55 weeks and still going!

i can't believe we made it! it's funny, i spent an entire year focusing on keeping boo at the breast, and now that we've reached our goal everyone is asking when i plan on getting her off of it. quite honestly i didn't think i'd make it this far and never really put much thought into "extended breastfeeding". it sort of feels like i'm in a whole new class and need to start doing my homework again. kellymom has a great page on extended breastfeeding which quotes several sources stating the benefits of nursing past one year and also lists the benefits mothers receive from extended breastfeeding:

• Extended nursing delays the return of fertility in some women by suppressing ovulation (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer (References). Studies have found a significant inverse association between duration of lactation and breast cancer risk.

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ovarian cancer (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of uterine cancer (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of endometrial cancer (References).

• Breastfeeding protects against osteoporosis. During lactation a mother may experience decreases of bone mineral. A nursing mom's bone mineral density may be reduced in the whole body by 1 to 2 percent while she is still nursing. This is gained back, and bone mineral density may actually increase, when the baby is weaned from the breast. This is not dependent on additional calcium supplementation in the mother's diet. (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. (References).

• Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease insulin requirements in diabetic women (References).

• Breastfeeding moms tend to lose weight easier (References).

to be honest, i get a little sad when thinking about weaning. breastfeeding is so easy at this point, especially now that boo knows how to sign "milk" when she's hungry. ultimately, boo is only just now starting to enjoy solids and my much loved lactation consultant susan advised that "she certainly needs to be eating better before you completely wean". i guess we'll just keep doing what we're doing and see where it takes us.