Can you tell me extended nursing benefits?

The benefits of breastfeeding do not stop at some arbitrary age. In fact the longer you nurse the more nutritious your milk is oz per oz (with the possible exception of colostrum). It is an important source of vitamin A -vitamin A is known to reduce the mortality from many diseases including measles. Breastfeeding of course continues to provide valuable antibodies as a child's immune system is not fully mature until age 6. Breastmilk reduces the risks of developing cancers and can actually kill cancer cell. There is a lot of research right now using human milk and in some cases cow's colostrum to treat cancer among other diseases. If your child happens to be sick breastmilk is well tolerated even during severe stomach illness. It has the proper electrolyte ratio and will help prevent loosing weight and proper nutrition during an illness helps shorten the duration. Of course so do the antibodies. If your child needs to undergo anesthetic breastmilk requires less surgical fasting. Breastmilk, for the purposes of anesthetic is a "clear liquid". And despite what idiot dentists who wouldn't know a medical study if it smacked them in the face breastmilk can prevent caries and aid in tooth re-mineralization if the child does develop soft spots on their teeth. Every day you breastfeed during your lifetime also reducing you risks of many cancers -including breast, cervical, and uterine cancer. It can reduce the severity of many diseases, if the mother has them, including endometriosis, uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease, diabetes, allergies, etc. It may also help prevent depression. ln many studies show breastfeeding reduces the incidence of child abuse and spousal abuse. Breastfeeding reduces tantrums during the second and third years. It makes bedtime easier. Of course the argument could be made that a woman that is going to breastfeed is a woman that is not going to take being smacked around. American Association of Family Physicians: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/policies/b/breastfeedingpositionpaper.html "If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned" A Natural Age of Weaning http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html Breastfeeding benefits toddlers and young children... nutritionally, immunilogically and psychologically. How is Breastfeeding Related to Cancer http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=5105The longer the women had breastfed during their lifetime, the less likely they were to get breast cancer. According to the researchers, this was a very striking finding. They made sure that the women’s age; menopausal status, ethnic origin, number of births and their age at the birth of their first child were all taken into account. Breastfeeding still lowered breast cancer risk by 4.3% for every year of feeding. There is also a 7% reduction in risk of breast cancer for each child born. A 4% lowering of risk doesn’t sound much. But, as breast cancer is quite a common disease in developed countries, breast feeding every child for an extra 6 months would mean about 1,000 fewer cases of breast cancer in Britain each year. You will have less chance of Breast Cancer and other Cancers http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/all_about_breast_cancer.html If women who do not breastfeed or who breastfed for less than 3months were to do so for 4 to 12 months, breast cancer among parous premenopausal women could be reduce by 11%; if all women with children lactated for 24 months or longer, the incidence might be reduced bynearly 25%.Source: Newcomb,P. etal. “Lactation and reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer.” N Engl J Med 1994; 330(2):81-87. Women who were breastfed as infants, even if only for a short time,showed an approximate 25% lower risk of developing premenopausal or postmenopausal breast cancer, compared to women who were bottle-fed as an infant.Source: Freudenheim, J. “Exposure to breast milk in infancy and therisk of breast cancer.” Epidemiology 1994 5:324-331 An increasing duration of lactation was associated with a statistically significant trend toward a reduced risk of breast cancer. Sources: Newcomb, P.A. et al. 1994 Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine330(2):81-87. (P Byers T, et al. Lactation and breast cancer: evidence for a negative association in premenopausal women. American Journal of Epidemiology Vol 121, pp664-74, 1985) Siskind V, et al. Breast cancer and breastfeeding: results from and Australian case-control study. American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol130, pp229-36, 1989 Uterine Cancer A protective effect against uterine cancer was found for women who breastfeed.Source: Brock, K.E., “Sexual, Reproductive, and Contraceptive Risk Factors for Carcinoma-in-Situ of the Uterine Cervix in Sidney. “Medical Journal of Australia, 1989. Ovarian Cancer Breastfeeding should be added to the list of factors that decrease ovulatory age and thereby decrease the risk of ovarian cancer.S ource: Schneider, A.P. “Risk Factor for Ovarian Cancer. “New England Journal of Medicine, 1987 Endometrial Cancer Lactation provides a hypo estrogenic effect with less stimulation of the endometrial lining. This event may offer a protective effect from endometrial cancer. Source: Petterson B, et al. “Menstruation span- a time limited risk factor for endometrial carcinoma”. Acta Obstet Gyneocol Scand1986;65:247-55

Kellymom.com quote- "Nursing toddlers benefit NUTRITIONALLY Although there has been little research done on children who breastfeed beyond the age of two, the available information indicates that breastfeeding continues to be a valuable source of nutrition and disease protection for as long as breastfeeding continues. "Human milk expressed by mothers who have been lactating for >1 year has significantly increased fat and energy contents, compared with milk expressed by women who have been lactating for shorter periods. During prolonged lactation, the fat energy contribution of breast milk to the infant diet might be significant." -- Mandel 2005 "Breast milk continues to provide substantial amounts of key nutrients well beyond the first year of life, especially protein, fat, and most vitamins." -- Dewey 2001 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 " The American Academy of Pediatrics says babies should breastfeed for AT LEAST a year. Breast milk does NOT loose all of its nutritional value at 6 months!

Actually it is recommended that you breastfeed for the first year. Ask a midwife in your community. The benefits is that the baby gets her immune system built up and helps fight off infections. Socially, she gets to be close to mommy because that is a special time and it gives them a sense of security. Tell your husband, he can still play with your boobs so lighten up.

I have never done a search, but look up the benefits of breastfeeding and breast cancer. I have heard that the longer you breastfeed that less chance you have of getting breast cancer. I have breast fed all 3 (almost 4!) of mine until they were 1, I say continue....at 6 months old she could be taught to drink from a cup anyway..all 3 of mine have.

Here is a link that you might find helpful. http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/all_about_more.html

You got a TON of great info. I just wanted to add that your husband can start giving her a bottle once in a while if he wants. That doesnt have to interfere with nursing as long as you wish.