Mum shares how she still breastfeeds her FOUR year old son & trolls instantly accuse her of ‘normalising weird things’
A MUM has left people stunned after revealing she still breastfeeds her four-year-old.
Anupama took to Instagram to share a video of herself feeding her son, while sitting alongside her older son and husband.
The trio, who were dressed in coordinated white and blue outfits, smiled at each other and the camera as the four-year-old sat across his mum's lap.
She recognised the "beautiful milestone" of reaching four years of breastfeeding in the , as she added: "I owe it to my boys for their support and motivation.
"Made this journey nothing short of amazing."
In the caption, Anupama added: "Don’t let any one tell you that you cannot nurse because of your age or tell you that extended nursing has no benefits.
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"Both are myths!
"Extended nursing has not only made my life more easy but also it has been added bonus to my little one’s physical and emotional health."
Anupama, who works as a lactational counsellor, added that she wasn't trying to put down formula feeding mothers in the video.
Instead, she used the caption to ask for more support for breastfeeding mums, insisting work places need to have proper pumping rooms.
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"It is important that every mother get proper support during breastfeeding," Anupama concluded.
However, the comments section on the video was almost instantly filled with rude remarks from trolls, with many accusing her of trying to "normalise weird things".
"It feels very uncomfortable to watch," one admitted.
As another wrote: "4 years??? Don't normalise weird things!"
"There is a thing called modesty and decency," a third argued.
"Just because something is natural doesn't mean it needs to be done in front of everyone.
"Peeing, pooping and having sex is also natural. Breastfeeding is as natural as that.
"If we don't do the first three in public, why make such a big deal of breastfeeding in public?"
What is the NHS advice on when to stop breastfeeding?
"It's recommended that you breastfeed your baby exclusively (give them breast milk only) for the first 6 months of their life," the NHS says on its .
"Breastfeeding still has lots of benefits for you and your baby after 6 months.
"It protects them from infections and there's some evidence that it helps with the digestion of your baby's first solid foods.
"It also continues to provide the balance of nutrients your baby needs."
They also pointed out that the World Health Organization "recommends that from 6 months babies should start eating solid foods as well as being breastfed for up to 2 years or longer".
"We can't keep normalising every stupid action in the name of progressiveness," someone else raged.
"This has to end somewhere."
"Can you imagine the kid in school and his friends taking the absolute mick out of him?" another added.
"The poor child!"
"This is weird in so many ways … I’m a paediatrician and a big condoner of breastfeeding but this is just taking it too far and that too with the elder son as the audience," someone else said.
"Also fun fact the child doesn’t need breast milk now since he is on solids … you are just doing this for YOU not him.
"Also stop misleading women pls."
"Most disturbing video of the day," another sighed.
You want to celebrate? Do it at home, but don’t use your toddler as a toy
Instagram commenter
Meanwhile, others were more concerned about the fact that Anupama had arranged a photoshoot to mark the "milestone" - and had also decided to share it on social media.
"Why does nursing have to be filmed in a studio, and a grown son needs to watch it?" one questioned.
"In the name of exposure of natural practices being followed for ages has by generations, we have forgotten modesty.
"It's sad the levels we stoop for in the name of social media engagement.
"Let's have boundaries and maintain modesty."
"I don't like this kind of trending photoshoot," another admitted.
"So you arranged the photoshoot for this, you asked your kid to take a feed just for the sake of content?" a third said.
"I didn’t want to say but this is another level of abuse, filming your kid who is unaware of for what this set up is for.
"You want to celebrate, do it at home, but don’t use your toddler as a toy."
"Unwanted photoshoot," someone else agreed.
"Yes it is normal to breastfeed in public but this message need not be shown with this intensity and show. Sorry."
Despite the criticism, there were some people who backed Anupama and the message she was trying to get across.
"Congratulations on your breastfeeding journey," one wrote.
"It's disappointing to read most of the comments made by other women/ mothers though...
"Having your oldest see how you handle those challenges will only make him love and respect you more.
"The next time he sees a mother feeding a baby, it'll remind him of you and not think of it as immodest."
Another pointed out that the World Health Organisation "doesn’t mention when to stop breastfeeding".
"It’s up to the mother and the child," they added.
"Breast milk has so many benefits to the child and it’s her strength that she’s able to sustain that, which I wasn’t able to.
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"Why do women bring down other women?"
"The world wide average of breastfeeding is up to 7 years old," another claimed.