This mother says breastfeeding her 5-year-old helps her mental health

A mother appeared on This Morning to chat about her experience of breastfeeding her five-year-old child and how it has helped her to deal with her mental health issues.

Sophie Mei Lan, along with her husband, joined Phillip and Holly to chat about her decision to continue breastfeeding her children beyond when many other mothers would. While on the show, Sophie explained that she still breastfeeds her two-year-old daughter Ariana and five-year-old daughter Jasmine, even throughout the night. As a result, her husband has to sleep in a different room every night. Phillip asked was she doing it for herself or for her children, and she replied:

"It’s definitely for them. Like, at the moment I get so tired because all my work with my blog and vlog and also feeding them. Like today I just wanted to have a bit of time to prepare and come in here, but instead Ariana is grabbing at my top. I think as all breastfeeding mothers know, we do what’s best for our kid."

Speaking about what it does for her, she said that it has had a positive effect on her mental health.

"I've spoken out on my blog and vlog about mental health, I actually found that breastfeeding really anchored me. So a lot of the time I can kind of zone out and be in my little episode and what not but when I'm feeding my baby and now my children it actually achors me a lot more and I can have some quality time with them and focus on them."

Today is a better day. I feel like hibernating at the moment but that’s not possible with two lively daughters. My #depression has come back to bite me, I’m tearful, I’m down... but I’m keeping on going (well, trying). ??? I really enjoyed however going to #review #SarahandDuck @westyorkshireplayhouse it was a gentle and funny bit of escapism. ??? I told myself I could do it as it’s just one bus ride to Leeds @arrivabusuk ??? but then as ever the girls dragged me for a post-theatre shopping trip @leedsmarkets ??? kids do really drag you out of your comfort zone ??? #retailtherapy #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #theatre #leeds #yorkshire #shoppingspree #kidstheatre #childrensbooks #breastfeeding #breastfeedingmoms #breastfeedingmum #breastfeedfriendly #breastfeedingmama #madmum #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillness #mentallyill #mentalbreak ❤️❤️❤️

A post shared by Sophie Mei Lan (@mamameiblog) on Oct 28, 2017 at 12:20pm PDT

She also spoke about how she feels she has been judged by others for her decision to keep breastfeeding. She said:

"I think sometimes we just accept the societal norm and actually, I have not done this to make a point. I've just gone in my private life what's needed for my children."