World Breastfeeding Week: How My Circle Viewed Extended Breastfeeding

Extended Breastfeeding.

It’s a term that makes a lot of people in the American culture cringe. Anything past one year? YUCK! Before I even had my first child, I was questioned by friends and friendly coworkers alike that were curious about my intentions for feeding my baby. The fascination with how our children are fed from a young age is intriguing, to say the least. I’m not sure who else’s business it is other than mine….and maybe my husband’s…whether or not my baby and I choose breastfeeding or extended breastfeeding. 

Now, I won’t sit here and lie to you via Pinterest perfect pictures that I’ve included in this blog post. 

CU bf photo
CU bf photo 2

*Photo Credit: Carly Urbach Photography

I never intended on breastfeeding past one year.

At the time (pre-baby), I viewed one-year-olds as toddlers. The concept of continuing to have such a close, intimate, bodily attachment to a small human who could walk was somewhat astounding to me. However, being very much a “to each their own” type of person, I didn’t really care what others chose to do with their children in regards to their diet. When my baby girl turned one, an amazing thing happened, she still seemed like a baby! The bond we had created over the course of 12 months was STRONG, to say the least. I couldn’t imagine weaning such an intimate part of our life together down to nothing. I know not every mom enjoys breastfeeding, and I’m the last person who will push ‘breast is best’ on anyone. Your personal beliefs are yours, and my personal beliefs are mine—Hey, we can still be friends!

My daughter and I continued our journey until she was two years and two weeks old, and I would have continued. However, mama and daddy took their first solo vacation at this time, and when we returned, it just made sense. (I was also suffering quite a bit of nipple sensitivity due to being 18 weeks pregnant at the time. TMI? Hey, we’ve all been there.) One week wasn’t enough time away for our little one, and we endured a few rough nights where tears were had on all sides as we figured it out. 

My Circle’s view on “Extended” Breastfeeding?

No one in my direct circle gave a hoot how long I breastfed my kid for. While on this journey, it also came to my attention that the World Health Organization (WHO), had an encouraging statement regarding how beneficial breastfeeding is up to or past the age of two. I was actually pleasantly surprised by my inner circle and strangers alike when this topic came up, as I never received so much as a discouraging statement or look.

I’m not sure the notion of surprise would have occurred to me if social media wasn’t such a vast presence in our lives. I’ve read post after post of moms reaching out for encouragement after receiving grief from friends and/or family members about breastfeeding in general, let alone up until or past the age of two.

I feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by individuals who not only support my mission of raising a happy and healthy child, but also have a great amount of faith and love in how I choose to do so. Not everyone is as lucky as I am to have such a tribe. This is why communities like the Omaha Moms Blog are essential to helping other moms feel encouraged in their journey to breastfeed as long as they want to (or to not breastfeed if they don’t want to!) 

You got this, Mama. You know what’s best for your baby. You do you. 

And to further destigmatize the very sight of breastfeeding, here are but a few of a great many selfies my little one and I took along our journey. While I’m grateful to have a breastfeeding break before our new additional arrives, I’d be lying if these pictures didn’t make me miss this special time with my first born. 

Nothing strengthens a woman like becoming a mother. Unapologetically care for your child, and the world will benefit from your perseverance in the face of parenting adversity. 

BF Hammock Photo
BF blue shirt hammock
bf blue shirt hammock 2
Extended Breastfeeding
Sara Hoogeveen
Sara is a career child welfare worker turned career mama. After having their first child, Marian (Feb 2017), she realized her true calling in life was to mom and mom hard! Sara resides with her husband, Blake, and daughter in West Omaha. They are expecting their second child, Henry, August 2019. Sara is a Nebraska transplant from Iowa while Blake grew up in Bellevue, NE. She has a professional background in child development, psychology, and human services, and puts these degrees to use every day in raising her children. Sara is a staunch believer in only being able to care for others when you also care for yourself. When she’s not momming, she can be found reading books from a book club she co-leads, cooking, or crafting.