This woman brеаstfeeds her baby for up to five years and won’t stop
Brеаst milk is referred to as «liquid gold» due to the amount of nutrition it provides to the infant. Lauren McLeod, a 29-year-old Australian mother, believes in the health benefits of breastfeeding and continues to do so with her 5-year-old child.
However, she was chastised by those who believe it is inappropriate to breastfeed older children. McLeod, on the other hand, defends her actions and explains why society needs to remove this negative stigma.
Lauren McLeod is a doula and a mother of two.
McLeod gave birth to her first child, Bowie, in 2017. In 2020, she gave birth to her second child, Tigerlily. She has breastfed both of her children since they were born. She stated in one video,
«I’ve never thought about bottle feeding. I don’t dislike it because I have anything against it. This was simply working for us, and it was simple.»
McLeod also works as a doula, a trained professional who offers expert guidance and support to people going through childbirth, miscarriages, and other reproductive-related health events.
She believes that breastmilk boosts immunity and would gladly share her «liquid gold» with those in need, such as a friend’s newborn child.
«It was strange, but not in a bad way, feeding a baby who wasn’t mine. «It felt so natural, and it was great to help my friend, who was only 8 months old,» she explained.
«I never imagined I’d still be breastfeeding him at the age of 5, but here we are.»
Lauren McLeod and her husband, Anders McLeod, were both breastfed by their mothers until they were about two years old, and this was Lauren McLeod’s original plan for her children.
«We expected him [Bowie] to self-wean by that point, but 2 (years old) came and went. He is now 5 years old and only breastfeeds at bedtime and a few times per week.»
McLeod began setting boundaries with Bowie and tried to feed him less when Tigerlily entered their lives. She expressed her frustration at being touched excessively at one point.
«There have absolutely been moments with the kids being older, where I just thought, ‘I just can’t. This is something I can no longer do. «I need to stop,» I say. McLeod revealed.
She, like any other mother, has bad days, but she clarified that she is generally pleased with their journey. She is also willing to ride it out until the time comes for a change.
Some people on the internet disagree with her approach, calling it «gross.»
While no one has said anything negative to McLeod in person, she has received a lot of backlash online for breastfeeding her preschooler.
«It’s not strange… it’s completely normal, and I’ll keep going until they tell me to stop,» she replied. She went on to say that they do feed Bowie properly.
McLeod expressed sadness at the thought of the end because breastfeeding has been such an important part of their lives. «I believe we’re making the best decision for ourselves.
It’s lovely for us to bond and reconnect after a long day.» McLeod also believes her son will stop breastfeeding by the age of six.
Breаstfeeding can be continued for up to two years, according to experts.
Breаstfeeding is one of the best ways to ensure a child’s health and survival, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Breаstfeeding is recommended by institutions from the first hour of birth, and ideally within the first 6 months.
Infants should be breastfed as often as they require. Concerning the age limit, the WHO website states that breastfeeding can be continued even after the first two years.
McLeod is documenting their family’s breastfeeding journey on social media in order to help normalize breastfeeding beyond infancy.
Lauren claims that the majority of the messages she receives are encouraging. Many people also inquire about her experience with tandem feeding and the logistics involved.
«A lot of people’s negative opinions about breastfeeding are often based on cultural bias and a lack of education on the subject, which is why I share my story — to help people understand that natural term breastfeeding is biologically normal.»
