Nell McAndrew speaks out on extended breastfeeding

[Jemima]

Interesting article in which she explains why she has decided to carry on breastfeeding her son who is almost three.

Mirror Article

 

[sglascoe]

Good on her, i think a womens decision to carry on breastfedding past 1, 2, is up to them and they shoud'nt be criticised for it, no matter what the childs age is breast milk has the same benefits, i really do think it is a personal choice tho, i will carry on bf up untill she is one, but who knows, i might carry on.

I admire her for speaking so honestly about Breastfeeding.

 

[marley2580]

good for her

 

[polo_princess]

Was good of her to speak out on something she feels so strongly about, not knowing a huge deal about BF'ing but hopefully it will be of some comfort to those who do.

 

[Jemima]

Good on her, i think a womens decision to carry on breastfedding past 1, 2, is up to them and they shoud'nt be criticised for it, no matter what the childs age is breast milk has the same benefits, i really do think it is a personal choice tho, i will carry on bf up untill she is one, but who knows, i might carry on.

I admire her for speaking so honestly about Breastfeeding.

Yes, I agree. It's a good article.

 

[freyja]

Good article, thanks for the link.

 

[AC81]

good for her - thanks for the link!

 

[Faerie]

Just did a quick search to see if anyone else had posted about this because I saw the article too, only in the Daily Mail

It has Nell's article, and then two responses from other women. The second woman is still breastfeeding her children at 4 and 6. I would like to say I'm not judgemental, but I am happy to admit that would really make me raise my eyebrows if I saw it.

 

[Freya]

Each to their own, but I'm sorry, bf past 18 months, personally, makes me cringe and as much as I've enjoyed getting to grips with bf and it's challenges.... I wont be doing it beyond 6 months.

Nope, can only see that long term bf (2yrs +) is more about the needs of the mother than the needs of the child...IMHO.

 

[Serene123]

I think it's wonderful.

 

[Tilly]

I think it's great that she is breastfeeding but I think 3 would have to be the cut off point (although I think 12-18 months is enough). She said in one article I read (think it was on Daily Mail's website) that she feels breastfeeding until 5, 6, even 7 is normal - where as I think thats going a bit far and gets a bit strange!

 

[Serene123]

I keep setting myself dates to stop, but then something happens, like Caitlyn getting sick, and I remember that my breasts are not just for food, but for comfort too! Then I get worried about stopping ever I have no will power!

 

[Tilly]

Im sure you will know when it's time to stop yourself, she is still only 9 months. Do you know when you *want* to stop or is it more of a go with the flow type thing?

 

[asacia]

Children lose the ability to suckle when they reach a certain age, so nature has already build a 'cut off' point into the design, so I don't think society should be so judgemental as to want to stop people breastfeeding at any stage.

I don't think it is wrong to find it uncomfortable or unpleasant, thats natural - we often feel like that about things we don't understand, but I'd hope that most people wouldn't vocalise thier distaste within earshot of a extended breastfeeding Mother or child.

I can't understand why its wrong for a bloke in a cafe to suggest that a mother breastfeeding her newborn should go and sit in the toilets, but we are okay to make judgements about mothers who feed older children.

 

[Serene123]

Im sure you will know when it's time to stop yourself, she is still only 9 months. Do you know when you *want* to stop or is it more of a go with the flow type thing?

I definately want to stop when she's 18 months, although I'd prefer to stop at 12! Didn't really see myself going past 6 though

 

[Faerie]

I don't want to put a time limit on when I will stop, because I'm not doing it yet so there's no way I can make that decision or judgement. I'm hoping that my child will stop naturally when they're getting all the nutrients they need from solids, around 12 months.

I can understand a 2+ year old still being breastfed at night for comfort, and I'm sorry if this causes anyone offence, but I really can't see the benefits of a 4 or 6 year old still being breastfed at any time. At that age and in these days, when we are not short on nutritional food, there doesn't really seem any reason. I suppose they're just doing it for comfort, whether the child's or mother's is hard to say.

 

[ryder]

I have to agree with Freya and Faerie... At a certain point breastfeeding IS NOT natural... Breastfeeding as a natural subject is providing nutrition to your young baby who cannot get proper, balanced nutrition elsewhere.

Obviously still breastfeeding isn't bad persay, of course breastmilk is healthy... But there is a point where bfing becomes more about the mother and not the child. IMO... once you get to 1-2 years it starts to become about the mother... not the child.

I'd never look down on someone I saw doing it, id never be rude to them either.

 

[thelilbump]

good for her.

N she's totally right with the whole cafe thing and you should be able to feed anywhere.

 

[marley2580]

But there is a point where bfing becomes more about the mother and not the child. IMO... once you get to 1-2 years it starts to become about the mother... not the child.

I agree that it becomes more about the mother than the child at a certain point, but I disagree with you on the ages. a 1-2 year old often still needs the comfort of the breast, even if they don't need the milk. I think once you start getting to 4 or 5 then you really need to look at your reasons for it. However, I don't think that it does any harm to either the mother or the child. I know of some women that choose extended breastfeeding because it lowers their risk of breast cancer, but they know why they're doing it and I say fair enough, especially if it runs in your family.

 

[milkmachine]

i think its brilliant im going to feed faith for as long as she wants it even if she still wants it when shes 3-4-5