I gave birth to seven children, five of which were normal gestational age, one was a six month pregnancy and upon delivery, lived 12 minutes and passed away; one was a 10-week gestation, and consequential miscarriage. My five children were born starting in 1978. The first three children were born in 1978, 1981, and 1983 and I breast-fed them 18 months.
After having breast-fed the first one that amount, I wanted to be fair and breast-feed the following two that amount, also. I had weaned my first child after 18 months after my doctor fussed at me for nursing so long. After my third child in 1983, I decided if I ever gave birth again, I would try weaning when the child was ready to wean. When I gave birth to a wonderfully easy child to take care of in 1986, I allowed her to nurse until she was nearly 5 years old.
Truthfully, she wasn't that keen about quitting then, but I was. So, I weaned her. She was my easiest child to take care of after birth, most low-key in disposition, and easy to take along with me to my administrative meetings, once I started working. From age 3 to nearly 5, she wanted to nurse only at bedtime -- and it seemed like it was a pacifier to her, though none of my children would take a pacifier.
In 1991, I gave birth once more to a baby, who again wanted to nurse until nearly 5 years of age. This time, her father fussed at her to quit and she did. (The same daddy for all five children was very supportive of our nursing/baby combination, and our children were overall very health during those years.) I did notice more ear infections in the three that were weaned after 18 months.
Following these children through school: each one of the five have been excellent students, with the first four being "A Honor Roll" students throughout high school. The last child is an 8th grader and is always on the "A Honor Roll." It isn't as though we push them to achieve this high. They just do. Of course, I know the reading I did for them in their early years helped, too. We read and read and read, all kinds of kid's stories and the Bible.
So, I would say for the best health of the child -- nursing is optimum. My children were all very attached to me, as their mom, and preferred me, more often than anyone. And, that made sense because for all but one, I was home for most of their days and nights from birth to 5 years of age.
My husband and I are college grads and I, with my Master's degree, and we both felt the children needed me most during those years to be at home. To date, none of the five have needed any surgery, their visits to the doctor are minimal, ear infections were minimal and their weight gain and height was usually in the upper 75 percent of growth curve that the doctor visits showed in their charts. My first child is 27; secon is 25; third is 22; fourth is 19; and the fifth child is 14. All are in great health, with my last child never having had chicken pox -- all the first four did. The first three had measles and the last two haven't. All these things make up very unusual profiles, I believe that totally support the usefulness of breast-feeding -- not to mention the great mom and child time! None smokes as we never smoked at home, nor drinks excessively in those that legally can drink; and all have proper motivation for work and achievement.
I just thought and still think the world of breast-feeding -- would recommend it to anyone, as easily the best thing for physical reasons, I ever did for my kids.
