I get trolled over ‘attention-seeking’ breastfeeding pics but don’t care boobs are for feeding babies – not cruel jokes
A YOUNG mum has hit back at trolls who constantly tell her she’s disgusting and looking for sexual attention by openly breastfeeding her two-year-old daughter.
Shania O’Neill, 18, from Blackpool, fell pregnant at 16 with her daughter Isabella, and after giving birth began posting on TikTok about her breastfeeding journey.
The college student will feed Isabella whenever she needs to – whether it be in the supermarket, on the bus, in a restaurant, or a shop – and doesn’t feel the need to cover up with a blanket.
But her pictures and videos have led to a cruel backlash on social media, with commenters saying the images make them uncomfortable and men making vile sexual comments.
She explains: “I’ve learned to brush the comments off, their opinions are irrelevant. You wouldn’t tell a woman feeding with a bottle to cover up the bottle.
“I don’t get why people think it’s me looking for sexual attention and making sexual comments, I am just doing something so natural that was seen as normal 60 years ago.”
Breastfeeding journey
Falling pregnant at 16 whilst on the pill, Shania didn’t know what to expect and didn’t think she was going to breastfeed, especially not in public.
But now she openly shares her experiences about breastfeeding online, with her videos getting millions of views.
She explains: “When I fell pregnant I was scared, I didn’t know what to do as it was very unexpected as I fell pregnant on the pill. I never planned on breastfeeding, but when I did, it completely changed me.
“I would always think about how I was going to do it in public, but the more I went to the midwife and after speaking to my mum, I realised I wanted to do it and I’m so glad I did it.
“It’s created such an amazing bond, when she was born I didn’t feel an attachment to her as I had a four-day labour and I was in so much pain. I didn’t want to hold her at the start but when she latched on to me it was such a different feeling.
“They do say as well that breastfeeding reduces postpartum depression by 50 per cent.”
Shania initially found it tough after giving birth as none of her friends had babies.
But she says she has now “adapted to motherhood” and found a community of mums – even if it means putting up with naysayers who criticise her parenting style.
“One time I was out in public and I was feeding Isabella and someone came up to me and told me to use a blanket and cover up as they didn’t want their child to see what I was doing,” she says.
“My baby comes before others so I don’t let it affect me. I did cover up at the start as I felt uneasy and it was hard with a blanket because I had to keep checking every two seconds underneath it so now I don’t use one at all and it’s much easier.”
She adds: “Being a young mum is challenging and harder than I thought, so older women think they can have a say over my child because I’m so young.
“I’ve learned to brush the comments off, their opinions are irrelevant. You wouldn’t tell a woman feeding with a bottle to cover up the bottle.”
Vile comments
The most unwelcome online comments come from creepy men who accuse her of “attention-seeking” videos and make disgusting sexual comments.
“I can’t believe it, boobs are for feeding babies. It’s a natural thing,” says Shania.
“Men say things such as ‘Can I have a turn’ and I never reply but if I do, I will just say that boobs are for feeding babies and I will ignore them.
“I would recommend for mums to just go into it without a care in the world, your baby comes first.”