When to stop breastfeeding?

Tenaj · February 2nd, 2006, 03:27 AM

No I'm not pregnant, but there was a programme last night that I missed. I really wanted to see it. It followed the stories of 5 women, one of which was still breastfeeding her 7 year old daughter!. I've heard from a work mate that she also lets her husband drink it too. Anyone watch it or have any thoughts? I want to breastfeed but will certainly not be breastfeeding a toddler, even though breastfeeding is natural I think its wrong to continue to do so at that age. What do you think? Here's a little description of the show taken from channel4.com:

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Extraordinary Breastfeeding
Channel 4, Wednesday 1 February, 9pm

Everyone knows that breast is best, but for how long? The World Health Organisation recommends that all children are breastfed until at least two years. In Britain we think that's downright weird. But this forthright, revealing and heart-warming film meets a group of women who believe in continuing to breastfeed for as long as their children want.

© channel 4
Veronika is still breastfeeding her seven-year-old daughter, while her eldest has asked if she can be breastfed as a present for her tenth birthday. Dolores is breastfeeding her son, who is nearly four. Dolores and her husband are about to adopt a little girl from China and her greatest wish is to breastfeed her adopted daughter. Thirty-eight-year-old Sophie is tandem-feeding two-year-old twins Zac and Molly on demand, and is feeling the strain. And Kirsty, who works for an organisation that helps teach young mums how to breastfeed, is breastfeeding her daughter at nearly two and is very concerned that new laws could prevent breastfeeding in public places.

Barbara · February 2nd, 2006, 03:33 AM

I'm not sure how I could explain it but the idea of a woman breastfeeding a 7 year old makes me sick

And I'm not even mentioning the birthday present for the eldest kid.

calendargurl · February 2nd, 2006, 03:43 AM

at my old job i saw a woman whip out her boob and breastfeed what HAD be a 5 or 6 year old. it was WRONG!!!!!!!

A*O · February 2nd, 2006, 03:47 AM

I want bitty..........

Tenaj · February 2nd, 2006, 04:25 AM

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Originally Posted by A*O

I want bitty..........

They were playing clips of that on the radio yesterday before the show!

Yeah I agree Barbara it makes me feel quite sick. I mean the 10 year old will be starting highschool in a year or two?! It's not right is it?

Tiara · February 2nd, 2006, 05:02 AM

OMG I saw it! It was one of the most disturbing thing I've seen for a long time.

There was one scene where the mother of the 7 year old was lying in bed with her boob out while the kid lay next to her feeding. Apparently at a certain age children lost the ability to suck as they do as babies and this is what was happening to this child. So she started smacking her mum's boobs and shouting 'You've got rid of all your breast milk so I can't have any!' The mum just thought it was funny, she believed its up to the child when they should stop breast feeding. She even said that her husband feeds of her boobs

There was also one woman who was still breastfeeding her 4 year old because she was from Spain and in Spain it is concidered normal to still be doing it at that age (she lives in UK now) Her and her husband adopted an 18 month chinese girl and the mum also wanted to breastfeed her, I felt sorry for the poor baby, this strange womans there trying to ram her nipple in her mouth, she didn't want to so the mum just gave up in the end.

Barbara · February 2nd, 2006, 05:29 AM

^^ Thank God the Spanish one of your parents was your dad

LunaShar · February 2nd, 2006, 06:31 AM

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Originally Posted by Tiara

There was also one woman who was still breastfeeding her 4 year old because she was from Spain and in Spain it is concidered normal to still be doing it at that age (she lives in UK now) Her and her husband adopted an 18 month chinese girl and the mum also wanted to breastfeed her, I felt sorry for the poor baby, this strange womans there trying to ram her nipple in her mouth, she didn't want to so the mum just gave up in the end.

This is the first news ive heard about this. here in Spain women usually only breastfeed their babies until they are 6 months, and now days the 60% of women decide not to breasfeed their babies. My aunt hasnt breasfed her two daughters.

nobody · February 2nd, 2006, 06:44 AM

my mum breastfed me for nearly 4 years, and look how bright i am

Tenaj · February 2nd, 2006, 06:50 AM

Where you from Nobody and is it normal practice? Sorry if I'm asking too much I just think its weird at 4. I mean you'd be walking, talking and going to nursery etc. You must be able to remember being breastfed too?

Tiara · February 2nd, 2006, 07:11 AM

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Originally Posted by LunaShar

This is the first news ive heard about this. here in Spain women usually only breastfeed their babies until they are 6 months, and now days the 60% of women decide not to breasfeed their babies. My aunt hasnt breasfed her two daughters.

Really?! The lying bitch!!

She said she didn't understand why English people found it so strange that she was still breast feeding her son at 4 when it was completely normal in Spain! I did think it sounded a bit strange because most of my family is Spanish and I didn't think any of them had been breast fed at such an age, I'm certain my dad didn't.

My mum breastfed me until I was 8 months old.

UndercoverGator · February 2nd, 2006, 07:58 AM

Just a question. Has anyone here actually breastfed?

Tiara · February 2nd, 2006, 08:05 AM

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Originally Posted by UndercoverGator

Just a question. Has anyone here actually breastfed?

No I havn't, have you?

Tenaj · February 2nd, 2006, 08:07 AM

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the kid was far too old to be doing that

Exactly! thats my point, I think that is somehow wrong. Thats why I really wanted to watch this programme last night to see how this woman justified still breastfeeding a 7 year old. But oh no, boyf wanted to watch football - I could kick him sometimes!

Tiara · February 2nd, 2006, 08:12 AM

She didn't really justify it, she just said that if the children still want to do it then they have every right. She said its nobody elses business what they do and the children will stop when they want to.

She saw her boobs as her children's property and not her own. She was weird, she seemed well educated, as does her husband but they just don't see anything wrong with this.

Oh and it also showed a home video of the woman in a birthing pool getting ready to give birth to her 2nd child while the 1st child (who is now the 7 year old that STILL breastfeeds) was in the pool with her sucking on her boob!