Comments on: Selma Hayek, Cross Nursing and Carrie

By: Keloquence

Keloquence — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:59:29 +0000

I am very new to naturalmomstalkradio.com and so grateful to have found it! Today while my still nursing son (nearly 2yrs.) slept for his nap I took full advantage of my ‘break’ time to tool around the site. I came upon the Selma Hayek blog and video…
Tears are still streaming down my face as I recall watching the video and reading the blog. I believe so deeply that breastfeeding should be the foundation of all children’s lives! Knowing how healthy and confident my son is from his nearly 2 years of it and how the children from the video are being deprived of it for cultural beliefs lays heavy on my heart. I would gladly except another breastfeeding mother to nurse my son if I were unable as well as gladly offer to do the same for another child in need were the circumstances to arrive.
To me nursing is best by the mother not only for nutrition but for bonding/nurturing. However I recognize that there are events or issues that arise not allowing for some women provide for their child. In my opinion it is worth any cost to acquire breastmilk even for a short time, for an infant. If the best or only way to offer that supplemental breastmilk is from another nursing mother then so be it! I only hope to see more videos and blogs discussing these ideas so that more people in our culture can not only continue to ‘normalize’ breastfeeding itself but the idea of supplementing an infant with the gift of a loving mother who shares her milk straight from the breast itself.

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:52:45 +0000

I’ve done and I will if the other mother asks. I believe Salma Hayek was so urged to nursing that baby as we all nursing mamas would’ve been.

By: Candace Novakowski

Candace Novakowski — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:29:37 +0000

I would most definatly nurse another child and I would definatly let someone else nurse my child if need be. Bless her for doing that for that child. What a wonderful gesture!!!

By: Marcie Macari

Marcie Macari — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:12:01 +0000

Ahh…..well here’s an interesting thought-most of the comments here were about would we breastfeed another mother’s baby, which for most attachment mothers is a no-brainer. If we knew if was fine with the other mom….But what about your baby being nursed by another-For me, breastfeeding is very personal and intimate. I probably would NOT be comfortable with a stranger breastfeeding my baby-mostly because of the possibility of transmission of disease or drugs through breastmilk. But I absolutely would welcome a dear friend’s offer to breastfeed my baby were I not able to!

A friend of mine both had babies around 6-9 months old, and we were going to a babyshower for a relative of mine. I was not feeling comfortable, since most of the people coming to the shower would be very very mainstream, and slightly judgemental of my parenting philosophy….

Well, to reassure me, my friend said-don’t worry, if it gets really stuffy, we’ll trade babies and breastfeed and THAT will keep ‘em talking for awhile! LOL

Great discussion….:)

I’d love to see an organization put together breastmilk donations from us in North America, to send to AIDS babies, or Orphans in Africa-would it be wonderful to know your milk was being used to sustain and heal small babies! And at least we could be very sure that no “charity” was using the milk for its own purposes!!! LOL (Instead of moolah-) Sorry to ramble…lots of thoughts!

By: Sharon

Sharon — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:03:39 +0000

Beautiful post Carrie. I know when I had my first born 18 years ago the breastfeeding advice I received from well meaning but misguided women (included my dear mom) caused me to give up after 6 weeks. I felt such pressure from others that somehow I was “starving her” that I gave up. Now I’m a pretty informed person and had all kinds of natural mothering books on my bedside table…but I still caved.

When I had my son 2 years later I received better advice and nursed him for almost a year. Too bad blogs weren’t around when I had my first…I would have read yours and given my daughter nutritious breast milk.

Good post and I would definitely cross nurse another woman’s baby if asked.

By: Jeannette

Jeannette — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:44:05 +0000

Would you cross nurse another woman’s baby if she asked you? Would you want another woman to nurse your child?

Yes! and Yes!

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:33:31 +0000

That was a very sweet video, that baby was obviously hungry and then was so obviously satisfied. The question of “cheating” on your own baby by breastfeeding another baby is laughable. And I haven’t nursed in almost a year and I still get the let down feeling in my breasts when I hear babies cry. Maybe it just never goes away.

By: FoodRenegade

FoodRenegade — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:55:57 +0000

Ah, where’s the diversity of opinion here? I also wouldn’t hesitate if a child was hungry! Wet nurses have been around for centuries. And in recent centuries, they were actually considered the more “sanitary” option. (Thanks to Victorian husbands wishing to produce more heirs and a strange notion among the elite that breastfeeding was “beneath” them.) Anyhow, wet nursing has been around as long as people have been around. So, I see no problem other than a strange, overreacting populace.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:27:08 +0000

I would definitely nurse another mother’s child! I always seemed to have too much milk when my milk first came in, and I looked into milk donation. Then, I realized there were a lot of protocols, and my supply eventually evened out.

I haven’t kept up with Ms. Hayek over the years. To me, in the photo you posted, she doesn’t look like a “movie star.” She looks like a motherly mother, nursing a baby. It’s only natural for a woman to want to nurture.

By: Felicia - I Complete Me

Felicia - I Complete Me — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:33:33 +0000

Now that I am a mom and I no longer breastfeed I think I would cross nurse if asked. At first I didn’t know what to think about it, but food is food who ever makes it right? As I watched the video all I could think of was nursing my little man, it brought tears to my eyes because I miss nursing him. I enjoyed it so much, but being at work and not having a good breast pump reduced my milk production. Then he got sick and wouldn’t nurse because of a stuff nose, so I dried up. My baby is 6 months and I wanted to nurse until he at least grew in teeth. But what can one do? I loved it, enjoyed it and I did what I could.

By: casual friday everyday

casual friday everyday — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:28:06 +0000

Fabulous post. Fabulous article. Really informative and beautiful. I’m in awe that Selma did this too. She seems like a real real chick…just like you!

Nell

By: elizabeth ashe

elizabeth ashe — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:38:04 +0000

Same as April, i would suckle every child that needed if I was in her position.

By: April

April — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:54:11 +0000

I wouldn’t even hesitate. I think its a perfectly natural thing and I think its awesome that Salma Hayek felt the same way.

By: Christie

Christie — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:50:27 +0000

Carrie, that is a great post. We are having a baby by gestational surrogate in May and I cannot induce lactation because of some meds I am on. Our amazing surro is going to pump for the baby and several other friends have offered to as well. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful women sharing their milk with my baby. I would not feel uncomfortable with someone else breastfeeding my baby, I would feel so grateful that they loved me and my baby give that precious gift. I can’t believe that anyone would have a negative reaction to this, it is nature people!!

Christie