Extended Breastfeeding, Returning to Work, Oversupply: Moving Beyond the Myths

Breastfeeding is surrounded by many beliefs. Some are reassuring, others are guilt-inducing, and some are simply false.

We hear that you have to breastfeed for 6 months, that you have to stop when you go back to work, that a child who breastfeeds for a long time will become too dependent, that a baby who feeds often is not getting enough milk, or that a mother who has “too much milk” is simply lucky.

The reality is more nuanced. Breastfeeding is not one single rule that applies to every woman. It is a living relationship between a mother, a baby, a body, a rhythm and a story.

The WHO does not recommend stopping breastfeeding at 6 months

This is a common misunderstanding: the World Health Organization does not say that breastfeeding should stop at 6 months. It recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months, then continuing breastfeeding alongside complementary foods up to 2 years or beyond, depending on the wishes of the mother and child.

That does not mean every woman has to breastfeed for 2 years. It simply means breastfeeding can continue well after the start of solid foods, if it works for both mother and child.

The right duration is the one that respects the mother, the baby, their health, their context and their wishes.

When should you stop breastfeeding?

There is no perfect date. Some women stop after a few days. Others after a few weeks, a few months, one year, two years or more. Some stop because they want to. Others stop because they are exhausted, poorly supported, in pain or under pressure.

In an ideal world, stopping would be a choice, not something endured.

Breastfeeding always ends eventually. A child does not feed “forever.” Comments like “he’ll still be breastfeeding at his wedding” are useless, guilt-inducing and not based on anything serious. A child who breastfeeds for a long time is not necessarily too dependent. Breastfeeding is also a relationship of attachment, safety and comfort. That bond is not pathological.

Breastfeeding during a new pregnancy: is it possible?

Yes, in many situations, it is possible to continue breastfeeding during pregnancy, if the mother wants to and if there is no specific contraindication.

When the new baby is born, some mothers choose to continue breastfeeding both children. This is called tandem breastfeeding.

The main rule is simple: priority goes to the newborn. The body produces colostrum for the baby who has just been born, and that baby should come first in the early days.

Often, during pregnancy, the taste of milk changes. It may become saltier, and some children naturally lose interest in the breast. Others continue. Again, there is no single path.

Going back to work is not the main reason mothers stop

We often hear that women stop breastfeeding because they go back to work. Of course, returning to work can make things more complicated. It requires organization, support, sometimes expressing milk, and sometimes a gradual adjustment.

But many women stop much earlier, especially within the first month. And one of the main reasons is pain, difficulty latching, cracked nipples, the feeling of not having enough milk, or poor advice.

In other words: many women do not stop because they no longer want to breastfeed. They stop because they are suffering, doubting themselves, or not supported enough. This matters because it completely changes the way we look at it. The problem is not the mother. The problem is often the lack of support around her.

“I don’t have enough milk”: sometimes true, often more complex

Many women think they do not have enough milk because their baby feeds often.

But a baby who feeds often is not necessarily a baby who is not getting enough milk. Breast storage capacity varies enormously from one woman to another.

Some mothers have a smaller storage capacity: their baby will need to feed more often to get the milk they need. Others have a larger storage capacity: their baby may take more milk in one feed and naturally space feeds out more.

Both situations can be normal.

The breast is not a bottle with a fixed and identical quantity for every woman. It is a living system. The more a breast is drained, the more it starts producing again. When it stays full for a long time, it receives the signal to slow down. That is why rigid advice such as “10 minutes on each breast” does not work for every woman.

Oversupply: when there is too much milk

Having a lot of milk can seem like a blessing. But for some mothers, it becomes a real difficulty.

With oversupply, milk can come very quickly and very forcefully. This is sometimes called a strong let-down reflex. The baby starts feeding, then the milk sprays out. They may cough, choke, pull away from the breast, get milk on their face, become unsettled, clamp down on the nipple or swallow a lot of air.

The baby may also drink very quickly, sometimes too quickly. Their stomach fills up, but their brain has not yet had time to register fullness. They may then continue asking for the breast, spit up a lot or seem uncomfortable.

In this situation, telling the mother to “feed 10 minutes on each breast” can make things worse.

Certain strategies can help, such as offering the same breast several times over a set period to gradually slow production. But this needs to be adapted carefully, because leaving a breast too full for too long can cause pain or engorgement.

In cases of oversupply, support from a midwife, lactation consultant or trained professional can make a real difference.

Should you express milk when you have too much milk?

Not always. When a mother already produces too much, expressing a lot of milk can maintain or worsen oversupply. The body understands that it needs to produce more.

Expressing milk can be useful in certain situations, but it is not automatically the right solution. Again, it all depends on the context: pain, engorgement, returning to work, needing relief, baby struggling to latch, prematurity, and so on.

The best reflex is to ask for advice adapted to your situation rather than applying general rules.

Is breast milk easier to digest than formula?

Yes, breast milk is specifically adapted to human babies. It contains human proteins, fats, antibodies, enzymes and many living components that evolve according to the baby’s needs.

Infant formula is designed to feed babies when breastfeeding is not possible, not desired or not continued. It is useful, regulated and necessary for many families. But it is not identical to breast milk.

The most important thing is not to turn this information into guilt. A mother who gives formula is not a bad mother. A mother who breastfeeds is not a better mother. What matters is that the baby is fed, loved, safe, and that the mother is supported in her choice.

Breastfeeding is not about success or failure

The problem with breastfeeding is that it is often presented like a performance.

You are supposed to succeed at breastfeeding, not be in pain, produce enough, express milk, go back to work, keep going for a long time, never complain, never doubt, and above all never feel conflicted.

But breastfeeding is not an exam. It is a physical, emotional, intimate experience. Sometimes wonderful, sometimes difficult, sometimes simple, sometimes painful, sometimes chosen, sometimes interrupted.

Some women love breastfeeding.
Some do not.
Some wanted to breastfeed but had to stop.
Some did not want to and eventually continued.
Some experience long-term breastfeeding very happily.
Some need to wean in order to regain their balance.

All of these stories exist.

What we should tell mothers

We should tell mothers that they have the right to be supported.

We should tell them that pain is not something to endure in silence.
That a baby who feeds often is not necessarily a hungry baby.
That going back to work can be prepared for.
That extended breastfeeding is not strange.
That stopping breastfeeding can be supported gently.
That mixed feeding can sometimes be a solution.
That they have the right to want to continue.
And that they also have the right to want to stop.

At Wellmum, we believe mothers do not need more pressure. They need reliable information, support, listening and solutions adapted to their real lives.

Because a positive breastfeeding experience is not necessarily a perfect one.
It is one where the mother does not feel alone.