Mum responds to those who claim that extended breastfeeding is selfish

She wasn't holding back.

How long a mother breastfeeds her child for is entirely her own business but sometimes people can't help but throw their opinion in. One mum finally had enough of people telling her that she is selfish for breastfeeding her baby (now a toddler) and she wrote a post telling everyone exactly how she feels. The post began:

"Tell me again how breastfeeding my toddler is just for myself?' "Doing loads of laundry with a child hanging off my breast is just for me right? Breastfeeding a monkey-swinging, gymnastics-tumbling, handstand-attempting child while your nipple is in their mouth is what us self-absorbed mothers are constantly longing for! No one is breastfeeding their toddler or older child for themselves. It is for their child alone. I repeat: it is for their child alone. No one is forcing their child to breastfeed and not ween."

The frustrated mum went on to say that people have told her to 'cut the cord' despite the fact that breastfeeding has so many health benefits.

"The fact I can cure any tears in a matter of seconds, knowing that they are taking in antibodies and immunities that are tailor-made for them, is so amazing. However, for whatever reason, some people have gotten it into their heads that mothers who practice natural-term weening are doing it for themselves and are just not willing “to cut the cord.” Those people are wrong. Breastmilk continues to provide antibodies, immunities, white blood cells, and hormones that are so important for a child to grow. Call me crazy, but maybe that’s why the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until at least 2 years and beyond? Maybe that’s why the natural weening age is between 2-7 years old?"

I've some across mommy-shaming for both bottle feeding and breastfeeding and it really does feel sometimes like you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. You can never please everyone so the best thing that you can do is what feels right for you and your baby or child. Breastfeeding is the most natural way that any mother can feed her child and it is completely up to you how long you decide to breastfeed for and absolutely nobody else's business.