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What is the media’s obsession these days on whether or not celebrity moms (or any mom for that reason), breastfeeds? Every time a new celebrity has a baby, we are inundated with too much information about their personal decision on how they decided to feed their babies.
Heck, the website BreastFeeding.com even has a page dedicated to “famous breastfeeding moms.” My question is, who cares?
Take the latest example of celebrity “is she breastfeeding or not?” mania surrounding Jennifer Lopez. As we all know, she recently gave birth to the most famous twins in recent memory. She also made it known publicly that she decided not to breastfeed those twins. In a caption in People, she is quoted as saying:
“My mom didn’t breast feed and I think that was the thing for me. You read and figure out what’s the best thing for them.”
Apparently, she wanted her husband to be able to play a larger role in caring for the babies (especially late at night, I guess if her night nurse wasn’t available), or perhaps, she just didn’t want to be on the hook to breastfeed. So why all the coverage?
I believe that some people in this day and age expect celebrities to be role models and set examples for the rest of the world. I’m sure there are people out there who might think it’s cool if J-Lo breastfed, and may decide to do it as a result, but like every other mother out there who’s been judged whether or not they breastfeed (me included - I didn’t breastfeed), I don’t think we base our decisions on what the rich and famous do.
The decision to breastfeed or not is a difficult one, and even more so when you’re in the public eye. I don’t care who you are or what you decide to do with your kids- I’m not their mother. But I will give thanks to those moms, like Jennifer Lopez, who, when faced with the number one question asked of new mothers decided to be candid and non-apologetic about her choices. I guess maybe that’s easier to do when you live in a big mansion designed to keep the paparazzi, and, I guess now pro-breastfeeding mothers at bay.
What do you think? Do you care if J-Lo bottle feeds?
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 7:00 am and is filed under Uncategorized, celebrities.
Tags: celebrities, celebrity moms, Jennifer Lopez
May 1st, 2008 at 12:38 pm
The only reason that I cared was that she, like you pointed out, was very upfront and candid about it and didn’t seem to feel guilty. She did what worked for her and is okay with it–wish we could all feel the same way!
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I could totally care less if anyone, and especially a celebrity, bottle feeds her baby. (as I sit here on break pumping, ha!) I quit celebrity gossip cold turkey 2 years ago and have to force myself to stay away from the People magazine in the doctor’s office. Celebrity Moms just make me feel either better or worse about myself by looking at a twisted point of reference. Enough of my soap box - my vote - “Don’t Care”.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
“You read and figure out what’s the best thing for them.”
I’m sorry but if you do read about all of the benefits of breastfeeding it is obvious what is the best for them. I read this quote in her People magazine article and my mouth dropped open - I mean seriously it is the most ignorant thing she could have said - there is no way that you can read about breastfeeding and not realize it is the best thing for them.
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
With the way that celeb moms move anything, I’d say that if JLo had decided to nurse her twins whatever bra she chose would had been a best seller. And her nipple cream, leak shield, on and on. So yeah, I do believe it matters. Will it make someone not nurse? Not sure, but it does matter.
Now to figure out if she’s using PBA-laced bottles or not.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I don’t care what JLo does about anything. However, I do think it is beneficial to share publicly which celebrities are breastfeeding, to help normalize it. I think its sad that JLo isn’t breastfeeding her babies, but that’s more because breast milk is the best thing for babies, not because I judge her. I feel a little sadness whenever I hear that a baby is formula-fed. Mothers have their own reasons (however ignorant or valid they may seem to me) for deciding how to feed their babies. The more breastfeeding mothers are in public view the more breastfeeding mothers there will be.