Mother reveals her sense of pride at 'STILL' breastfeeding her four-year-old son - but critics brand it 'child abuse'
- Irish mother took to her Facebook page to share a picture of her breastfeeding
- Riona O'Connor, 38, from Ireland, shared joy at being able to feed 4-year-old
- The blogger admitted she didn't think she would be breastfeeding for years
- Many followers congratulated her but others claimed her son was too old
A mother has revealed her joy at being able to breastfeed her 4-year-old - but admitted she never thought she'd 'still be doing this years later'.
Riona O'Connor, 38, from Kerry, Ireland, took to her Facebook page which boasts 120,000 followers this week, to pay tribute to her son's birthday.
The blogger and comedian, who is also mother to four-month-old boy Ruairi, shared a picture as she fed the youngster, admitting that extended breastfeeding had given her 'pride and joy I didn't think was possible.'
The picture showed her beaming happily as she breastfed her son at an outside cafe.
Riona O'Connor, 38, from Kerry, Ireland, took to her Facebook page which boasts 120,000 followers this week, and revealed her joy at being able to breastfeed her 4-year-old - but admitted she never thought she'd 'still be doing this years later'
Captioning the snap, Riona wrote: 'He's four today. I'm so in love with and proud of everything he is. I'm so proud of what he's made me become. I never thought that when the midwife first laid him on my breast that I would still be doing this for years later.'
She remembered: 'I was innocent and clueless and fully prepared for it not to work out. The biggest surprise was that it did and that it's given me a sense of pride and joy I didn't think was possible.'
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Admitting it hadn't all been smooth sailing, she concluded: 'If you know me you know my self esteem can be through the floor at times. Those times I've thought, I might not be able to do much but I can do this.
'So thank you my body but mostly thank you my baby for coming into my life. I'm so incredibly lucky to have you'.
The blogger and comedian, who is also mother to four-month-old boy Ruairi, shared a picture as she fed the youngster, admitting that extended breastfeeding had given her 'pride and joy I didn't think was possible.'
Captioning the snap, Riona wrote: 'He's four today. I'm so in love with and proud of everything he is. I'm so proud of what he's made me become. I never thought that when the midwife first laid him on my breast that I would still be doing this for years later.'
The post quickly went viral, racking up 4,000 likes, comments and shares among followers.
Praising her honesty, one follower wrote: 'Thank you for all you do to help renormalise breastfeeding - and natural term feeding'.
'What a beautiful picture! My middle daughter weaned when she was 3 and a half and so many people gave me crap for extended breastfeeding. Current nursling is 21 months and we are stopping when she is ready', another added.
Recounting her own experience, one mother wrote: 'I still remember days of hiding breastfeeding my just shy of 3 year old to sleep out of fear of ridicule. Wish I had the strong mental health that I do now 3 years ago to have just confidently done it!'
Thanking her for raising awareness, another mum said: 'It is so lovely to wake up and see this picture. I am also nursing my 4 year old. Thank you for posting this and normalizing full term nursing'.
Praising her honesty, one follower wrote: 'Thank you for all you do to help renormalise breastfeeding - and natural term feeding'
Thanking her for raising awareness, another mum said: 'It is so lovely to wake up and see this picture. I am also nursing my 4 year old. Thank you for posting this and normalizing full term nursing'.
But some followers were more critical, with one writing: 'Let me just say this I am 55 years old and have vivid memories from the ages of 3 and 4, I definitely would not want to be able to remember nursing my mothers breast or should I.
'Here’s a good rule of thumb for discontinuing breast feeding. If the child is old enough to tell you that they are thirsty, then they are too old to breastfeed. This borders on child abuse in my opinion.'
Another added: 'Breastfeeding is natural and beautiful, but I hate when mums extend it until the kid is old enough to eat a steak. That's sick. A kid needs to grow and cut the cord. They can't be babies forever.'
One critical follower wrote: 'Breastfeeding is natural and beautiful, but I hate when mums extend it until the kid is old enough to eat a steak. That's sick. A kid needs to grow and cut the cord. They can't be babies forever.'
Asking at what age children should stop breastfeeding, another mother claimed: 'There comes a time in a child’s life that even the bottle and pacifier need to be taken away. I am all for breastfeeding but I do think there is a cut off point.
'If you want him to drink breast milk everyday then pump and put it in a cup for him. I’ll probably get bashed for this but he is too old to be on your breast. I kind of feel bad for this kid because he is going to have some major issues growing up. And unrealistic expectations of women.
'That being said it’s no ones business what you do. If you were my friend in real life I would give you my opinion and support you in everything you do. I am in no way saying you are a bad mom but those would be my concerns. Happy birthday to your kiddo'.
Asking at what age children should stop breastfeeding, another mother claimed: 'There comes a time in a child’s life that even the bottle and pacifier need to be taken away. I am all for breastfeeding but I do think there is a cut off point.
