[*mylittleprince*]

I will start off saying I"m very pro-breastfeeding. I fed DS until he self-weaned at 17.5 months and am currently exclusively breastfeeding 15 week old twins.

In the last week I have had 3 different people tell me that breastfeeding has no benefits after 3 months and that the WHO guidelines are only because people in some countries don't have access to clean water. I've just kept quiet as they all use formula and I don't want to get into an argument. I also think fed is best rather than a starving baby.

One is a child health nutritionist who said baby's get the maximum immunity they can by 3 months.

Where are people getting this information from?

Do you agree?

[Ehill]

Well no matter what they still need to eat. And breastmilk is cheaper and easier than formula!

[PurpleNess]

As a mum who really struggled with BFing and was predominately feeding EBM for the first 3 months ( along with trying to get bub to attach etc) but ended up chucking in the towel ( supply issues - you name it) which wasn't easy emotionally I think I'm in a position to say what a load a twaddle!

I would have given anything to successfully breastfeed as I feel the nutrition and immunity boost far outway formula but there is certainly a place for formula for mums like me, without it who knows what would have happened.

I'm surprised that professionals are feeding mums this rubbish, is it to make them feel better about not BFing? Perhaps.?

[CharliMarley]

That is absolutely NOT TRUE! The ABA have researched breastmilk more than anyone and breastmilk is forever changing as the child grows and antibodies and all the other good stuff are still very important to a baby for as long as you and your child want to breastfeed.

[cinnabubble]

Well, that's just bullsh*t.

[julz78]

I think the people telling you this are completely ignorant. If people start the WHO guildelines are only for countries without clean water crap I usually call them out on it and say it is the WORLD Health Organisation's recommendations not the THIRD WORLD Health Organisation, they generally don;t know what to say to that

[CharliMarley]

What qualifications does this "Child health nutritionist" have? A PhD in dumb?

[Jax12]

I really don't understand why people are so quick to encourage mothers to stop breastfeeding. What business is it of theirs and what difference could it possibly make? My limited understanding is that this information is not correct - I am sure that perhaps the benefits may be less significant after three months but they don't disappear completely. I strongly disagree and would find it difficult to bite my tongue, particularly the child health nutritionist who should certainly not encourage mothers to stop feeding their baby such a perfect food source. It just boggles my mind.

If a mother was struggling to establish breastfeeding and was expressing I can understand saying, you know what, you've made it through the first three months and that is really when your baby will have received the best possible benefits of having your milk, don't feel bad, look after yourself etc etc, but if you're fine with it and so is bub, why why why???

[deejie]

I've just kept quiet as they all use formula and I don't want to get into an argument.

This is how I would respond to such nonsense as well. Nod and smile if needs be, then change the topic.

[Pup-pup]

In my personal experience, whilst being breastfed my girls were definitely receiving extra immunity. They didn't get any illness whatsoever, not even the common cold whilst other members of the family had colds or illness. So especially during their first winter, it made a difference.

However, once weaned (around 1), I'm not convinced they are any better off than babies given formula for the first year. And in their 2nd year, think they had colds, gastro and other bugs the same as everyone else.