Schoolgirl Becomes the Only Child in Class Who Still Breastfeeds, Her Mom Thinks It’s Normal

A 5-year-old schoolgirl was the only child in her class that had not stopped breastfeeding. Her mother thought it was completely normal and soon hit the headlines when asked why she still breastfed her daughter.

When do you think is the right time to stop breastfeeding a baby? Three months? Six months? Or perhaps a year? While Britain’s National Health Service suggests that mothers feed their babies until they are at least six months old, a 29-year-old mom from Grimsby, Lincs, took it to the extreme without seeking medical advice.

She not only fed her oldest 5-year-old daughter before and after school every day but also harbored a routine out of it in between meals and sometimes in tandem. The woman knew that her daughter was the only child in class who was still breastfed, but she continued doing it for specific reasons that garnered the media’s attention.

A MOTHER’S STRONG BELIEF

Emma Shardlow Hudson’s two children, 5-year-old Alex and Ollie, 2, have grown up under the comfort of their mom, mostly nursing them frequently. Even after Alex started nursery school, she didn’t stop getting her good latch from her mother.

Although the mom found breastfeeding easy with time, she reportedly struggled when she began.

It was her breastmilk, according to Emma, that helped her daughter not pick up any sniffles or coughs from her classmates. She also believed that her breastmilk was an excellent source of immunity for her children. Nonetheless, her approach didn’t do without facing criticism from the public, who thought it was odd to breastfeed a grown child without medical advice.

BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC

For instance, there were times when Emma breastfed her children in public. While nothing much was said about her feeding Ollie, people had different opinions about Alex being nursed simultaneously. While Emma amassed more positive reactions from people, the adverse response of some was a bit daunting. She recounted:

“Some people just tut, and others actually go “ugh” and walk away… It has only happened three or four times in those five years.”

The mother claimed that some of her friends had stopped breastfeeding in public due to fear and unfavorable reactions from people. But for Emma, there was always a flipside.

CURIOUS PEOPLE & THEIR UNPLEASANT REACTIONS 

During the few times Emma had breastfed her children in public, she met people who would curiously come over to her. But then, there were also some with unpleasant reactions. 

“‘Oh, they’re so lovely, are they sleeping?’ and then go, ‘Oh, are you feeding? That’s lovely,’ which is really nice.” she explained, adding:

“I’ve had more of those comments than the negative ones…but you remember the negative ones more…they make more of an impact, unfortunately.”

AN INHERITED HABIT 

Emma also believed that there was nothing odd in doing a mother’s duty in public. “It’s something that should be so normal, and it’s what breasts are for ultimately,” she said.

The breastfeeding sentiment is something Emma claimed she had inherited from her mother, who had breastfed her until she turned two.

The professional photographer stood her ground, asserting there was nothing to be ashamed of about breastfeeding a baby. According to Emma, the motherly duty is something that unites all women regardless of background.

EARLY STRUGGLES 

“Lots of people stop breastfeeding at 3 months because they get recommended to stop, which I think is a shame,” Emma claimed. Although the mom found breastfeeding easy with time, she reportedly struggled when she began.

When Alex was born, Emma was 24, and she faced some challenges in breastfeeding her. She had delivered her baby in the hospital against her desire for a home birth due. Emma claimed that her midwives were amazing but still lacked in offering her comprehensive support to feed her child. She recounted:

“I couldn’t get my eldest to latch on properly, and the midwife just grabbed my [breast] and shoved the baby onto it, and it was really painful.”

STEPPING UP FOR BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS 

Luckily, Emma got adequate assistance from a breastfeeding support team that stayed with her for more than half an hour to help her with nursing Alex. “Without that, I wouldn’t have been feeding her,” she recalled.

Having entered motherhood, Emma had even stepped up for mothers like her struggling with breastfeeding issues. She has since hosted various events like the Global Latch On, which aims to encourage mothers to nurse simultaneously while assisting those struggling.

Emma, who believed that nursing her children was a selfless duty, also claimed that it was probably the most challenging thing she had ever done. Moreover, she was also confused if it was the wisest thing to breastfeed a child for so long.

AN ATTITUDE THAT CHANGED WITH TIME 

“Before Alex was born, I wasn’t sure if it was a normal thing to breastfeed for so long…But it wasn’t even a conscious decision to keep feeding for so long…I just thought, why stop when it’s good for them? My attitude has changed over time,” she explained.

Emma claimed that her children rarely fell ill and credited her breastmilk for keeping ailments at bay. “I’m almost 100 percent positive that that is because of the antibodies in the milk,” she revealed.

Moreover, her husband Stuart, a chef, supported her in this. “He can see it helps her [Alex], so he’s like, whatever’s best for her and you, which is what it is,” Emma said.

WHAT EXPERTS SAY

According to the NHS, a mother’s breastmilk is believed to be a rich source of nourishment that helps reduce a baby’s risk of obesity, infections, type 2 diabetes, and childhood leukemia.

Moreover, new moms are also thought to benefit from breastfeeding as it’s believed to reduce their risk of breast and ovarian cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. However, it is a must to always seek medical advice before nursing an older child of weaning age. 

As for Emma, she surmised that Alex would eventually stop breastfeeding on her own. “She’s continuous because it’s not just for the milk, but I do think she’ll stop soon…She’s heading that way,” she said.

Why is it important to always seek medical advice before breastfeeding children who have attained their age of weaning? Do you think it is a healthy habit to breastfeed children older than six months?

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Anomama