Mum branded ‘disgusting’ for breastfeeding four-year-old son

A woman who has been breastfeeding for eight years straight has defended her decision after copping cruel criticism from strangers.

A mum-of-two who still breastfeeds her four-year-old son has defended her decision after being branded “disgusting” by strangers.

Beccy Ashe, 35, has been breastfeeding for a full eight years and says although she receives judgmental looks from people in public, she doesn’t care what others say.

Despite also dealing with backlash online, the British mum – who works as a breastfeeding support worker – has no regrets about breastfeeding her kids past the recommended two years.

Ms Ashe breastfed daughter Daisy, 8, until she started school aged 5, including throughout her pregnancy with Tobias, 4, and alongside him.

Beccy Ashe, 35, has defended her decision to breastfeed her four-year-old after being criticised online. Picture: Mercury

“I know some people think it’s disgusting and it’s fine for everyone to have an opinion about it, I just ask that they be respectful,” Ms Ashe, from Liverpool, Northwest England, said.

“I know it’s seen as weird, and of course people can say what they want from behind a screen, but in person I’ve never had a negative experience.

“With most people, once I explain it to them, there’s no negativity, and they respect that this is a choice I’ve made even if they don’t agree with it.

“I do sometimes get some looks, but usually if I’m in public I’m focused on my child so I don’t look to see what other people think about it.”

Ms Ashe currently breastfeeds her son Tobias twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, and he eats solid food throughout the day.

“I always knew I was going to breastfeed, but I didn’t plan to do it for this long when I was pregnant with Daisy,” she said.

“The organisation that I now work for, Breastfeeding Support, I started with them when I had Daisy.

“It was there that I was informed of all of the benefits of breastfeeding, like how it reduces the risk of breast cancer.

“When she got to six months old and was starting on solid foods, that was when I had to choose to either swap her onto formula or keep breastfeeding.

“It didn’t make sense to stop, for me, so I decided to carry on until she was one and then introduce cow’s milk.

“So we did that, but she just never stopped!”

The British mum breastfed daughter Daisy until she was five. Picture: Mercury Press

She said those who made nasty comments about it needed to be better informed. Picture: Mercury Press

Ms Ashe continued to breastfeed Daisy throughout her pregnancy with her second child, Tobias.

“With Tobias, obviously I had more experience, and I wasn’t worried that I wouldn’t be able to produce milk,” she explained.

“But I thought, even if there is some reason I can’t breastfeed him, I’d find donor milk or tried to find someone else to wet nurse.

“Switching to artificial milk would have been the last resort.

“I think swapping to formula can be pushed on mums sometimes if there’s even a small issue or obstacle with feeding.

“That’s fine if you want to do that, but everyone should be informed on their options.”

Originally published as Mum branded ‘disgusting’ for breastfeeding four-year-old son