An Aussie actress says she's made to feel 'like a weirdo' for breastfeeding her son.

“Oh, you’re still breastfeeding?!?! Shouldn’t you be done by now? You’ll cut him off by his second birthday right?”

Former Neighbours star Natalie Hoflin hears questions like these all the time because of her decision to continue breastfeeding her 19-month-old.

The 33-year-old posted a photo of herself breastfeeding her son Finn to Instagram on Saturday, defending her parenting choice against people who think she should’ve stopped by now.

“In the early days questions like these didn’t bother me, they felt innocent. But lately the tone feels different,” the actress captioned the image.

‘Oh, you’re still breastfeeding?!?! Shouldn’t you be done by now? You’ll cut him off by his second birthday right?’ In the early days questions like these didn’t bother me, they felt innocent. But lately the tone feels different. Judgment, disapproval. Like I’m a straight up weirdo. I’m finding that breastfeeding proud part of myself starting to want to hide. Be more discreet with feeding, or wait until nobody is around. Even though I’m proud of my breastfeeding journey and don’t intend to stop anytime soon (Finn is almost 20 months) the above questions still bring up feelings of embarrassment and shame. It’s nuts, why on earth should anyone feel shame for connecting, nourishing, comforting, bonding with their child? I understand what an absolute privilege it has been, for me to be a stay at home mum and have the luxury of building our breastfeeding relationship. I am well aware that it’s not always that easy. But the truth of the matter is, this is my path, my truth, my journey and I shouldn’t have to be embarrassed or hide it. This is me. Breast fed, bottle fed, formula fed, it’s all good…we are all doing our best to raise these little humans. But let’s show a little respect to ALL paths travelled ❤

A post shared by ⇺ Natalie Hoflin ⇻ (@the.cosmic.seedling) on Mar 17, 2018 at 1:37pm PDT

“Judgement, disapproval. Like I’m a straight up weirdo. I’m finding that breastfeeding proud part of myself starting to want to hide. Be more discreet with feeding, or wait until nobody is around. Even though I’m proud of my breastfeeding journey and don’t intend to stop anytime soon (Finn is almost 20 months) the above questions still bring up feelings of embarrassment and shame.”

Hoflin who played Carmella on Neighbours for five years from 2003 to 2008 said she knows breastfeeding isn’t easy for everyone, but sees the bond she’s built with her son through breastfeeding as a privilege that shouldn’t be criticised.

“It’s nuts, why on earth should anyone feel shame for connecting, nourishing, comforting, bonding with their child? The truth of the matter is, this is my path, my truth, my journey and I shouldn’t have to be embarrassed or hide it. This is me,” she said.

A mummy blogger makes the case for breastfeeding during sex. We’re not sure we agree. Holly Wainwright and Andrew Daddo discuss, on our podcast for imperfect parents. 

“Breast fed, bottle fed, formula fed, it’s all good…we are all doing our best to raise these little humans. But let’s show a little respect to ALL paths travelled.”

The World Health Organisation recommends ‘continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond’, so why do some see Hoflin breastfeeding her 19-month-old as weird or gross?

Hoflin has previously spoken about the sexualisation of breastfeeding, which she said only adds to mothers feeling ashamed or embarrassed to feed their children in public.

“The controversy/shame/pressure/sexualisation of the breast in relation to feeding seems even more bizarre to me now. Breastfeeding is fricking beautiful!!” she posted on Instagram in 2016.

“It’s instinct. It’s normal. It’s as nature intended. Our bodies are phenomenal and know exactly what to do. How can people be offended by something so natural? A bubba has gotta eat.”

Do you think there’s a ‘right’ time to stop breastfeeding?

Want to win some skin care goodies? Like to have your opinion heard? Take our short survey now for your chance to a win a skin care pack.