice that is best for our baby. I just hope that the next time a judgement passes in your mom mind when you see a mom breastfeeding considering a few things first. Whenever Abel has been sick breastfeeding comforts him. It also helps to keep him hydrated. I know lots of moms who say their babies won't eat solids at times of being sick but they will breastfeed.

For all of us moms, we all choose different things so just take into consideration that while you probably get asked "Oh.. You didn't breastfeed?" I get asked why the heck I am still doing it ;)

For those mom's unsure of how long to breastfeed consider all the facts and also all the loveliness breastfeeding brings for you and your baby.

Here is a great website for more info as well http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbsepoct07p196.html

Did I mention that I am also rapidly in the middle of planning our wedding!! It has been crazy, the good kinid of course! More to come on this for sure!