Don't ask me again when I will stop!

I love to breastfeed. Laura loves to breastfeed. It is convenient. It is relaxing. We have fought through a clogged duct and two nursing strikes to get where we are today. Are those not good enough reasons to continue? As Laura gets older and I continue to nurse her in front of people I am constantly getting asked "how long will you continue nursing her?" It isn't really negative like they are saying what I am doing is gross -- yet. Of course I am worried for that day! (Although I don't know if you count the story of the "friend" who I travelled with -- you know, the guy who changed his status on Facebook to "I can't wait until Melisa Jeffs is done breastfeeding".  They have a word for that. It's spelled d.o.u.c.h.e.)
I even find myself justifying to these people -- usually my friends --  why I will continue until SHE wants to wean. Stating medical evidence promoting extended breastfeeding and reciting the minimum length of time each health organization recommends to nurse to. So here you are, save your questions and read this. But please ask more questions if you still feel the need. I am all about educating the best I can on the topic to help our society understand it more.

Benefits

• Nutrition -- Yes, there are still vitamins, fats, and proteins. If you are still nursing often you don't even need to give cows milk as breast milk has an even higher fat content.
• Health -- those antibodies that Laura has been getting to keep her nice and healthy will continue to do the same. As soon as my body detects a virus it creates antibodies in my milk which protects her from that virus. I think the amount of times her daddy and I have had colds can prove that really does work. It also reduces her chances of obesity, diabetes, allergies, asthma and childhood cancers! Speaking of cancers I can do this for a totally selfish reason as the longer I nurse the less chance I have of getting breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.
• Intelligence -- yep, it's even said to give a higher IQ! This will be hard to prove right as she is already going to be smarter than her daddy anyway.
• Financial -- well it has already saved us hundreds of dollars, but going forward it can continue to do the same! If you consider medical bills as well, all you tax payers can thank me for lowering medical costs.

Who says so?

• Health Canada recommends "Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life .... with continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond." 
• The World Health Organization recommends "...Infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond."
• UNICEF "...breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and to continue to breastfeed for two years or more with age appropriate, responsive complementary feeding."

OK you get the point I am sure. I hope you learned a little something!

If you are still breastfeeding why will you continue or why have you?

2 years in 10 points.

Jake and I have just celebrated being together for two years. It's been a really good two years too. But a lot has happened and changed for both of us, so thankfully we have both changed together. But here they are -- The progression of my life changing.

1. I ran away from the city to live and work on the Sunshine Coast where it takes a ferry ride and an hour and a half drive to come find me. Where my cell phone won't work, and the only Internet you get is in the one pub. Where the only thing you have to avoid while driving are the elk. Where you can kayak at night in the brightest phosphorescence on the north pacific and wake up to eagles and seals fishing.Where most nights are spent around a lakeside fire drinking beer or wine.
2. While in this remote location I met my now amazing "significant other" while he was on holiday in his home town after just finishing his university degree.
3. I go back to the city when the summer is over to finish my certificate in Travel and Tourism, and Jake decides to move back to the coast and work for his favorite childhood boss in a dream position. We continue a long distance relationship. 
4. We go to Mexico to see his sister get married.
5. While finishing my certificate I work in a nice restaurant with very bad owners. 
6. I finish my certificate in Travel and Tourism with straight A's! I have now decided this is the right direction for me but to get where I want to go I need to get my degree in Anthropology with a minor in Sustainable Tourism. I apply for school.
7. The same week I finish Travel and Tourism, I quit my job, apply for a seasonal pub job on the Sunshine Coast and move in with Jake. I guess I can add to that same week -- we conceive our beautiful daughter.
8. After a summer working pregnant in the pub, we decide to spend the winter/Laura's due date living with my parents in the city for when Laura is born.
9. Most important day of my life happens. Our beautiful Laura Olivia is born on boxing day! December 26/09! And Jake and I decide to move to the city.Where he will be lucky to find a great company to work for.
10. My mind changes focus from Sustainable Tourism to pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and all the amazing things that parenting brings and I become an advocate. Advocacy meets business. And that is another post altogether. 

So looking back for me it's been a pretty intense two years. And considering for two years before that I was completely nomadic travelling the world, the last 4 years have changed my whole person completely. And for two years before that... I can really go on and on as I am sure each two year increment has made me someone new.

Have the past few years brought lots of change in your life?