Gisele Bundchen: Breastfeeding should be a law

[noey718]

http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/03/gisele-bundchen-breastfeeding-should-be-a-law/?hpt=Sbin



When it comes to motherhood, Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen has never been shy about expressing her convictions.

She told American Vogue in April, 2010, that she kept careful watch over what she was putting into her body while she was pregnant. “I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals. I was mindful about what I ate, and I gained only 30 pounds,” Bundchen said at the time.

Similarly, she’s told Harper’s Bazaar U.K. that she’s very conscious about what her 8-month-old son, Benjamin Rein, consumes as well.

“Some people here think they don't have to breastfeed,” Bundchen said in the magazine’s September issue, “and I think, Are you going to give chemical food to your child, when they are so little?'"

The 30-year-old model went on, “There should be a worldwide law, in my opinion, that mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months.”

[guruwan2b]

What about women who don't produce enough milk? Send them to jail? Fine them?
What about babies who don't thrive on breast milk? My second daughter didn't take to breast milk. She ended up on soy milk. Would I have been fined or jailed?

I agree that breastfeeding is good and I did breastfeed all three of my children until it became evident that my second daughter was not thriving.

A worldwide law? Not happening. And why are we even hearing about her ideas? Oh, yes, she is one of the pretty people and pretty people's opinions count.... Not...

ETA: OK, she has a right to have an opinion, but I don't see where she comes off stating it should be a worldwide LAW.

[noey718]

What about women who don't produce enough milk? Send them to jail? Fine them?
What about babies who don't thrive on breast milk? My second daughter didn't take to breast milk. She ended up on soy milk. Would I have been fined or jailed?

I agree that breastfeeding is good and I did breastfeed all three of my children until it became evident that my second daughter was not thriving.

A worldwide law? Not happening. And why are we even hearing about her ideas? Oh, yes, she is one of the pretty people and pretty people's opinions count.... Not...

like someone in GMA said, "shut up and model" hahaha

[OLSPickedMyNick]

That's fine and dandy for those who can but there are women who try and try and is just doesn't work out for them. What are they supposed to do then let the baby starve?

[Meadow]

She has a right to her opinion but I have a right to think she's an ass as well.

[BentonWesley]

What about women who don't produce enough milk? Send them to jail? Fine them?
What about babies who don't thrive on breast milk? My second daughter didn't take to breast milk. She ended up on soy milk. Would I have been fined or jailed?

I agree that breastfeeding is good and I did breastfeed all three of my children until it became evident that my second daughter was not thriving.

A worldwide law? Not happening. And why are we even hearing about her ideas? Oh, yes, she is one of the pretty people and pretty people's opinions count.... Not...

ETA: OK, she has a right to have an opinion, but I don't see where she comes off stating it should be a worldwide LAW.


Exactly. And we won't even get into the situation of women/men/couples that adopt newborns and can't breastfeed them.

[Karen_246]

She has a right to her opinion but I have a right to think she's an ass as well.

I concur.

Guess I would have been doing time.

[ironbutterfly]

Yeah Giselle, we fought for years to allow ourselves control of our own repoductive rights, just what we need is a governing body dictating our lactation.

It's easy to eat the right foods and do the full run of breast feeding when you are a millionaire with all the time of the world on your hands, a bottomless grocery budget and you make your own schedule.

I think it is disgusting the attitudes women give each other over this topic. To each their own.

[guruwan2b]

My sister had surgery immediately after having her baby. She couldn't breastfeed since the baby was sent to ICU in one hopsital and she was in another.
There are many, many cases of people who for one reason or another can't breastfeed. It is not a choice they have.

[jus_like_honey]

My children got around an ouce apiece a day for four weeks. I had to stop, they weren't getting anything out of it. The WIC nazi told me that I would only produce as much as they needed. What a crock! They were taking six ounces of formula every four hours because I had to substitute. I pumped faithfully.

My children and I were separated following their birth. They went to another hospital's NICU. A baby's cries helps milk production, suckling stimulates to produce more milk. I had neither. I pumped my milk, but it just wasn't the same. I had to give up to save my own sanity. I felt so guilty that I wasn't producing enough milk for both of them, I wasn't producing enough for one. I won't be guilted into feeling badly about it anymore. I was upset enough because I didn't get that whole experience.

[noey718]

I felt so guilty that I wasn't producing enough milk for both of them, I wasn't producing enough for one. I won't be guilted into feeling badly about it anymore. I was upset enough because I didn't get that whole experience.

and women like Gisele make other women feel lousy and guilty and like they are not good enough. She needs to shut her mouth about things she knows nothing about.

[feefee]

Well sure, ok. I take all of my life advice from supermodels, don't you?

[Aisling]

and women like Gisele make other women feel lousy and guilty and like they are not good enough. She needs to shut her mouth about things she knows nothing about.

Of course there shouldn't be a law regarding this, but since she's from Brazil, perhaps she's concerned about third world mothers who have been told (by companies like Nestle) that formula is the better way to go? Then, when they don't have access to purified water, their babies become very ill and sometimes die. Maybe it's also helpful for some to learn that beautiful women believe in breastfeeding and it won't "ruin your figure" and that it's a good thing to do (if you can).

[ironbutterfly]

That's exactly what the chick at GMA said, it was impossible to stay breastfeeding with her schedule and she had enough guilt feelings already with out Gisele laying more on. I swear it looked like she had tears in her eyes as she said it.

[n2deep2quit]

This was a painfully ignorant and invasive thing for her to say (for all the reasons stated in above posts) - I mean, really . . . . she thinks someone other than the mother should control that choice (provided that she has that choice, as noted - some women are unable to breastfeed)? Wow.

[figgyfigg]

Yeah Giselle, we fought for years to allow ourselves control of our own repoductive rights, just what we need is a governing body dictating our lactation.

It's easy to eat the right foods and do the full run of breast feeding when you are a millionaire with all the time of the world on your hands, a bottomless grocery budget and you make your own schedule.

I think it is disgusting the attitudes women give each other over this topic. To each their own.

I agree 100%. It's a personal decision that each woman needs to make on her own. It's not something that needs to be campaigned for or legislated.

[secular]

Of course there shouldn't be a law regarding this, but since she's from Brazil, perhaps she's concerned about third world mothers who have been told (by companies like Nestle) that formula is the better way to go? Then, when they don't have access to purified water, their babies become very ill and sometimes die. Maybe it's also helpful for some to learn that beautiful women believe in breastfeeding and it won't "ruin your figure" and that it's a good thing to do (if you can).

I agree.

However, a law? I third the GMA comment.

Perhaps, if her milk is so perfect, she should continue to pump for 5 years after and bank it.

[SheShe]

She has a right to her opinion but I have a right to think she's an ass as well.


You said EXACTLY what I was thinking while reading that.

[driven873]

She's stupid.........its each persons own decision. If I don't want to breastfeed when I have a child I dont have to.

Maybe it should be law that we have to have a certain BMI and not starve ourselves....or over eat.

[jenninshelby]

Total crap! A womans body and her right to decide if she wishes to breastfeed. It should not be a LAW. No frigging way!

[MrsM]

You mean this bimbo is going to tell me what to do with my body? With my child? Doesn't she have some fake wings she should be flaunting?

[Globug_47]

I believe that any decision to breastfeed is a personal one.

The last person that I would be taking advice from regarding my choices for my child and my body would be a 'super model'.

[MrsM]

I believe that any decision to breastfeed is a personal one.

The last person that I would be taking advice from regarding my choices for my child and my body would be a 'super model'.

I agree!!! Maybe she should shut her mouth with a big fat donut!

[BentonWesley]

Now she's backpedaling. I'm not surprised.

http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/424531_tvgif4.html

Gisele Bundchen has clarified her comment about making breastfeeding a "worldwide law," saying she's "not here to judge" other mothers' choices.

In an interview in the September issue of Harper's Bazaar U.K., the 30-year-old mother said she felt there should be a worldwide law requiring mothers to breastfeed their babies for six months, according to People. "Some people here think they don't have to breastfeed and I think, 'Are you going to give chemical food to your child when they are so little?'" Bundchen told the magazine.

The supermodel took to her blog Monday to respond to the criticism she's received for the comment.

"My intention in making a comment about the importance of breastfeeding has nothing to do with the law," Bunchen wrote. "It comes from my passion and beliefs about children. Becoming a new mom has brought a lot of questions, I feel like I am in a constant search for answers on what might be the best for my child."

Bundchen, who has a 7-month-old son, Benjamin Rein, with her husband, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, said it was "unfortunate" that comments can seem "so black and white" in interviews.

"I am sure if I would just be sitting talking about my experiences with other mothers, we would just be sharing opinions," she wrote. "I understand that everyone has their own experience and opinions and I am not here to judge. I believe that bringing a life into this world is the single most important thing a person can undertake, and it can also be the most challenging," she adds. "I think as mothers we are all just trying our best."

[Ravzie]

Open mouth, insert feet.