ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Why this breastfeeding mum 'likes to shock’

Aussie with Crohn’s disease proudly bears her ileostomy bag while feeding her bub. - by Katherine Davison
  • 14 Nov 2017
Why this breastfeeding mum 'likes to shock’
Facebook/Bag Lady Mama

An Australian mother who has lived with an ileostomy bag for 11 years, after being diagnosed with debilitating Crohn’s disease, has shared an image of herself breastfeeding while wearing her bag in a bid to ‘change perceptions’.

Krystal Miller was just 15 when doctors diagnosed her with Crohn’s - a digestive disorder that caused her to be so ill that she couldn’t brush her teeth without being sick.

Bag Lady Mama

But after surgery to remove six kilos of large and small intestine from her body, she now blogs as the ‘Bag Lady Mama’ on Facebook and proudly shared a photo of herself bearing her bag as she breastfed her baby girl.

‘So much stigma and judgement in one single photo,’ Krystal, who is mum to Lukas and Arabella, captioned her image.

‘To be honest, my bag is the least of my care factor on judgement.

breast fed

Krystal shared this image on Facebook - showing herself breastfeeding with her bag

Facebook/Bag Lady Mama

‘I’m at the point of my life living with a bag (11 years) that I stopped caring about other people’s judgement. 

‘I like to shock them. Change their perceptions and smack them back into their place! 

‘Nothing brings me more joy than to reveal my bag and show them that their perceptions of my reality are all BS.

mother and baby
Facebook/Bag Lady Mama

‘Their faces change from horror, to shock to impressed! Like I’ve opened their eyes just that bit more.’ 

But the mum – whose aim is to let others with ileostomy bags know that they can live a ‘full life’ - admitted that she had also faced judgement over breastfeeding. 

‘My daughter is two! My own judgement of myself... ouch!’ she wrote.

crohns mother
Facebook/Bag Lady Mama

‘Now, I swore I wouldn’t be feeding her when she could ask for it. But.... she’s so damn cute and is very attached to the comfort and nutrition she’s still getting from it.’

The mum went on to clarify that her baby girl is only generally breastfed on weekends.

‘I also want to say that it doesn’t matter how your baby is nourished. Fed is best. There’s nothing else to it. How you feed your baby will be irrelevant when they’re no longer babies!’ she wrote.

This article originally appeared on New Idea.

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Baby dies with SIX TIMES legal blood alcohol limit

Baby dies with SIX TIMES legal blood alcohol limit

Why this woman breastfeeds her seven-year-old son

Why this woman breastfeeds her seven-year-old son

Security called on breast pumping mum in Australian shopping mall

Security called on breast pumping mum in Australian shopping mall

Mum charged after 'drug Ice in breastmilk killed baby'

Mum charged after 'drug Ice in breastmilk killed baby'

{headline}

{headline}

Former Neighbours star labelled a ‘weirdo’ for breastfeeding her 19-month-old son

Former Neighbours star labelled a ‘weirdo’ for breastfeeding her 19-month-old son

Tongue snipping in babies soars

Tongue snipping in babies soars

‘I almost killed my newborn baby by breastfeeding him’

‘I almost killed my newborn baby by breastfeeding him’

{headline}

{headline}

Mum slammed for admitting to breastfeeding while having sex

Mum slammed for admitting to breastfeeding while having sex

Mum faces death threats over breastfeeding her four-year-old toddler

Mum faces death threats over breastfeeding her four-year-old toddler

Newborn baby died after mum fell asleep while breastfeeding

Newborn baby died after mum fell asleep while breastfeeding

Mum’s heartbreak: I had no idea I was starving my baby

Mum’s heartbreak: I had no idea I was starving my baby

Police officer breastfeeds malnourished baby in incredible act of generosity

Police officer breastfeeds malnourished baby in incredible act of generosity

Breastfeeding mum’s witty response after being told to ‘cover up’

Breastfeeding mum’s witty response after being told to ‘cover up’

Aussie mum: I breastfeed my school aged sons

Aussie mum: I breastfeed my school aged sons

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!