How valuable is breastmilk?

When thinking about how long to breastfeed think about this:
- Let's say that you have an oil well in your backyard. When first discovered it was gave you a million dollars a day.
- At 3 months it's giving $750,000 a day-would you cap it?
- At 6 months it's giving $500,00 a day- would you cap it?
- At 12 months, it's giving you $250,000 a day-would you cap it?
- At 18 months, it's giving you $100,000 a day-would you cap it?
- At 24 months, it's giving you $50,000 a day-would you cap it?
- Probably you would not cap it until the benefits outweigh the hassle and mess of having an oil drill in your backyard.*
Breastfeeding for an extended time is 'putting money in the bank' for your child. The poor mother-in-laws, health care professionals and friends who have never read or learned about the huge, huge, huge benefits breastmilk offers to a child at 18 months old and at 2 1/2 years. Now we know, but it has only been recently that we have begun to recognize what our great, great grandmothers knew all along.
*this is a loose re-telling of an example given by Kathy Dettwyller
Thoughts, comments?
Debbie Page