A single mother-of-five who still breastfeeds her seven-year-old son has hit back at vile trolls accusing her of child abuse.
Lisa Bridger has a very special reason for keeping up the practice for her sons Chase, aged seven, and four-year-old Phoenix – they are both autistic.
The 46-year-old, from Adelaide, revealed her children get comfort from feeding.
But despite sharing her heartfelt story, the doting mother has come under fire, with many accusing her of ‘child abuse’ and ‘paedophilia’.
Lisa Bridger (pictured) has hit back at vile trolls accusing her of child abuse for breastfeeding her seven-year-old son
The mother has been breastfeeding her seven-year-old son Chase (right) and four-year-old son Phoenix (left)
The mother has a very special reason for keeping up the practice for her sons Chase, aged seven, and four-year-old Phoenix – they are both autistic
‘I still breastfeed my seven-year-old and I’m far from shame, in fact I’m proud,’ Ms Bridger told Today Tonight Adelaide.
‘Apparently I should be ashamed… It should be classed as child abuse, paedophilia, I should pump and put in a cup, [but] I don’t respond to mums.
‘I think society has become such a bottle feeding society that people go “you can’t breastfeed… it’s wrong”.
‘Either they don’t understand breastfeeding [or] they couldn’t breastfeed and it’s their own form of guilt or grief why they get so nasty about it. “I couldn’t do it, how dare somebody else do it, and do it more than I could”.
‘Kids don’t judge, they don’t think anything of it, it’s the adults.’
She also believes breast milk has provided her sons health benefits.
‘The boys have had two colds in their lives, they’ve never had antibiotics. Phoenix has got cows milk intolerance so he can’t actually assume a lot of cows milk so he has my milk, which gives him calcium and iron,’ she said.
The mother has come under fire, with many accusing her of ‘child abuse’ and ‘paedophilia’
Chase, and his younger brother Phoenix, four, have both been diagnosed with autism and are still being breastfed – mainly because it helps to soothe them
Despite the backlash, Ms Bridger, who has been breastfeeding her children for a collective 20 years, said she simply ignores the criticisms.
‘I respect my children, their needs come before a stranger out in the public. If they can’t look away, I’m not going to say “sorry kids but those people can’t look away and they’re uncomfortable”. My kids’ comfort comes first,’ she explained.
‘His behavioural counsellor knows I breastfeed and she’s a mental health worker. She has said there’s absolutely no damage that could possibly be done from it.
‘If one of my older boys comes up to me and says “mum, can I have a hug”, “no you’re too old for that now, you can’t have a hug”… that would be the same saying to Chase “no, you can’t have your milk”, to him it’s no different.’
Her television interview comes just days after she spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her decision to breastfeed her seven-year-old son.
‘I started to notice he would behave a little differently from my other kids at six months. He wouldn’t want to stay strapped into the pram, didn’t like full-on cuddles… but would nurse happily,’ she said.
‘I would often baby wear but he’d be hysterical unless I was feeding him.’
Chase and his younger brother Phoenix have both been diagnosed with autism and are still being breastfed – mainly because it helps to soothe them.
‘As children it was obviously the normal every couple of hours but it’s mostly just before bed now. It’s so sweet, [Chase] just needs that security,’ Lisa explained.
‘He often doesn’t ask in public but if he’s having a meltdown I prioritise it.’
Lisa admitted that during a holiday to the UK a few members of the public stopped to say ‘well done’ when they saw her feeding Chase.
Lisa (pictured) is an administrator for the online support group Occupy Breastfeeding and sometimes uploads photos of her sons nursing
But one social worker came up and said it was ‘child abuse.’
‘It has been pretty good out here, really. People don’t come up to us and say anything. But online it can get really bad,’ she said.
Lisa is an administrator for the online support group Occupy Breastfeeding and sometimes uploads photos of her sons nursing.
‘People will comment all kinds of things. That they should have a bottle, or a cup, that it’s abuse, that it’s bad for them, once you get past six months you should be covering,’ she said.
‘We have other strategies in place to deal with Chase’s autism. Sometimes a cuddle is enough, breathing exercises or distractions.’
The family have even bought animals as a means of comfort for the boys – a dog and two cats.
‘They’ll use the trampoline as a mechanism for calming down as well,’ she said.
After breastfeeding for so many years Lisa’s wardrobe is perfectly equip for nursing – but she will eventually enjoy getting her ‘body back’ once the boys wean themselves.
‘Sometimes I just want them off but it’s like saying no to a hug. When they come over to me and ask so nicely, how can I say no?’ She explained.
After breastfeeding for so many years Lisa’s wardrobe is perfectly equip for nursing – but she will eventually enjoy getting her ‘body back’ once the boys wean themselves
Chase’s ‘quirks’ don’t match up to mainstream schooling, Lisa said, so he is officially home schooled and ‘thriving’ from it
Chase’s ‘quirks’ don’t match up to mainstream schooling, Lisa said, so he is officially home schooled and ‘thriving’ from it.
‘He’d be in year one at this age but he’s doing third and fourth year mathematics,’ she admitted.
‘So while he struggles with empathy and has sensory issues (if it gets really loud he’d uncomfortable), in the education department he’s doing so well.’
The Australian Breastfeeding Association claims all children stop breastfeeding when they are ready and won’t want to feed for ever.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding (i.e. no other fluids or solids) for six months and then continued breastfeeding combined with solid foods for two years or as long as the mother and baby desire.