How long do women lactate?
Typically women lactate and breast feed their babies from birth for up to 2 years. For the first 3-6 months all of the nutrients a baby needs can be obtained through a mother’s breast milk. Of particular importance is the first week to two weeks of breast feeding, as this is when the colostrum is produced which contains a lot of immune information that gets passed on from the mother to the baby. Breast feeding is very good for babies. If a mother is uncertain about breast feeding, what is the minimum length of time you recommend she consider nursing for? It is ideal for a mother to nurse for at least the first few weeks, however, there are some disease conditions where the mother has to be careful about breast feeding. For instance, if the mother has HIV the research is conflicting as to whether or not it is best for a mother to breast feed. It is best to check with your obstetrician or medical doctor before breast feeding if you have a medical condition, and are on serious medications
