A mother of two who breastfed her eldest until she was six has hit back at internet trolls.
Sanziana Buriana, 40, says she does not understand the criticism and finds the practice completely normal.
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The Romanian social media influencer revealed that she is still breastfeeding her youngest child, Antonia, three, and only recently stopped breastfeeding her six-year-old Izabela.
“I don’t stop, I give them time until they want to stop,” said the former TV assistant.
“There is no danger that can affect them, they are both fine.”
According to the NHS, breastfeeding your child can have long-term health benefits that can even be felt into adulthood.
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For example, consider reducing the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and infections.
The longer you breastfeed, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits.
Sanziana said she chose to continue breastfeeding her children longer than some other mothers so they have healthy immune systems.
“They will be strong and healthy,” she said.
She continued: “It takes quite a while to feed her, especially since my second girl came along and I have continued to do so non-stop.
“There was no break, so when you add up the years it seems like quite a lot.
“But they are happy, have good immunity and don’t catch colds. I think it helps them.”
Sanziana said she breastfed Izabela until she went to school.
She added that her children see breastfeeding as a form of comfort.
The mother explains: “If they have a problem or are in pain, the breast immediately calms them down.
“I think for them it’s a kind of connection, a relief.
“And I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like if I hadn’t breastfed them.
“It would have been even harder to get them to sleep!”
Sanziana added that she still believes her breasts are in great shape after years of breastfeeding.
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What are the recommendations regarding breastfeeding?
The NHS advises to exclusively breastfeed your baby (only breast milk) for the first six months, but it is up to you to decide when to stop. There is really no right or wrong way to do this.
According to the NHS, weaning often happens gradually, as your baby starts eating more solid foods.
They emphasize that solid food should not be a substitute for breast milk, as there is evidence that breast milk helps the baby’s digestive system process solid food.
“Even once your baby is eating solid foods, he or she will still need breast milk or formula as their main drink until their first birthday,” the NHS advises.
“Cow’s milk is not suitable as a main drink for babies under one year of age, but can be added to food, for example mashed potatoes.”
You can also combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding. According to the NHS, ‘phasing out’ breastfeeding is often the easiest way.
For example, by feeding once during the day or at night.
After about a week you may think about dropping another one.
“If your baby is under one year old, you should replace lost breast milk with bottle feeding or (if your baby is over six months old) a cup or mug,” they say.
You can breastfeed for as long as you want. The NHS advises that you exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first six months, but you should not feel like you can’t continue.
The World Health Organization says: “It is recommended to exclusively breastfeed until 6 months of age, and to continue breastfeeding in combination with appropriate complementary foods until 2 years of age or beyond.”
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