CALLED A PAEDOPHILE FOR BREASTFEEDING MY 7-YEAR-OLD
WOMAN'S OWN|January 03, 2022
Lisa Bridger, 49, was only doing what came naturally. So why was she hated so much?
- JENNY ACKLAND, LUCY LAING
CALLED A PAEDOPHILE FOR BREASTFEEDING MY 7-YEAR-OLD

Sitting on the bench, I dropped my carrier bags, pulled up my top and moved my breast out of my bra. It was 2018, and I was in the middle of a packed shopping centre with two hungry mouths to feed. Being a single mum, I was used to multitasking – but it was the disapproving tuts and glares from passers-by that were hard to deal with.

‘Disgusting!’ a woman hissed at me, shaking her head in disbelief.

And it wasn’t just the breastfeeding that was drawing so much attention – it was the age of my children. My two sons, Chase, then seven, and Phoenix, four, weren’t tiny babies any more, and were both still on the breast, which many people clearly found uncomfortable viewing.

The sight of two walking, talking, children pulling up my T-shirt for a feed was too much for most people to stomach. But to me, breastfeeding my growing boys was the most natural thing in the world and I had no intention of stopping any time soon – and certainly not to appease strangers.

SHARED CLOSENESS

Chase had been born in October 2011 and, at a few minutes old, he was happily latched on to my breast, feeding away.

I had three older children, now aged 25, 23, and 20, and I’d breastfed them all until they were two or three years old. I knew most mums stopped after a year or so, but it just felt natural for me to carry on and I really enjoyed those close moments spent with my children.

I found breastfeeding sealed a bond between us and breastfeeding wasn’t just about filling them up. As they grew, it was my way of providing love and comfort, too.

この蚘事は WOMAN'S OWN の January 03, 2022 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は WOMAN'S OWN の January 03, 2022 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

WOMAN'S OWNのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
MAGNIFICENT MAURITIUS
WOMAN'S OWN

MAGNIFICENT MAURITIUS

Pe This istand in the ut 7% Indian Ocean feels Sa: like paradise, says Charlotte Richards

time-read
2 分  |
October 28, 2024
I HATE BEING A MUM
WOMAN'S OWN

I HATE BEING A MUM

One woman, 55, reveals why she resents all of the sacrifices she made to be a mother

time-read
5 分  |
October 28, 2024
SLASH SUGAR AND SLIM
WOMAN'S OWN

SLASH SUGAR AND SLIM

Trying to lose weight? With these clever tweaks, you don’t have to miss out on the seasonal sweet stuff

time-read
2 分  |
October 28, 2024
DAWN HARPER ASK THE DOCTOR
WOMAN'S OWN

DAWN HARPER ASK THE DOCTOR

Doctor Dawn Harper answers all your questions

time-read
2 分  |
October 28, 2024
SEX HORRORS SOLVED!
WOMAN'S OWN

SEX HORRORS SOLVED!

Stop physical intimacy from turning into the stuff of nightmares with our expert advice

time-read
2 分  |
October 28, 2024
THE TRUTH ABOUT LIFE WITH CANCER
WOMAN'S OWN

THE TRUTH ABOUT LIFE WITH CANCER

More than 12,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumours each year in the UK. Two mums tell us how the cruel disease changed their lives forever

time-read
3 分  |
October 28, 2024
DAWN NEESOM MIND OF MY OWN
WOMAN'S OWN

DAWN NEESOM MIND OF MY OWN

The Woman's Own columnist has her say on marriage, tea and Absolutely Fabulous!

time-read
2 分  |
October 28, 2024
TRAPPED INSIDE MY HOME WITH A MONSTER
WOMAN'S OWN

TRAPPED INSIDE MY HOME WITH A MONSTER

Gemma Williams, 46, thought she'd die at the hands of her partner

time-read
4 分  |
October 28, 2024
AMANDA TO REPLACE CAT?
WOMAN'S OWN

AMANDA TO REPLACE CAT?

With increasing criticism directed at the This Morning host, are producers ready to call in a familiar face?

time-read
3 分  |
October 28, 2024
Get the GOSS
WOMAN'S OWN

Get the GOSS

Your round-up of this week's biggest showbiz stories

time-read
1 min  |
October 28, 2024