Behind The Beauty

"I'll only stop breastfeeding when my child tells me to."
by Emmy Glover

Verity and son Alfie celebrating hitting the 2 year recommedation

 Worldwide, the average age for a weaning a child off breastfeeding is now 6-7 years old.

This week, Behind the Beauty met with Verity Castledine, a mum of one, who has breastfed her 2 year old son since he was 6 weeks old and vows to continue to do so until he decides he's had enough.

“I’m aware of people looking, but I now I just don’t care.”

Despite receiving dirty looks and comments from onlookers, 26 year old Verity says she believes continuing to breastfeed her son has given him the best possible start in life:

"Breastfeeding is the best thing a mother can do for a child. We live in a society that doesn't really accept extended breastfeeding. I'm aware of people looking at me, but now I just don't care."

The World Health Organisation Target for Breastfeeding encourages mothers to breastfeed their children for 2 years.

Verity, who made the two year target in April with son Alfie, said she was proud to have achieved the recommended age and will continue to breastfeed for as long as possible:

 "I will breastfeed until he's good and ready. I think it's important that it's his decision."

Giving birth to her son in 2011 by cesarean section, Verity said she found it difficult to form the initial attachment with Alfie that she expected from a natural birth:

 “Everyone says when you give birth you get that sudden rush of love, I never felt that.”

Her trauma continued when baby Alfie initially found it difficult to latch on to his mum.  Luckily after 6 weeks, mother and baby successfully started their breastfeeding journey.

 As well as ensuring a close bond between the two, Verity claims breastfeeding also has a number of health benefits:

“Breast milk is best because it tailors to your body and your babies needs. It adjusts and can fight infections, is anti-inflammatory, anti septic and fights colds and all sorts of other illnesses”
  

Since Alfie was born, Verity has been in touch with many other mothers who agree with extending breastfeeding past the initial baby stage.

 As their children have grown up and continued to be breastfed, the parents have continuously supported each other, especially when receiving harsh criticism from those around them:

“One lady once told a friend of mine she should go and breastfeed in the bathroom, I wouldn’t want to eat my dinner in the bathroom!”

As well as muttering from the general public, Verity also faced criticism from her family as Alfie got older:

“When he was 6 months old it was expected. But as he got older and didn’t show signs of being interested in food, they were quick to blame me and say it was my fault for breastfeeding him.”

She also says the best parenting advice she received came from other mums who guided her through their own experiences:

 

“Raising a child is the best thing you can ever do, I read that people take longer deciding on what TV to buy than how to bring up their child. It’s madness!”

As well as producing milk for her son, Verity has also donated her breast milk to other mothers who struggle to breastfeed.

Facebook page “Human Milk for Human Babies” is a free service which allows mothers to appeal for milk donations and get in touch with other mothers who can offer their milk.

Donating to mothers all over the country, Verity said she felt lucky to be able to help in the most natural way:

“Babies are supposed to be raised on their mother’s milk. You don’t feed formula to a baby cow. And if a baby cow is rejected by its mother that calf feeds off another cow. It’s natural.”

Although major formula companies suggest their products equally as beneficial to toddlers as breast milk, Verity definitely believes even at the age of two, breast is definitely best:

“I’m giving him all the nutrients he needs. It is no one else’s decision what I do or how I raise my child. So many people judge me but when I’m in a busy restaurant and he’s screaming the place down and feeding him calms him down, people are quick to congratulate me then!”