Breastfeeding Myth: All the Good Milk is Gone After 3-6 months

I was a little amazed to hear a comment recently about breastfeeding.  The commenter was surprised that someone was still nursing exclusively after 3 months.  The comment - "Doesn't she know that all the good milk is gone after 3 months? There's nothing left after that."  I have heard people say that breastfeeding doesn't matter after 6 months because they've gotten all the good stuff.  I have heard the same thing after a year.


So, what's the scoop?


Breast milk doesn't turn into kool-aid at any point.  It doesn't go sour (yes, during pregnancy and menstruation, the flavor changes a bit but it is still good milk).  It remains a very nutritious food throughout the life of the nursing relationship.  


Breastmilk is amazing stuff.  It grows and changes with the needs of the child.  There is some chemical connection between the saliva of the baby and the nipple that cause the milk to adjust to baby's needs.  As baby approaches milestones such as crawling and walking, the milk increases in protein.  


When mom is nursing two of different ages, the milk is suited for the littlest one.  Many toddlers who breastfeed start gaining weight quickly once mom's "baby" milk comes in after delivering a new baby because it is more calorie dense than milk for toddlers. 


I am amazed at how we are created.  It astounds me what our bodies can do and what science is continuing to learn about how our bodies work.  There are even doctors who prescribe breast milk to cancer patients for the immunity benefits.  It's amazing stuff!