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An Adelaide mother-of-five has a very special reason for continuing to breastfeed – even though her son is seven years old.

Six months ago Lisa shared her story she is now defending her decision to breastfeed her seven-year-old son, hitting back at the trolls who’ve branded the act “sick”.

Lisa received abuse online from people saying she was “sick” and even called her a “paedophile”.

In an open letter to her critics for Kidspot.com.au, the mum-of-five from Adelaide said the abuse was not acceptable.

“To the adults who have commented that I am sick and need to get help, there is nothing mentally wrong with me; I am only doing what is natural,” she said. “It’s not a sexual act. I’m not a paedophile which is what quite a few have suggested.”

Describing her son as “very independent, self-assured, none damaged”, Lisa said none of his friends tease him about the fact he still feeds as they have been “educated” that what he is doing is OK.

“Watching and seeing all you adults bully and abuse me, telling me what I need to do for your comfort, overriding my child’s comfort, I can see why so many children bully these days,” she went on, adding Chase can’t take any sort of medication as it makes him sick — which is why breastfeeding is an invaluable tool for them.

“Anyone feeding a child beyond a year gets accused of child abuse, pornography, damaging their health and told that if they walk and talk they don’t need it. How is respecting their needs abuse? You can’t breastfeed a piranha,” she said, explaining that Chase and Phoenix are happy to choose to breastfeed.

Despite the backlash, Lisa is still determined to continue breastfeeding for as long as the boys want — even doing both the boys in tandem.

“You can’t force a baby or toddler or older child to breastfeed, in fact I’m ready for him to wean whenever as I have been for quite some time,” she said.

 Last June Lisa originally shared her story…

‘I started to notice he would behave a little differently from my other kids at six months. He wouldn’t want to stay strapped into the pram, didn’t like full-on cuddles… but would nurse happily,’ she told FEMAIL.

‘I would often baby wear but he’d be hysterical unless I was feeding him.’

Along with his younger brother, four, they have both been diagnosed with autism and are still being breastfed – mainly because it helps to soothe them.

‘As children it was obviously the normal every couple of hours but it’s mostly just before bed now. It’s so sweet, he just needs that security,’ Lisa explained.

‘He often doesn’t ask in public but if he’s having a meltdown I prioritise it.’

Lisa admitted that one social worker told her it was ‘child abuse.’

‘It has been pretty good out here, really. People don’t come up to us and say anything. But online it can get really bad,’ she said.

Lisa is an administrator for the online support group Occupy Breastfeeding and sometimes uploads photos of her sons nursing.

‘People will comment all kinds of things. That they should have a bottle, or a cup, that it’s abuse, that it’s bad for them, once you get past six months you should be covering,’ she said.

‘We have other strategies in place to deal with Chase’s autism. Sometimes a cuddle is enough, breathing exercises or distractions.’

‘Sometimes I just want them off but it’s like saying no to a hug. When they come over to me and ask so nicely, how can I say no?’ She explained.

People have shared their own stories on Lisa’s post revealing how they too find breastfeeding helps calm their autistic child.

One mum shared, “I know how this woman feels I have a 10 yr old with ASD and she still nurses to sleep and after a meltdown.”

Other mums have thanked Lisa for sharing her own experience and offering them support.

We recently shared the story of a Mum still breastfeeding her five-year-old daughter says her child has avoided the usual viruses children are exposed to at school. Read more here

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  • Each to their own but keep it at home. You dont need to paste photos all over the internet and if you do then you know that people are going to slam you so be prepared for that.

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  • I going to be a troll here. What she is doing is disgusting.
    She has set a routine in place, only she can break it. She is only benefiting herself. Yes her two kids might be Autistic but there are other ways to soothe, and not breastfeed. Is she going to do that the rest if her life?

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  • Why does it have to be put on social media? That’s what I don’t get.

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  • Not sure it is what’s best for the child. She should look into other ways to sooth.

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  • I don’t think I know what to comment. I just finished nursing my 8 week old and to me, that doesn’t even feel natural.

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  • What on god’s earth is this woman thinking? If the child is autistic then he is obviously just seeking the routine and familiarity that he associates with breastfeeding.
    Just because a child wants something it doesn’t mean we give in just because they smile sweetly and ask politely (which they should when asking for anything). It’s up to us to ensure that we raise healthy, well adjusted, confident and independent children and treating them like babies isn’t a great start. As for the mother of the 10yo child, when will she stop this? As we are all aware, children are seemingly developing at an earlier rate, I myself was nearly 11 when I got my period, and had been in the early stages of puberty at 10. I find this very wrong, and like the rest of the logical thinking world, I am stunned. Those poor kids

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  • There is no need to troll someone on their choice of continuing to breastfeed their older child & I certainly don’t agree with calling her a pedophile. If the child is healthy & is in no way of being harmed then she as the child’s mother has every right to do what she feels is right. Once my children got teeth, there was no way I was going to continue breastfeeding. I was too afraid of my nipples being ripped off lol

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  • I don’t agree with trolls but in all honesty if you don’t want to hear the opinion of others don’t put it online- especially when you are doing something like this. I certainly don’t agree with breastfeeding past the age of one, but each to their own. At the end of the day she is the one who will have to deal with the issues that will result in feeding a child as old as this.

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  • Exactly with everyone else. At the end of the day, do what you believe it right for your child, but don’t go putting it online. There is no need, and it’s there for life

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  • Not my thing but it’s up to them to do what they think is right. I wouldn’t announce it to the world though!

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  • Each to their own but she needn’t broadcast it and post it online.

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  • I agree it’s less about her still breastfeeding and more about sharing it all online. I have a son with ASD and I imagine he would be mortified at the time when he was able to google and found this story shared. I think that should be considered a priority in this story.

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  • I guess she expected to get the backlash from keyboard warriors by posting those images online. The title of the article is a little offputting, I couldn’t imagine needing to breastfeed by kids at those ages however after reading the article and understanding that her kids are on the spectrum I guess in those circumstances you have to do what is best for your child and yourself. It’s a shame that everyone feels the need to comment, why can’t people see something they don’t agree with and just scroll past it? I am sure this article has made other mums in similar situations feel reassured and connected so in that sense I think the article is great!

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  • I saw this lady on the morning show this morning. To see her and hear her explanation makes me more accepting of her breastfeeding her kids at this age. She is just a mum trying to do what she thinks is best for her babies. She doesn’t deserve the abuse she’s copping. While it’s not for everyone, we shouldn’t condemn her because it works in her situation

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  • She is not coming under fire for her choice to breastfeed so much as her choice to plaster it all over the internet. It is a gross invasion of privacy and her son will not thank her in the long run as it exposes him to potential ridicule and bullying because of her choice to put in on the internet.
    Whether she chooses to breastfeed that long or not is her choice and I dont have a problem with it but putting it on the internet along with photos is where she crossed the line.
    We tell teenagers to be careful what they post as the internet is forever but how do you protect kids when their parents are doing it to them?.

    Reply

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