DON'T FORGET TO ENTER ONE OF MY GIVEAWAYS:
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Recently super model, Gisele Bundchen made the news for suggesting that there be an international law requiring all mothers to nurse their babies for six months. And she goes on to say (in Harper's Bazaar's September issue) , "Are you going to give chemical food to your child when they are so little?"And as a mom, breast feeding or not, I get what she's saying as far as wanting what you think is best for your baby.
But I think she's a pompous ass.
What she doesn't account for in this "law"she is suggesting is that not all mom's can nurse their babies for medical reasons. Low milk supply. Not producing milk at all. Complications from breast surgery or even cancer. Medications necessary for mom, but not good for baby. Or the baby wont nurse.
And for these reasons (and so many more), her comment is asinine.
Who is she to publicly judge how mother's raise their babies? My mother, wanted to, but couldn't nurse my brother and I. We were formula fed. And she raised us wonderfully and we are both healthy, well adjusted adults. Gisele's comment suggests that she wronged us.
And even if mom's don't nurse because they think it's weird or unnatural, who is she (or we) to judge? So a baby gets formula. Really, is it that bad?
I visited a township in South Africa where mom's were giving babies stale Coca Cola in their bottles to give them calories. And even then, is it fair to judge? Perhaps they can not nurse all the time, don't produce milk, or worse, trying not to pass the HIV virus that they are infected with along to their baby via breast milk and have no means to purchase pricey formula. Those mama's are doing the best they can with their resources and what they think is best for their babies.
I had challenges in the beginning nursing Hayden. She was a few weeks early and the lactation folks felt that she had some preemie tendencies when it came to feeding. So I pumped and bottle fed for two months. And finally, she accepted my breast willingly at home, but tends to not want to nurse when we are out and about. And frankly, with a 2 year old to chase around, it's hard to sit down while out and spend the 30 minutes or so necessary for a good nursing session when. Not to mention spending half your day attached to the pump. So we supplement with 10 oz of formula a day. And she is happy and growing beautifully! Mind you, if she would take from me all the time and was an efficient nurser, I'd totally be doing it. And if someone asked my opinion I would certainly say "breast is best," but this is our situation.
Bottom line, a babies gotta eat. And as long as we do what we think is best for them, who is anyone to judge if they are getting a bottle of formula or breast milk. I can't fault Gisele for doing what's best for her baby, but I am angered by her lack of compassion for other people's situations.
PS - Gisele has taken quite a bit of flak about her comments! See here and here.
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