The blogosphere is probably so sick of hearing about Gisele Bundchen and her stupid exclamation regarding a law to make breast-feeding mandatory for six months. Right?
So, I just want to throw in my few cents worth. Because I can. It’s my blog and I can be as many days late and dollars short as I feel like.
OK.
She, most likely, loved her experience with the whole nursing thing and yay for her. Personally, I hated it. I did it for 3, 4 and 7 months respectively.
It hurt.
Latch-on was horrendous and even with a lactation consultant, difficult.
I had mastitis.
I had split open, bleeding things that were once considered nipples.
I produced pink milk for the first month of my first and third born children’s lives.
My jaw hurt from clenching it, every single time the baby would latch on. I wanted to scream and cry in agony.
My milk never came in very well so I was CONSTANTLY nursing until eventually I succumbed to the bottle feeding supplementation. It was that or go absolutely insane.
Pumping was from the depths of hell, along with millipedes.
I HATED nursing. People kept telling me to quit, it was perfectly acceptable and no one would judge. BULL. SHIT.
People judge. Just hit up a breastfeeding hashtag on Twitter or go on some blogs. Also? Every breast feeding friend would roll their eyes at you and talk behind your back if you didn’t breastfeed.
I didn’t do it to bond with my babies. The bonding took place from the moment of conception. Each baby I gave birth to knew who their Mommy was, even without a dry, cracked and scabby nipple in their mouths. I did it because I thought it was best for them.
Ha.
Nursing didn’t make my kids any healthier. I’ve spoken of this before but, my husbands ex-wife didn’t nurse and she did some bad things during pregnancy and after birth. Those two kids hardly ever get sick. I should know, I’ve been raising them for 9 years.
In comparison, my daughter and youngest son had chronic strep throat and had tonsillectomies. My oldest son had horrible ear infections every other minute for the first 2 years of his life. And I nursed, never smoked with or around them, ate fairly healthy AND I nursed.
They have horrible allergies, all 3 of my beautiful breastfed children.
It didn’t make them ANY HEALTHIER than a bottle fed baby.
And honestly? I think my bottle-feeding Mommy friends were happier people. Which perhaps makes for less fussy babies. I wouldn’t know, I breast-fed and had fussy babies.
So Gisele? While you are beautiful, wealthy, healthy and wise…you are so wrong. And probably, you should worry about popping out puppies for your hot hubby and not worry about what and how the rest of the common people feed our children.
Yes! You had a wonderful, beautiful, bonding experience nursing your adorable child. I can’t help but wonder if all your other birthing/breastfeeding experiences will be the same or if this little grand little idea of yours will come back to bite you in dry, cracked, bleeding nipples.
Yeah. So, um…mind your own.
Thank you.
Hear! Hear! I did not breastfeed my daughter (nor did my mother breastfeed me) and she has been a perfectly healthy, happy child her entire almost 12 years on this Earth.
I’m shocked that any woman would call for a law that mandates women to do something with their bodies that they may not want to do.
Lori´s last blog post ..12 Years
I tried to breastfeed, and gave up when I realized it was either that or lose my sanity. But still I pumped, endlessly, for the first three months of her life. It was awful, awful, awful. I only did it to avoid being even more judged.
Fellow women are our worst enemies.
amber´s last blog post ..Running in the Dark
I did breastfeed both my kids, but I try not to be judgmental of any mom who can’t or doesn’t choose to. It’s a personal decision and none of my business.
This Gisele wench probably also has personal trainers, nannies, cooks, housekeeper, and an endless number of people making her life easier. Of course, that wouldn’t have any effect on having time (and energy) to successful BF her child.
Tara R.´s last blog post ..Dragonfly nirvana
If anyone ever needed further proof of why models should be seen and not heard, THIS statement is it.
Gisele is dumb. I’m not a fan. The end. 🙂
Michelle @ Mommy Loves Stilettos´s last blog post ..Excuse Me- You Lost Your Weave
I absolutely agree. I have breastfed, my daughter for 2 years and my son before her for 20 months. If I can be completely honest, I really kinda hate it. My body hasn’t been MINE in so long, I’ve forgotten what it felt like not to have little hands everywhere. My oldest son was bottle fed and like you noted, he is just as perfectly healthy as his younger siblings. There is no way I would ever be judgmental of anyone who is doing what they think is best for their child and herself. You can’t have a happy baby without a happy mommy. Supermodels should just stick with what they know best and shut the hell up.
C @ Kid Things´s last blog post ..Funny
Very well written. I am continually amazed at how much this issue DIVIDES women. I made the mistake of commenting on someone’s post the other day. This woman had included samples of formula in a swag bag at blogher which is apparently a HUGE FUCKING NO-NO and half the goddamned world exploded and ceased to exist because she did so. I commented, saying I appreciated getting samples of formula and relied on them to make more informed choices about which formula my kids should/could have after I stopped breastfeeding only to have some crazy bitch go all tree-hugging “BUT YOU WERE VULNERABLE” on my ass. Yeah, and I’m fucking vulnerable when I starving at 2am after bar close and I see a commercial for a goddamn Whopper. AND THAT THING COULD KILL ME. I wanted to reply, “OH MY GOD WHY DON’T YOU CARE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CONSUME SUPER GREASY FOOD FROM GEORGE WEBBS AT 4AM AFTER THEY’VE DOWNED A FIFTH OF SCOTCH?!? THEY’RE PEOPLE, TOO!!!” But I didn’t. Cuz I’m a fuckin’ lady that way.
Colleen – Mommy Always Wins´s last blog post ..Funny story for you- surrounded by some other BlogHer crap
I wasn’t afforded the luxury (pain) of breastfeeding my first child. She was immediately sent to a childrens hospital after birth and I was bed ridden for 2 weeks. We still managed to bond just fine. I didn’t bother trying to breastfeed my second after the first week of empty mommy bag syndrome. Yay for formula. My kids were big babies. Born mostly healthy(my oldest had a large hernia and required surgery-i blame induced labor) in spite of the month 2 pregnancy test and innumerable cheeseburger cravings. I poked bigger holes in the bottle nipples and added rice cereal to their formula. They slept. They ate eggs and yes, non-baby approved yogurt. They played in grass. Got mosquito bitten. All before they were 6 months old. They lived. They thrive. I got sleep. So I love them for that. Oh and kids are pretty resilient. Ask my sister in law whose 1 year old ate chicken poop.
I did breastfeed both my children extended (21 months and 27 months) and wouldn’t have changed it for the world. I’d recommend it and be a cheer leader for anyone who wants to make a go of it.
BUT, I know that some people who are unable to for one reason or another and I would NEVER force it upon anyone.
Emily/Randomability´s last blog post ..Thursday 13- 13 things done on vacation
I chose not to breastfeed. Yep! That’s right, I didn’t even attempt it. Judge away…. lol I don’t care. I’m not afraid to admit it.
It certainly doesn’t mean I don’t love my kids any less. They are healthy thriving 4 and 6 yr olds now.
I HAD certain friends that I referred to as breastfeeding nazis. I could not believe the filth that spouted from their mouth about moms that don’t breastfeed. That’s the only thing that disgusts me about the issue….why do women/moms that don’t want to be judged on their parenting choices pick the BF issue to judge others? I just don’t get it. It must be that catty bitch that lies within all of us. 😉
I agree with C….super models should be seen and not heard!
I breastfed the Queen for 18 months and DeBoy for 16 months, with a 3-month break in between. I’m the poster child for “Yes, you can get pregnant while nursing.”
I HATED IT. Babies have teeth and they bite. I, too, had mastitis. I was in constant pain, and for the Queen’s first couple of months, I had to nurse in private because I was sobbing the entire time. I couldn’t pump at all.
DeBoy hasn’t nursed since February of 2007, and I STILL do not want anyone or anything near my boobs because they still hurt.
If we had had the money I would have gone formula all the way.
No I do not judge whether the milk comes from the breast or a bottle.
I do, however, judge when there is Pepsi in the bottle, which happens with alarming frequency in this area.
Janet´s last blog post ..From a Distance
P.S. I like the new layout. 🙂
Janet´s last blog post ..From a Distance
never tried it and thank goodness for my BTL….i’ll never have to 🙂
Love the new layout. I nursed but it was not easy and was sometimes unpleasant.
I guess if you are a Brazilian Supermodel things are not as challenging.
Another Suburban Mom´s last blog post ..Friday Foodie- Cous Cous Salad
I am all for breastfeeding – 100% – but that is what worked FOR ME! My son I nursed for 14 months and would have gone longer but my MIL kept telling me (an anyone that would listen) that he was too big to be nursing (and I was pregnant again). Once I had my daughter – my son wanted to nurse again, so I nursed him and the babyI People were APPALLED!! I was happy, my son was happy and my new baby was happy. nursed my daughter for 16.5 months – no issues – she was a GREAT eater! I had another baby and nursed her for 3 years – the first year was HORRID! I had your experience – Mastitis – 5 times – literally I almost divorced my husband that year b/c I thought I was losing my mind along with my huge, watermelons boobs that were fricking killing me. My little one had acid reflux and nursing was really hard for her. She simply could not eat very much – she would be sick. I suffered for her, literally suffered for her, bleeding, cracked nipples and all. Everyone told me I was a martyr so I simply stopped telling my friends and family that I was nursing a sick baby still. No one had a clue what was going on. I was ready to kill someone though – let me tell you!
The point is – you (me – you – our neighbor – the lady in church or on the bus) need to do what is best FOR THEM!
That is all!
Tiaras´s last blog post ..Summer changes the family dynamicsRight
Oh – and my son – terrible ear infections and he is a carrier for strep throat. My daughter – never sick a day in her life. My little one – HUGE allergies!!! Go figure!
Tiaras´s last blog post ..Summer changes the family dynamicsRight
God freaking bless you.
I went through the same things.
And it’s great — wonderful even — that chicks like Giselle are so into the breastfeeding. I would be too if it’d been less painful.
I did it anyway — out of guilt — but would never, NEVER deign to tell another woman how to feed her baby.
San Diego Momma´s last blog post ..Getting Your Mojo Back- A Step by Step Guide
Hear hear! You did a lot better than I did. I managed 3 days with my first child, and when my second ended up in NICU I decided not to even try.
Stuff all the bf’ing aunties… I couldn’t care less what you think. I did it for my sanity!!
You do what you can as a mom to get by.
Jenty´s last blog post ..Snail Mail marketing is an irritation
gisele is hot tho
Mel, awesome post as always (and I’m still cracking up at Colleen’s comment – both you girls rock!)
So, breastfeeding for me was both heaven and hell. Hell at the beginning because I couldn’t get enough milk. Bought all manner of contraptions, pumps, took fenugreek, whatever-thistle etc…only after agonizing guilt and the fact that my kids were basically starving and losing weight did I allow myself to supplement with formula. Geez, I can’t even believe that I gave it a second thought. Supplementing allowed me to eventually nurse exclusively for both my kids, and even helped Baby #2 with her spitting up – so there. 6 months for #1, 19 months for #2.
It’s all about CHOICE – and a law doesn’t allow that, the nitwit. And no, I did not name my kid after her. Heaven forbid should anyone ever think that. Shudder.
Karen MEG´s last blog post ..Weekly Winners – Vacation
All I can think about every time I read about her is how when her hubby’s FIRST child was being born to his ex-girlfriend that she wouldn’t let him go to the hospital because she was having a party. Yeah. I don’t think someone like that deserves to have an opinion about what is “best” for a baby.
Jennifer´s last blog post ..Fit B4 40 – A plan I dont recommend
oh amen! I also hated breastfeeding and told eveyone who would listen to me. The only good thing about it was that i could breast feed AND take vicodin at the same time.i happily quit after a month. yippeee!
-not fan of bleeding nipples.
My mom did not breast feed me or my sister. We survived! I’m not a mom yet but it doesn’t sound so pleasant but I’ve read the “benefits”. I’ll do it if I can someday, if not oh well, that’s why formula was invented! 🙂
Patty@NYC Girl at Heart´s last blog post ..Yoplaits Whips! Review & Giveaway!
I breastfed my son for 2 weeks. It was the worst 2 weeks of my life. I was a 20 year old first time mom. I asked repeatedly for help. I called a million lactation specialists and I couldn’t get any support. Not even from my family. After the 2 weeks, I switched to formula and my son and I were much happier.
4 years later, I breastfed my daughter for 5 days. It was awful. I switched to formula and never looked back.
Gisele Bundchen must be high from those post delivery endorphins! It’s a choice. You have to do make the choice that is right for you and your child. People (women) should support each other instead of attacking.
Chantel´s last blog post ..Random Tuesday Thoughts- Whirlwind