Oh those celebrities ... they are just like us. Some do their own grocery shopping. They get caught talking with their mouth full. And some even breastfeed their babies in public. And let's remember whatever a celebrity does is a heck of a lot more "public" because they are often followed by paparazzi. This is why I love Selma Blair even more now that she's an unofficial breastfeeding advocate than when I first found out who she was when she was locking lips with Sarah Michelle Gellar in the movie Cruel Intentions.
Yeah. She's kind of a breastfeeding hero now. And I love the bold way she talked about nursing her baby in public.
She gave an interview to People, and when talking about breastfeeding her 8-month-old son Arthur, she said:
The only time he cries is if he’s hungry. We all have nipples. I don’t care who I offend; my baby wants to eat. If I can’t get a cover over me quick enough, so be it.
"We all have nipples"! We all do! Women. Men. And let's remember men can even walk around with their nipples showing and it's no big deal. But women do it and people go nuts. Then add something that truly is discrete and not showy and simply a mama feeding her baby, and people still think it deserves an R rating. The sexualization of our breasts ... pathetic.
I'm not saying NOT to have fun with them sexually. In fact, please do have tons of fun with breasts sexually. But they serve another purpose too that has nothing at all to do with sex. And that other, vital, life-sustaining power breasts have should be celebrated and accepted.
In Selma's case, I really hope there aren't photographers following her around when she's with her baby just waiting for her to breastfeed. But you know someone probably is. People are stalking Beyonce too ever since we found out she's nursing Blue Ivy. As a mom, and being out with your child ... could you imagine that? It's hard enough to nurse in public for some moms because they feel everyone is looking and that makes them uncomfortable. Plus it isn't helping that most Americans think breastfeeding moms should hide out in bathrooms to feed baby. (That stress? Doesn't help with milk production either.) Which is why it's even more awesome that Selma is saying she doesn't care if she offends anyone while breastfeeding -- she's going to do it wherever and whenever her little Arthur is hungry.
Haters ... need to just deal with it.
I can only hope more moms feel the same way. Ignore the haters. Maybe if they do they will just go away.
What do you think of Selma's statements? Was or is breastfeeding in public an issue for you?
Image via LGEPR/Flickr
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Comments 33
I waitressed while I was pregnant. A lady was breastfeeding in one of my corner booths with a blanket over her, you honestly could not see a thing and I seriously did not realize that was what she was doing until multiple customers and a few other waitresses asked me rather rudely to say something to her. I refused to do so because I didn't see the big deal. But because I was pregnant and already had one kid at home no one else would ask cause I for some reason was the best person for the job? My boss ended up yelling at me for refusing to ask her..but where else was she going to go? The bathrooms were NOT big enough to sit in and BF, you couldn't see a thing, and had she stopped (which I do not think she would have) then people would have asked me to get her to shut up her baby (yes people asked me to do that many times). All I learned was people are judgemental and overly sensitive. And as much as no one likes a screaming baby, they would obviously rather deal with that then look at a woman with a blanket over her and two little feet peeking out.
Why should we care? When I used to ride the bus,many moms would be doing this, some covered up, other just covered by the piece of shirt over their breast, and no one gave a damm. It is a natural thing. Heck, I have seen some moms doing it in church, all properly covered up. When baby wants to eat, baby must eat. Pull out those boobies moms!!
the4mutts- you told them alright!! your house, your babies needs, your boobs.
I just have this to say...if you are so offended by breastfeeding in pulic because breasts are *gasp* used during sex..then I don't want to see your hands, or your mouth...becaue *gasp* you use them during se too!
Before I had my daughter I had never seen anyone breast feed so I was nervous about where to breast feed and would always go into a bathroom or sit in the car. I only made it 3 months with her. My sister in law had her daughter 6 months later and breastfeed in public, during family meals - whenever, she didn't care. When I had my son I took a page out of her book and my little man will be a year old in 3 weeks. I think that if you have to hide what you are doing and view it as something that is not the beautiful experience that it is, then you will not make it. There is so much stress involved with trying to hide it that it makes it harder and less enjoyable for you and the child.
It's only an issue for me because we don't see enough of it. It's how human babies were meant to eat. It took me a while with my daughter to figure out how to do it modestly (the cover was usually harder to use than not use), but I'm hoping it all comes right back when this baby is born in September.