If you want to breastfeed your child, it is so worth it...again as long as you want to do it.  My first time around, I was so stupid!  I did everything wrong because I thought it wasn't going to be a big deal.  I thought, if my best friend can do it, so can I!  WRONG!!!  I ended up with mastitis which was just aweful!  So I was devistated that I could no longer breastfeed, and later ended up with a lump in my breast, (everything turned out fine and acutally went away when I got pregnant again) and had a child with horrible ear infections that required tubes.  So when I found out I was having twins, I went and took a breastfeeding class.  When I had the twins, I had an AMAZING support group and staff at the hospital in San Antonio where I delivered the twins who really helped me get everything I needed in order to be a successful breastfeeding mom!  I nursed my twins for their first year of life.  It was extremely difficult for the first six months for so many reasons (that is a who story in itself), but it was so worth it.  My twins NEVER had ear infections and they have rarely EVER been sick.  In their first year of life, one of my twins was sick at 16 days old, and that was it!!!!!!  And now that they are approaching three, they have only been sick about two times.  For women who do not want to breastfeed, it is probably best they don't since the experience of just being with your child and loving them is most important.  But if you want to do it, you will oh so very happy you did! 

I nursed my first for a little over a year while I was working.  I was able to stay home for my second child and I nursed him for 3 years and 4 months.  I has c-Sections for both. Two things I could not be without was a boppy and a Glamour Mom nursing tank. http://www.glamourmom.com/store/shopproducts.asp?type=tanks_and_tops  They have so much more to offer now, but it was really supportive around my "tummy".  It was very comfortable and soft.  The boppy took alot of pressure off my back because it cradled my baby. The more comfortable you are, the easier it will be to nurse.   I hope this helps.

I wish I had known about La Leche League with my daughter because it might have made a difference.  I did have mastitis twice in the first couple of weeks, but that alone would not have made me stop.  I know now that I was ignorant with my first child.  But with my second I did a ton of research and got advice from every nurse I had, including one who was a lactation consultant.  But when I went home and my son was constantly cranky, I pumped and very, very little was coming out.  I kept trying to pump over the next couple of weeks, but nothing ever changed.  The idea that if you "want" to breastfeed, then you can, is upsetting to me.  I am glad I was able to pump and go three months with my daughter, but I "wanted" to breastfeed both my children.  I was devastated that it didn't work out.  I only wish it had been that easy.   

I suppose that I was lucky? I did not have any serious problems, and honestly didn't know anyone else who had.  Just the normal things, sore nipples at first, I did have mastitis once, no antibiotics, just warm compress and nursing as much as possilble cleared it up.

With my daughter I had a homebirth so I had the support of 2 midwives and my very wonderful supportive doctor as well. I was just 20 when she was born, not really sure where the strength of my resolve came from, but I KNEW that all that I had done, with the homebirth, and nursing her was the best I could do. I was absolutely determined and it was the best experience, those moments with your baby are like nothing else. She weaned herself at around 15 months.

With my son, there was just the sore nipples at first, oh and the contractions as my uterus tightened back up while I nursed him were VERY intense at first. I did join a La Leche League group in my area, just for the support of other mothers. My only 'difficulty' in nursing my son was that he was so attached to the boob, I felt like a milking machine sometimes. :-) I was SO tired at times that it was just good to share with others. I nursed my son until he was 3, even then I had to wean him, but by that time it was just a bedtime ritural.

I know it's not easy for everyone, but to those of you who are having difficulties, seek out the support. It's not only the best thing nutritionally for our babies...it is magical.

I have two little girls, my younger daughter turned 2 last friday and my older daughter turned 3 on December 3rd. I am still nursing both of them, much to the chagrin of several family members who ask pointedly when I am going to stop. I always respond by saying that I will keep going as long as it is still comfortable for them and for me. My husband is very supportive, and that counts for a lot. I had heard so many horror stories, and really didn't expect to have much success going into it. I think that was one of my biggest surprises with motherhood - how much I love nursing my girls. Yes it can be challenging in the beginning, but it is well worth the effort and creates a lovely bonding experience with your child. And if you can find other like-minded Moms it makes the whole process that much easier. Never underestimate the power of good support systems!

My firstborn was a very sick baby and I nursed him till 3.  I felt he needed the nutrition and the comfort.  Because he was sick I never got any grief from anyone, I think they understood, but I don't think people realize that there is not a switch that you flip one day and say, "you're too old to nurse now".  It is a gradual process based on the needs of the baby and sometimes the mom too if she feels she just can't continue or doesn't wish to for her own personal reasons.  It is not usually something that happens overnight.  If a child is still wanting to nurse and mom is ok with it I see nothing wrong with nursing that long. Not that my opinion matters!  Just saying!!!!

I'm still breastfeeding my 13 month old! It was a rough start and I wanted to give up but I stuck through it and we love it! I'll be sad when she weans!

I am feeling very compelled to respond to this post.  I am super passionate about breastfeeding and love sharing my story and hearing all the other mommies share theirs!  I nursed my son for 13 months (he is now 16 mos).  While I was pregnant, and until my son was about 6 months I was not veggie, vegan or superhero.  My son was born large, 9lb 5oz and literally ate every 2 hours for the first 4 months of his life.  He had reflux, eczema and colic.  I had experienced low milk levels around 4 months and was concerned so I visited a lactation consultant (fyi, make friends with yours in the hospital!!).  My milk levels were low due to obvoius stress and the amount of peppermint I was intaking.  Peppermint lowers your milk production-I never knew that.  More importantly, the lactation consultant noticed his eczema and commented that eating dairy can CREATE eczema!!!  With this new knowledge, and true to form I raced home to research and found out that was more than true, it also creates reflux so I decided then and there to cease dariy, very hard for me at the time.  Every few weeks I would cheat and notice his reflux and eczema came back.  Needless to say I  cut it out of my diet and noticed almost instant results with his colic.  Slowly he started sleeping better, his reflux pretty much disappeared and his eczema started clearing up.  I do not give him any dairy now and everything is wonderful.  He still has eczema, not bad but just somewhat genetic.  My internal pipes work much better now too :)