Mother Says She is ‘Addicted’ To Breastfeeding Her 14-Month-Old

Mother Says She is ‘Addicted’ To Breastfeeding Her 14-Month-Old

A mother has stated on her blog that she is addicted to breastfeedign her child. Well, good for her. Breastfeeding releases prolactin and oxytocin – in layman’s terms, chemicals that make you feel good about feeding your child and feel more nurturing toward your child. Personally, I say kudos to you, Mallory:

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A mother who says she is ‘addicted’ to breastfeeding her 14-month-old child says she can’t bear to be without the ‘powerful connection’ it brings.’

Although Mallory Bourn’s daughter Blythe started to to take a bottle four months ago, the blogger from London says she feels ‘jealous’ when she doesn’t feed from her.

The 24-year-old, who runs lifestyle blog Bourn Sisters with her younger sibling Hattie, says she feels ’emotionally attached’ to feeding her tot twice a day – and insists it isn’t ‘just weirdos’ who breastfeed when their child is over the age of one.

But while the lookalike sisters, originally from Norfolk, are similar in many ways, Hattie, 21, opted to switch from breastfeeding to bottle just a few days after giving birth to first son Otis last month.
The English literature graduate, who lives with partner Joe, also 24, said: ‘Breastfeeding, for me, has been an amazing experience.

‘I think I am addicted to the attachment and the closeness it brings, that powerful connection.
‘When I think about stopping I feel really sad. I’m so attached to it and can’t imagine my day without those feeds – although I never expected to feel the way I do.’

The blogger, who admits she only ever intended to breastfeed for three to six months, continued: ”It has been one of my favourite parts of motherhood so far, although it has not been without its hurdles and tears – from both of us.

‘There is something so sacred about breastfeeding that I don’t think you can understand until you are a breastfeeding mum, and I am just not quite ready for it to be over yet.’

Blythe refused to feed from a bottle until she was 10 months old but Mallory said she now ‘can’t help feeling a little jealous and replaced’ when she does.

Mallory said feeding makes her feel ‘empowered’ and now understands why some mothers – who she previously thought were strange – breast feed until their children are much older.

But she admitted she will most likely wean Blythe off breast feeding in the next few months.’

She said: ‘The people who most encouraged me to breastfeed are shocked I am still feeding, joking “you will be one of those weirdos on This Morning who is still feeding their seven-year-old”.

‘While I certainly am not going to be feeding her at seven, I can now understand those women I once mocked and thought were strange.

‘I thought I would stop a lot sooner. Breastfeeding seems to be really encouraged for newborns, but once the baby gets past one it seems to be unknown territory.

‘There are so many women who are doing it but no one is really talking about it.’

Breastfeeding has not always come naturally to Mallory, and she said in the first week of her daughter’s life she was frequently sobbing and screaming in pain with her nipples raw and bleeding.

At times she didn’t expect to manage even one more feed – let alone to still be feeding her youngster 14 months later.

Mallory also admitted worries about offending people when feeding in public went out the window when dealing with a hungry baby.

‘I’m not ashamed to say that just about everyone has probably seen my boobs at this point,’ she said. ‘When your baby is hungry it really takes priority over your dignity!

‘I am no Superwoman but I am proud of my perseverance and was surprised by the determination feeding my baby inspired in me.’

I have to say, as a mother that breastfed my children for what society deems ‘extended’ past the ‘norm’ (whatever THAT is), I experienced many of the same things that Mallory went through. I had a child breastfeed 19 months, one until she was almost 3, and another until he was almost 4. Obviously, this was NOT the only food my kids were eating, and of course I was sad as they moved past wanting breast milk, just as I cried on the first day of school and when they lost the first tooth, but I still believe that is why I have strong children today. Mothering is a game we all play with the pieces we are given, and there isn’t a right or wrong way to breastfeed your child. Do what is best for your child and your lifestyle, and your kids will be just fine – I promise.

For more info on breastfeeding, contact La Leche League HERE.

Written by Katie McGuire. Send your hate mail to the author at katiefmcguire@gmail.com, or feel free to mean tweet me at @GOPKatie, where I will be sure to do very little about it.

McGuire

Writer, Blogger. Political aficionado. Addicted to all levels of government campaigns.

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