It's a health issue for both mother and child. The benefits of long-term breastfeeding include decreased breast and ovarian cancers in mom, lower risk of metabolic syndrome disorders (heart disease and diabetes) to name a few.
For the child there are lower rates of infections, positive affect on gut and brain development (most of this is in the early months but we don't know how that translates to extended BFing), decreased diabetes and asthma and a recent study suggests decreased depression in adulthood. There is more, but you get the picture.
This is a health issue and should be approached in that way.
Me 57/H 58 M36 S 2.5yrs R 12/13
Let me give up the need to know why things happen as they do. I will never know and constant wondering is constant suffering. Caroline Myss
