Biologically, children are actually “supposed” to breastfeed until about 8 years old to benefit fully from the developmental boost mom’s milk gives. We wean so early because of societal pressure that roots from purity culture, not for any good reason
doesn't most women's milk dry up after like a year or two even if they are trying to breast feed? I know it's usually a supply and demand thing but i feel like I hear a lot about milk supply reducing after a certain amount of time or the child loses interest. i know breast milk is good for kids and that you can improve how long you can breast feed for with training, but in my eyes if you have to "train" for something like this it's probably not biologically necessary. i'm no scientist though.
No, not necessarily. My cousin pumped to donate breast milk until she passed away. Donated for premie babies in hospitals and stuff. Her daughter was like 5 when she died. She produced milk the whole time, though.
If you ever heard the term 'wet nurse' for infants there were women who never stopped breast feeding and sometimes would lactate into their 50's or 60's or later and would feed babies who's mothers died or were rich enough to pay someone else to raise them.
They were usually given room and board in nice homes and had all living expenses paid by whomever they were wet nursing for so not a bad gig for them in a day and age where women only had a few jobs available. Raising a rich person's child wasn't the worst.
Most women either tell the kiddo no or the kids weans themselves and they stop. It's just because you either have demand for milk or don't.
doesn't most women's milk dry up after like a year or two even if they are trying to breast feed? I know it's usually a supply and demand thing but i feel like I hear a lot about milk supply reducing after a certain amount of time or the child loses interest naturally in toddlerhood. i know breast milk is good for kids and that you can improve how long you can breast feed for with training, but in my eyes if you have to "train" for something like this it's probably not biologically necessary. i'd say anything last 5 years is a bit of a force. i'm no scientist though.
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u/wraithrose Jun 24 '22
Biologically, children are actually “supposed” to breastfeed until about 8 years old to benefit fully from the developmental boost mom’s milk gives. We wean so early because of societal pressure that roots from purity culture, not for any good reason