Katie Price interview, photos spark formula advertising inquiry

Three charities — Save the Children, Baby Milk Action and the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) — have initiated a regulatory action against UK formula maker SMA Nutrition in connection with Katie ‘Jordan’ Price’s recent interview with OK! magazine, in which she discussed her preference for formula over breast milk when it comes to feeding daughter Princess Tiaamii. 

Specifically, the charities allege, photographs of Katie and her husband Peter Andre giving Princess Tiaamii an SMA branded bottle of formula violate UK laws which prohibit the promotion of formula for children under 6-months of age.  In the controversial interview, Katie said "I don’t want a baby drinking from me" and that the very thought of nursing Princess Tiaamii, who is 5-weeks-old, made her feel "really funny."  On an adjacent page, SMA ran a full-sized advertisement for its ‘follow-on’ milk, which is legal as it is intended for older babies.

According to NCT chief executive Belinda Phipps — whose organization aims to ban all formula advertising on grounds that it undermines the efforts of new moms who may want to breastfeed — the comments combined with the photographs and corresponding advertisement all add up to a violation of the relevant law.

Money couldn’t buy this sort of publicity for formula milk.

Katie and SMA have no commercial endorsement deal in place, the formula-maker said in a statement, adding that SMA "fully supports that breastfeeding is best for babies."

Sources:  Metro, Herald Sun

Note from Danielle, CBB Publisher:
I would like to refocus the comment conversation on what is the basic issue of this post - that there is a clear conflict of interest with Jordan being so anti-breastfeeding, proclaiming how wonderful this particular company’s product is, using that product with her daughter in the photo, AND then an ad on the opposite page for that product, which, coincidentally, is supposed to only be marketed for babies of a certain age.  And if you want to get technical, we are reporting on the fact that there is an inquiry about the ethics of this, not taking a stance either way. 

That said, all of you know the Celebrity Baby Blog position on breastfeeding (at least regular readers do) – that we want moms and moms-to-be to understand why breastfeeding is so amazing and important so they will hopefully decide to breastfeed (and continue to do so as long as they desire) BUT I think the problem is that this has turned into the old breast vs bottle debate and therefore a lot of readers are not really paying attention to what we think the issue is- the ethics of her promoting a product that is advertised on the facing page, whether or not she is an official spokesperson for the brand.  And keep in mind that this may be getting more attention right now because we’re in the middle of World Breastfeeding Week/Month.

Please let’s take a step back and consider the issue using another product that isn’t as controversial, such as diapers car seats.  Imagine if Jordan gushed about how she doesn’t like using car seats for her children and said that she feels funny about putting the kids in them because it restrains them, then preached how wonderful it was to use a booster seat instead of an infant car seat because it saved her so much time, then was shown belting her daughter into the car, and then there was a full page advertisement for booster seats on the next page AND by the way, booster seats are only supposed to be used for older children. Does that change anything for you? 

We will not publish any more comments about breast is best or saying that you or your husband or your kids weren’t breastfed and they turned out fine.  YES, formula is "good enough," as one commenter posted (though I must point out that even formula companies admit that breastmilk is the best food for babies) but this post is about an ethics inquiry.  Thank you.

Comments

While I dislike advertising of any product, I feel that advertising formula doesn’t discourage women from trying to breastfeed. I would argue that most companies discourage their female employees from breastfeeding in the workplace. Corporate America (I cannot speak to the UK) is the reason many women don’t breastfeed.

As a side note, I could not breastfeed my son due to a very rare and serious medical condition. I found that most people were initially extremely critical of me NOT breastfeeding until I explained (mind you to a few strangers!) my rare pregnancy complication…. so I am really not buying that women aren’t supported in their decision to breastfeed. Unless we live in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t world, which may be the case when it comes to parenting decisions.

- m on August 7th, 2007

You can read the full details of the NCT’s campaign to ban formula advertising at:
http://www.nct.org.uk/about/campaigns/advertising

- Zoe on August 7th, 2007

When I originally read the article with Katie, I found her comments about breastfeeding strange. Obviously, breastfeeding is a choice, but I can’t imagine someone actually taking a stance against it. The fact that the article was paid with an advertisement, and that she was photographed feeding that same (or similar) product is just strange to me.

- Brandi on August 7th, 2007

I was criticized for bottle feeding breast milk to my daughter.. I too am one of the women who felt uncomfortable breastfeeding. I just couldn’t do it so I pumped and bottle fed my daughter everything I pumped and if I was running low I substituted formula. At 6 weeks she was fully switched to formula. I dont think I did anything wrong and my daughter is perfectly healthy. I just wish that everyone was completely accepting to the choices mothers make for their children. We all have different reasons for doing what we do and it shouldnt be criticized. I just cant believe they made a law that you cant advertize formula for babies under 6 months.. Its just one of those things that the government shouldnt interfere with. All of these rules and judgements just add to the struggles of new moms. What about PPD? Do they not think about the emotions of these mothers? Lets support ALL moms not just bottle feeding or breastfeeding ones!

- Lauren Ashley on August 7th, 2007

What got me is this statement…

“I don’t want a baby drinking from me”

How would that be weird for anyone to have their own baby nursing from them?? That is crazy!

I understand that some people cannot breastfeed because of medical circumstances (I myself could not do it as long as I had planned because of a 10-hour surgery which all but depleted my milk supply), but to not do it because it is “weird” is not a legitimate reason in my opinion.

- Spiff on August 7th, 2007

I am so not surprised by her statements about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding would surely put a cramp in her lifestyle, which at 5 weeks postpartum has included quite a lot of late night partying and drinking. And, with the amount of chemicals on her body (that orange glow came from somewhere other than the sun), and alcohol she has imbibed, I am relieved that isn’t in her breastmilk being passed on to her baby. I didn’t know about England’s ban on formula ads for babies under 6 months old, our parenting maagazines here could learn from that (Mothering magazine bans all formula advertising though). But, her statements on breastfeeding, implying it is gross, are one of the many reasons those concerned about breastfeeding need to continue their efforts to make sure society at large sees it for the natural thing that it is. It needs to be normalized, and then new mothers will be more apt to try and stick with it for the long term. I feel for “m” and other mothers who have medical conditions prohibiting them from breastfeeding. I also feel for mother’s having to return to work early, where pumping isn’t really feasable in the workplace or nothing comes out when you try. I have been fortunate to stay home with my daughter and breastfeed on demand whenever she needs/wants it. I do feel that all those not in those situations mentioned above should be supported and encouraged to try and be successful at breastfeeding, and supported to continue if successful at least to 6 months. Science has shown it is what is best for babies. Being National breastfeeding awareness week I thought these things should be said.

- Cordelia's Mommy on August 7th, 2007

I won’t breastfeed. I support her decision. I don’t care what her reason is, it’s just as good as any reason to decide to not bottle feed

- Natasha on August 7th, 2007

so many women are just too uncomfortable and I personally don’t think anyone would say a word if she said that she could not breastfeed no one would care if she was bottle feeding

- Tatum on August 7th, 2007

I find Katie’s comments immature. She feels strange breastfeeding but feels fine posing nude? While I have no problems bottle feeding or breastfeeding ( I have had to do both) I find this particular couple nothing but attention seeking and immature in there comments. If not just completely ignorant.
Let the UK have’em. The US has to deal with enough problem celeb parents. I am sure you can guess who.

- simply_bohemian on August 7th, 2007

To be blunt, this article makes me furious. I personally think Katie’s comments about breastfeeding were completely ignorant and juvenile; it is clear after reading her interview that she has been so warped into seeing her body as nothing more than a sexual object that she is unable to realize what breasts are truly for. That said, the fact that these organizations have the audacity to try and ban all formula advertisements shows how militant and insecure they are with others’ decision-making and actually works against them in the long run. Groups like these only make a mockery of themselves by leaning so far one way that they can’t see the other perspective and thus they gain little, if any, general respect. How dare they force everyone to comply with their narrow-minded view of what is acceptable in terms of feeding infants. Everyone knows that breast is best, but the reality is that formula is not the end of the world, and everyone knows it. This Belinda Phipps woman should worry about breastfeeding her own babies and that’s it.

- Lauren on August 7th, 2007

Spiff,

What may be good and normal for you, may not be good and normal for others. Personally, at this point, I think it would be weird to have a baby latched on to my breast drinking from it. I don’t have children at the moment, and most likely my thoughts will change on the matter, but at this point, I don’t really like the idea for myself. Not to say that I don’t think it’s a beautiful experience between a mother and her child, but, as of right now, no thanks.

Katie has the right to feel what she feels, and as long as Princess Tiaami is healthy then who are you to judge?

- Devon on August 7th, 2007

I think that she made that remark because of the implants. Having watched her show, she is a very loving and caring mother (I wasn’t a fan until the show).

While the implants were made for the career (and she won’t publicaly say anything bad about them), they affect her choice to breast feed or not.

Also, her breast size is huge – nursing could have been an issue.

- Joan on August 7th, 2007

I agree with M. Don’t ban formula advertising, instead focus your efforts on trying to get longer paid maternity leaves and better support for breast feeding mothers from corporations. I don’t know any women who formula fed b/c of the ads, but I know plenty who weren’t able to continue b/c of lack of support.

- wavybrains on August 7th, 2007

I live in the UK and have nursed both of mine, but I can tell you that I have gotten a lot of criticism FOR doing it and that is why the laws exist in the UK. Jordan’s views on the issue are not unique.

I went to a hair appointment when my son was a few months old and it was taking a long time. I took took a cupcake out of my bag because I was starting to feel really hungry and it was still going to be a while before I could get anything to eat.

A lady commented on how thin I was and still ate cake and I said something about my son takes it all so that’s the only reason I’m thin. They all said oh how old is your baby and when I said it (Think he was 8 months) they all cringed in horror and one older lady actually told me I should have cut him off a long time ago. They were horrified I had let a child feed that long and made me feel like a freak and lousy mother for it.

I know some women can’t or choose not to feed, but please understand that when people don’t even consider it an option (many many women in UK don’t) then that’s bad too.

- virginia on August 7th, 2007

Spiff, I don’t really know that much about this woman and her “career” but clearly her breasts are enhanced/fake. I think her comment clearly puts her into the “breasts are sexual” camp, not the “breasts are for breastfeeding” camp. So while I find her statement odd, when I look at her it seems pretty typical of a statement a woman of her ilk would make, no?!

- m on August 7th, 2007

I know this will become a very heated debate, but someone said the government should keep out of this topic. I feel the corporations making money off of the industry that is formula milk should have stayed out.

I can accept that women sometimes cannot feed for whatever reason, but someone created an alternative to breastmilk and it became more of a norm than an exception for special circumstances.

People harp on about Breast is Best because it is. I don’t look down on people who don’t nurse their child like some people, but I don’t think anyone can argue that one is the better option.

- Cat Lady on August 7th, 2007

People feel that formula advertising does not detract from new moms nursing but it is so false. Formula advertising is the exact reason why breastfeeding rates are so low and so many people honestly believe that formula is just as good as breastmilk. I’m glad to see these charities taking a stand!

- Trish on August 7th, 2007

I found her reasoning against bf’ing a little unusual. I could see stopping because of fatigue/latch issues (which I ultimately did) or other such issues, but I had no problem with the idea of my twins “drinking from me”.

But to each his own and she definintely shouldn’t be crucified for choosing formula.

- TwinMom on August 7th, 2007

I think that a woman’s decision to breast feed or bottle feed is a personal decision.

Her reasonings, no matter how ‘illegitimate’ you think they are, should not be judged by others. It is nobody’s business.

On the other hand, the sneaky advertising is a little crazy. I bet stuff happens like that a lot! I thought I read somewhere that Starbucks paid celebrities to be photographed with coffee cups in their hands.

- Amy on August 7th, 2007

everyone is entitled to their opinion on breastfeeding. I have been on both sides of the fence with this subject. I did not breastfeed my 2 children and they are perfectly healthy. I was not comfortable with the idea of breastfeeding at all when I had them. Now,years later and now that they are teenagers if I was lucky enough to have another child I would at least TRY to breastfeed. BUT, I would NOT beat myself up over it if I couldn’t or decided it wasn’t for me. I think formula should be advertised as an alternative if breastfeeding is not possible. Formula companies routinely say “breast is best” and I am sure they believe that. I also agree that the USA is not a very breast feeding friendly country. Only recently have employers started to provide support for nursing mothers and only recently has society started to look upon breastfeeding as natural and okay to do in public if a woman so chooses.

All in all, breastfeeding is a choice for some and a necessity for others. Nobody should be looked down upon if they choose not to or cannot breastfeed.

- tink1217 on August 7th, 2007

She may have made the comments due to her implants??

- Dazzlar on August 7th, 2007

I live in the UK and let me say, this woman stops at nothing to make $$ and flaunt herself. It is very convenient how the SMA showed perfectly in the picture. Planned advertising?

- LL on August 7th, 2007

I thought this site was meant to glorify, or whatever you wanna call it, celebrities with their babies as a good thing. Including people like Katie Price that is SO obviously a very selfish mother is just sad.

I can actually understand the whole “weird” feeling about breastfeeding. The thought that I hung on my mother’s breasts isn’t something I think about in a good light. BUT, anybody that’s anybody know that it is best for the baby. And women that say things like, “I don’t want a baby hanging on my boobs” (I knew someone that once said that) or about it being weird to feed her child shouldn’t be glorified for her childishness.

- Nicole on August 7th, 2007

As a former bottle feeding mom I thought her comments very strange as well. However, I would never decide to breast or bottle feed by seeing an ad or hearing an interview from a celebrity. When my children were small we did have a lactation room at work that was available and encouraged (lived in Ohio then and worked for an insurance company). As in many aspects of parenting I think everyone has a right to choose the best path for them.

- Loralee on August 7th, 2007

honestly, why is it anyones business when it comes to weather or not the woman beside you has a breast of a bottle in her babies mouth.

to explain to someone about a medical condition, a complete stranger is outrageous!!! taking a stance on breastfeeding is no different than taking a stance on formual feeding. And, it doesn’t matter what anyone elses oppinion on what passes for a valid excuse it BS!

Breastfeed your own babies and mind your own business when it comes to other peoples babies and how they choose to feed them!!

plain and simple it isn’t your place to judge another mother.

- Heather on August 7th, 2007

I don’t think this is a matter of supporting or not supporting ALL moms. It’s a matter of babies’ health and what’s best for them. I mean, what does that tell you, when a government is discouraging formula (if at all possible) being fed to infants under 6 months? To me, that says it all. I, also understand that some moms simply cannot breastfeed due to various reasons, but I feel that Katie’s stance is just selfish. Breastfeeding is just a normal, natural part of motherhood and to say that it makes you feel weird, is too bad. Maybe it’s all the sexual labels that society puts on our breasts? Maybe we’ve forgotten why we actually have them!

- Amanda on August 7th, 2007

Also, am I the only one who thought the concept of disposable bottles was disgusting? I mean, how lazy are we getting? We can’t even take the time to put bottles thru the dishwasher or worse yet, pay someone to do it for you? Let’s hope they’re at least recyclable!

- Amanda on August 7th, 2007

However she chooses to feed her baby is really none of our business.

- Carrie on August 7th, 2007

Katie’s statements do sound strange.The baby came from you,grew inside of you for months…why would you be uncomfortable breastfeeding your child? Anyhow, I do get why some would want to ban formula feeding ads. If we saw more ads with breast feeding..maybe more women would be comfortable doing it.I would take a magazine with a cover of a woman breastfeeding her baby over the half-naked ones with celebs anyday.

- Renee on August 7th, 2007

I always thought something was fishy in that interview – not that she would choose not the breastfeed, but the fact that she was going on and on about those disposable bottles/nipples and how it was premixed and easy — and then named the brand and said how great they were. It seemed odd to me, because I have never heard a celebrity talk about a formula by brand before. Most celebrities (if they choose to talk about how they feed their babies) either state that they are breastfeeding or not and leave it at that. I would not be surprised at all if there is something to these allegations.

As far as advertising goes, I am very pro-breastfeeding and nursed my child for a year, but I think it’s absurd to ban the ads. If, for some reason, I had to formula feed instead, I would want to know what is out there to choose from. I can understand if they would want to limit the claims these formulas can make (so they can’t claim to be as good as breast milk), but to ban them completely, is silly. FF moms need information too.

I’m all for banning formula bags at hospitals though. In NYC they send every new mom home from the hospital with a messenger bag full of formula (provided by the manufacturer, I’m assuming). I can imagine how this would undermine any attempts at breastfeeding that a new mom might make. If things were not going too smoothly in the beginning, it’s very easy to just give up when a big bag of formula is waiting there for you.

- PSB on August 7th, 2007

My friend breast-fed he daughter (not sure of son) and it made her moody, gave her bellyache and she was never full so formula is better in some cases, breast isn’t always best.

Campaigning is ridiculous, women are given the option and they do what they feel they wanna do.

- lucy on August 7th, 2007

I visit CelebBabyBlog often and I have never posted before but I wanted to go ahead and put my 2 cents in before the Katie Price is a horrible mother bottle feeding is horrendous comments get posted and the comments are shut down because we all know it will.
I just want to say that the first poster is right on the money.
Formula companies don’t stop women from breast feeding the workplace does. Lets face it most mothers are not SAHM and have go go back to work usually 3 months after giving birth. I believe most moms want to breastfeed their babies after all it is forced down their throat that it is the best thing possible for the health of their baby. Just look at any Parenting/Baby magazine the formula ads are disappearing and there are more articles on how breastfeeding is best for you baby. Even formula companies know this. Just go to any formula website most of them state that breastmilk is best for your baby. There used to be formula commercials all the time in the US now they are all gone.
If LaLeche and other organizations want women to breastfeed they need to advocate that companies have day care centers in their offices and nursing breaks for moms, but let’s be real this will never happen.
I am actually surprised that CBB posted this article as it only supports breastfeeding but we need to start supporting all moms even if her reason for not breastfeeding is because “it feels weird”. Not breastfeeding does not in any way make you a bad mother. I wonder if lactivists believe that a drug addict breastfeeding mother is better than a clean non-breastfeeding mother. Believe me, breastfeeding may be the first important decision a mother makes but it is in no way the most important decision she will make in her child’s life.

- HardCandy on August 7th, 2007

I always find it interesting that when people who are pro BF find that someone isn’t as ‘pro’ as them, they are deemed ‘immature’, ‘ignorant’, ‘selfish’, etc. I’m expecting my first and even though I know the benefits of BF and I know that if I don’t BF I’m going to be scrutinized, I still don’t know whether I’m going to (or even want to) BF. So do I do it grudgingly or not at all? Either way I’m going to be judged. I say, people need to learn to be more tolerant. If you are pro BF, good for you. Don’t be so harsh on those who don’t share the same views as you.

- mommytobe on August 7th, 2007

Virginia

Not sure where in the UK you live or when you had your baby, but my husband’s family is British and I nursed all over the UK with no comments. All of our English friends nurse their babies. I don’t really know anybody who uses formula in the UK, but I know tons who do it in the US. I’m just surprised to read your comments, because I always thought that breastfeeding was much more normalized in Europe — I even read somewhere that 95% of all women in Norway (or Denmark, I can’t remember) breastfeed their babies. Just shocked is all, but I guess you get those comments everywhere. By the way, I got the same comments you did from my mother’s friend who were upset I was nursing a six month old and told me it was time to “cut him off”. My mother is very pro-bfing and went nuts on her friend.

- PSB on August 7th, 2007

Katie has the right to do what she wants with her breasts and I say as long as the wee one is healthy then we shouldn’t be so quick to judge. Besides, with all the environmental problems and nasty hormones and chemicals in the food we eat, could that be a factor in a lot of the autism and allergy problems in breast-fed children today because whatever mum eats and is exposed to is passed on to the baby?

Of course advertising baby formula might influence pregnant women and new mums to choose formula over breastfeeding just like we all are influenced by what tampons to buy, what car to buy, what clothes to wear, and even what size we should be!

- Dawna on August 7th, 2007

I am actully very surprised that so many people felt that mother’s that breast feed were the ones who were looked down upon. In my experience it has been exactly the opposite. I think the very first comment hit it right on the head – ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’. Since so many people have such strong opinions on the topic no matter what you do you WILL run in to those on the other side of the fence that feel like they have the right to tell you that you are doing something wrong. (because their opinion is obviously so much better than your own for your own child)

In this case I am not surprised that Jordan is not breastfeeding – I watched an episode of her reality show when she was getting fitted for her wedding dress and she told them not to stick her with a pin when they were altering it there – she said she would not feel it!!! Yikes!

- lori on August 7th, 2007

We’re mammals, our breasts are for feeding children. Why is this weird or disgusting? That just boggles my mind.

I don’t care so much if you choose not to breastfeed, but this attitude people have against BFing is just ridiculous! There’s absolutely nothing taboo about feeding your baby. Comments like Katie don’t do anyone any good.

- shannon on August 7th, 2007

Good for Katie for not being afraid of the lactivist bullies. Her baby will be no different than any breastfed baby…. only she’ll be very blessed with good genes in the looks department!

- LaurieF on August 7th, 2007

Many of the comments in here actually make me more furious than what Katie had to say. Katie is entitled to do what she feels is right for her, regardless of her reasons. You are entitled to breastfeed if that is what you feel is best for you.

No one should have to justify their reasoning to strangers. Frankly, it isn’t any of your business and it isn’t as though Katie (or any other mother who chooses to formula feed) is actually harming their child. I think it’s terrible that you’re calling women with Katie’s views immature, selfish, ignorant, etc… I actually find that to be truly appauling.

Maybe we should try supporting ALL women and stop trying to turn it in to a contest about who is doing what for their baby.

- iheartme on August 7th, 2007

I pumped for 3 months because not only did my baby not have interest in breast feeding I too felt uncomfortable about it.

I plan to have more children and never breast feed, it makes me feel dirty. A lot of women feel that way, there is nothing to be ashamed of.

- silentgirl on August 7th, 2007

I was unable to breast feed my son because he was premature and did not have a good suck reflex. After he came home from the hospital, I tried again, with no luck. I pumped exclusively for 6 weeks and that is what he ate. Unfortunately for me I have high blood pressure and had to be switched back onto the medication I was on previous to my pregnancy. It could not be passed through breast milk because it would be harmful. The lactation consultant at the hospital gave me such grief when I returned the pump, that I left in tears.

I am all for breastfeeding if it is at all possible, but it is a decision, like giving birth is, that the mother must make for herself. Each mother out there has made that call. For every mother who has yet to decide, there should support from all directions. Not judgement.

I found Katie’s statement to be a bit odd. But some women cannot get passed the sexual issue involved where breasts are concerned. I have a few friends who refused to breast feed because they felt their partners were the only ones they wanted “Fondling” them.

- Mom2Ethan on August 7th, 2007

Wavybrains,
I completely agree, that kind of energy would be better used elsewhere. I was lucky with my second child that I worked at an organization that allowed me to sneak off and pump every hour or two. Unfortunately many women are not that lucky if they choose to work and breastfeed.
I also believe that women who choose not to breastfeed shouldn’t be condemned nor judged for making that decision. Its their body and they can choose to use it as a source of food or not. I breastfed both of my children but it didn’t bother me either way if another mom breastfed her baby or not.

- jandksmummy on August 7th, 2007

Well, speaking from someone who also “felt weird” about it, I think the government and everyone else should just stay out of it all. Why should a formula company be refused the right to advertise any more than say a Fast Food company, or a snack food company or whatever. I find the thought of formula ads being banned crazy, just like I found the thought of NYC banning formula samples from new mom’s going home bags. A woman’s choice is a woman’s choice…and everyone should have that choice and government shouldn’t push one over the other. And people need to stop being so judgemental about it, also. Breastfeeding does not make you a better mom than one who bottle feeds, no matter the reason why she chose to do that.

Both of my sons were bottlefed from the first moment. There was nothing wrong with me other than I didn’t feel comfortable with doing it. Both of my boys are extremely healthy, they have no allergies, they don’t suffer from recurring colds, they don’t suffer from ADHD, they aren’t obese, they didn’t have colic, I think they had 2 ear infections between them, the only thing they suffered from was jaundice due to an ABO incompatibility. Both are on the Honor Roll in their middle school and are your typical pre-teen boys.

As opposed to my two nieces and a nephew. One niece and nephew were breastfed for 6 months. They both suffer from ADHD, allergies, asthma, and my nephew suffered 4-6 strep throat infections a winter until recently having his tonsils removed. And my littlest niece, due to pressure from others, was fed breastmilk from a bottle for over a year. And she was constantly at the doctor for some reason or the other.

I’m an advocate of offering ALL choices and letting a woman chose what is best for HER and HER baby! Government, family and friends just need to STAY OUT OF IT!

- Carol S on August 7th, 2007

I am a proud breastfeeding mother! My son is 16 months and nursing strong. Her comments about it were very strange to me.

- Natasha on August 7th, 2007

I just think some people don’t like Katie’s comments.I don’t think it has nothing to do with breastfeeding or not.The way she said it made it seem like it’s something gross.She may have not meant it to sound like that but it did.

- Renee on August 7th, 2007

My first instinct upon seeing this was not about breastfeeding . . . it was the comment on the second photo: “I love her even if she is a ginge.” To me, that statement comes off sounding like Katie was disappointed about her perfectly-healthy baby having red hair. Poor Princess Tiaamii may read that comment one day and I expect that her feelings will be hurt.

- Karey on August 7th, 2007

Even the poorest quality breastmilk is better than the best formula. It is too bad she feels this way. I cannot relate in the slightest.

- sarawara on August 7th, 2007

I don’t know much about her, but it seems like she is very involved with her son who has special needs, so maybe that has something to do with it also.

- Mousie on August 7th, 2007

everyone is entitled to their own opinion. i bf for 5 months and felt good about it but it was a personal decision. of course, there were people who thought i should have gone longer but TO ME it felt like the right time to stop. katie is certainly entitled to make her own choices regarding her daughter. i never realized how emotional this subject was until my child was born – of course, i get harrassed for No longer bf’ing and my neighbor, who’s daughter is 16 months, gets harrassed for still bf’ing. you can’t win. just make sure your comfortable and your child is healthy.

- brannon on August 7th, 2007

sarawara, I found that comment rude, like ‘My stuff’s better than yours.’ If you’re breastfeeding, good for you. But don’t reach for ways to slam formula-feeding moms.

- Tracey1974 on August 7th, 2007

I personally would like to see the practice of giving babies sugar water in a little bottle with nipple on it after birth come to an end. I saw a nurse giving my son one and I immediately made her stop!
WHY do they do that?

Dont they care about triggering diabetes?

(Im very interested in what people say in reply to this)

- preesi on August 7th, 2007

ok so if she said i was not able to breast feed and then found out about these great disposable premixed bottles that are so handy
NO ONE would have a problem but because she said she didn’t want to everyone is allover her for being an awful mother and depriving her child

- Tate on August 7th, 2007

I’ve never been a fan of Katie Price, as I find her to be an attention seeker and she was probably paid money by a formula company to do that shoot.

But to those who say she is a bad mother, you have to give her a lot of credit for one thing. She seems to be loving to her son Harvey, and despite his problems she has always taken him out in public and treated him the same as her other kids. There are other celebrities that do not do this with their disabled kids.

Considering how much Katie is all about glamour and body image, I’d have not expected her to do that. She really rose to the occasion with Harvey.

- Patty on August 7th, 2007

sarawara you have no problem with a baby being feed with a drug addicts milk this is very interesting to me

- Whitney on August 7th, 2007

Preesi -

In response to your comment, I would say that I hope you are being sarcastic.
While Type 2 diabetes may have some dietary connections, Type 1 diabetes (formerly known as juvenile diabetes) cannot be caused my drinking ‘sugar water’. It is an autoimmune disorder.

- Sara on August 7th, 2007

Who knows if after several breast-enlargement operations Jordan would have even been able to breastfeed. That might be one of the reasons why she decided against it.

About her statements, that she’d “find the whole idea of a baby drinking from me strange” and “there is just one person who can handle my breasts” (something like that she said, that her breasts are reserved for her hubby and off limits for her baby) – well, if she really feels that way… I could never relate to that, but it’s her body and her baby.

Of course I don’t know Jordan, but she does have a certain public image, which she seems very eager to protect. Maybe her statements about breastfeeding were really just for publicity, rather than the honest truth. She definitely makes sure that people don’t stop talking about her. Who knows what’s the truth behind all these stories?

But I’m sure that she loves her children.

- pink.lioness on August 7th, 2007

I tried breast feeding all 4 of my kids and it didn’t work out. They’re all fine and beautiful. Some people here think they’re comments are the opinion of everyone else. They don’t want to hear anything else. I’d like to hear them tell these celebrities what they think about what they wear, where they take their kids, and how they act. I’ll just bet if they ever met one, they would shut up and kiss some butt!!! It’s not up to anyone but them what they choose.

- jen on August 7th, 2007

@preesi: Unfortunately I forgot the reason why they gave sugar water in hospital. But I guess you don´t have to worry about diabetes.

BTT: This whole discussion is ridiculous. Today breast milk is believed to be the best for babies. Until somebody declares formula milk to be better, like it happened in the mid eighties (at least in europe) because of environmental pollution and so on (Chernobyl´s core melt accident in 1986…). At that time doctors recommended to feed formula milk from birth. And you won´t believe me, but today there are really 21-years old in the best of health… Ha Ha!

- Miu on August 7th, 2007

I think Katie Price is clearly ignorant and immature and not willing to sacrifice for her child.

Sad.

- yogadaisy on August 7th, 2007

I don’t have any children, but my family is very large. Out of the last five children born, all were attempted to be nursed and only one succeeded at it. There were three different moms who tries and the babies (my nieces and nephews) just didn’t seem to take to it. I know that people say it’s best for the baby and everything, but when you have a new mom who’s always crying and feeling bad because she can’t nurse, lactation bullies are the LAST thing you need. Sometimes babies just don’t want to nurse and that’s not the moms’ fault.

- Cait on August 7th, 2007

I’m defintley no Katie fan, but just because she doesn’t wanna breastfeed doesn’t make her a bad mom. I wasn’t breastfed and I turned out fine, same for my brother. For me personally I believe in breastfeeding, but it’s a personal choice and doesn’t make someone wrong if they choose not to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is a great thing, but if a mother decides not too, it’s not the end of the world and their children will still turn out fine in life.

- gabriella on August 7th, 2007

Carol S –

Like I said in my other post, I am all for people FF if they want to and all for companies advertising formula, but if you can’t see how pushing formula on new moms — especially ones who have already chosen to breastfeed — is wrong, then I don’t know what to say to you.

I was bfing when I left the hospital and had meetings with their own crazy lactation consultant. I also had the hospital nurses give my son formula if he was hungry in the nursery in the middle of the night – I am not anti-formula. However, I think pushing formula on new moms is subversive. For a hospital, a place that is supposed to be promoting optimal health, to do this is really disgusting. Not because formula is disgusting, but because they are obviously taking a payoff from these formula companies to push the formula on women. At the same time, they send in lacto-nazis to terrorize new moms. It’s a mixed message. If the medical world is trying to encourage breastfeeding, then hospitals shouldn’t be swayed by money. They forced me to take the bag home with me, knowing I was not formula feeding. If I had been less stubborn and pushed through the initial pain of bfing, I may have given up and used the formula.

If they know you are not planning on breastfeeding, then they should give you all the formula info and samples you/they want, but the hospital is the last place to be taking bribes, especially when it comes to the health of babies IMO.

- PSB on August 7th, 2007

preesi, sugar water, are you serious?? That is a very outdated idea. Geez, I haven’t heard anybody give sugar water since hearing about my grandmother giving it and I am 37 yrs old! Besides, diabetes is not solely caused by eating or drinking too much sugar!

whomever said “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” is right!

- tink1217 on August 7th, 2007

Carrie, it becomes our business when she willingly discusses it with the press, and, therefore, the public. If she wanted it to be a private matter then she wouldn’t be discussing it.

- Kim on August 7th, 2007

And why do we care about what Katie says again? Refresh my memory again..

- Natalie S. on August 7th, 2007

At the hospital when I gave birth they had separate bags sent home for those who chose to breastfeed and those who chose to bottlefeed. Babies were brought at night for feeding or babies could room in with mom. Lactation consultants were also available. If she chose not to breastfeed that’s her decision, but maybe it could have been stated better (or not at all.)

- Loralee on August 7th, 2007

Natalie- I agree! It doesnt suprise me about Katie though. I personally think every mom should try it at least to give the baby the colostrum. I thought nursing was weird before I nursed, but lo and behold I nursed my daughter to when she self weaned at 39 months. Wouldnt change a thing!

p.s.I love how Jillian Barberie-Reynolds has really spoken so positively about breastfeeding!

- dancingmom on August 7th, 2007

My hospital had two separate bags, one for Breast feeding moms, and one for FF moms. They also brought the baby to mom to nurse if you sent the baby to the nursery. Never forced me to FF baby, and didn’t send me home with any formula.

I have FF and breast fed, it is all a personal decision for mom.

- Colleen on August 7th, 2007

How eaxctly do you trigger diabetes with sugar water? That is the silliest thing I have ever heard. I am a Type 1 diabetic, have been since I was three years old. My body does not produce insulin through no fault of my own. I did not get diabetes from drinking or eating too much sugar as a child. Type 1 diabetes is an auto immune disease that results in the permanent destruction of insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. Please be better informed ladies.

- lizzielui on August 7th, 2007

I think she has every right to voice her opinions on breastfeeding. It doesn’t appeal to everyone. I think it’s disturbing that so many people have a problem with a woman not breastfeeding but they have no problem with circumcizing boys in the U.S. Giving formula to a baby doesn’t harm them but circumsizing boys literally scars them for life.

- Becks on August 7th, 2007

if breastmilk is free, nutritious, full of disease-fighting antibodies & immunity-boosting yummies & promotes breast health & bonding, why wouldn’t you want to do it? i just can’t relate to that mindset at all. i come from a long line of breastfeeding mothers, in fact nobody in my lineage has ever used formula. my son, at 9 months old, shows no sign of weaning & tht is perfectly fine with me. someone commented in the previous katie price post that all of these people claim that babies turn out “fine” when formula-fed, but that we owe our children more than just “fine”. we owe our babies the best of ourselves. you can’t feed your baby anything better than breastmilk. it’s science, for pete’s sake!

- yo momma on August 8th, 2007

I am extremely pro-bfing, but I don’t think that Katie should be criticized because of her decision. The fact of the matter is, to some women, bfing (or the idea of it) DOES feel/seem weird.
I also don’t think that there is anything wrong with her using disposable bottles and nipples. Don’t get me wrong, I strongly believe in recyling and helping the Earth by not polluting it with so much garabage. However, keep in mind that Katie has a 5-year-old son with disabilities. From what I have read, it is obvious that caring for him is quite time-consuming, not to mention hard work. Therefore, I am guessing that Harvey’s special needs may be one of the main reasons she chose to use disposable bottles and nipples.

- Annoynomus on August 8th, 2007

I think the issue here is essentially education. Women need to be aware of their options and there is a lot of info out there. I definitely think there was some product placement in the Katie/Tiaammi interviews and photos. But honestly, if seeing a celebrity bottle feed decides if you will, THAT is what is sad to me. They are just people.

The comments that really annoy me every time I see them on this site are how ‘selfish’ or ‘immature’ or ‘ignorant’ mothers who bottle feed are. Or how our bodies are ‘made to do it’ and ‘any woman can if she tries’. Anyone who thinks a mother doesn’t have a ‘good enough’ reason not to breastfeed – IT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. No one should feel the need to justify their decision to breastfeed or not to ANYONE. Ramming your opinion or experience down someone’s throat helps NO ONE. I just genuinely don’t understand why people can’t just do what they want for themselves and their babies and then support other mothers doing what they want for themselves and their babies.

Between breast vs bottle, vaginal vs c-section birth and the constant pick pick pick in the comments lately, I have nearly given up reading them.

- Belle on August 8th, 2007

It’s ALL from Barbara Walters saying a woman on a plane who was sitting next to her was nursing her baby and she felt”uneasy”and told a flight attendent!
Stop and liberate yourself Katie you can do it you are strong!!!
I really admire Katie for her parenting with Harvey and all the strain it must pose!

- Shelly on August 8th, 2007

For all you lactavists, Have to vent here because this attitude had a serious effect on me. I am in no way saying this is the reason for Jordan but sexual abuse victims usualy have a problem with breastfeeding. They have issues with with pure innocent things touching their breasts. take it from someone who knows. i tried I really did with my first but he was so big and i just didnt produce enough milk so i had to convert to bottlefeeding. my midwives and all the healthvisitors around me made me feel like i was a terrible mother and a failure. and you know what, i felt like it. i really did want to succeed, more for the bonding side than anything. i am sorry but i dont buy into this bf babies grow up sickly and mortally obese cr=p after all i was bf and i am perfectly fine. a little overwieght but more to do with my love of chocolate than what milk i had 20 years ago! because of this “breast is best” culture i suffered with bad post natal deppression. how dare i be a mum when i am soooo selfish(!) to not breast feed. So for all you mothers out their, mind your own business before you emotionally damage a woman for her choice.

- Anon on August 8th, 2007

Hi live in the UK, work in breastfeeding policy and support but am originally from the US.

1. There is a link between formula adds and not breastfeeding – there is evidence and studies to back this up.

2. In the UK women get a years maternity leave – usually employer pays for 6 months and Government gives you $200 a week to stay home as well until your baby is a year. While I agree the FMLA is a mess in the US with many women still not getting leave or paid leave and of course if you have to go back at 4 or 6 weeks post partum it is harder to breastfeed, but that is not the sole reason alone.

My worry is that among young girls, many want to be like Katie. Just yesterday I was on a bus and 2 kids age 14 ish were reading it. One girl said to the other. Ooh I wouldn’t want to do that either, it’s sick. Ya, I believe Katie, it is kinda gross…

Again evidence shows that impressions/beliefs around breastfeeding are formed early and often stay with people. That is why there is work being done in England and Canada to teach children in schools about nursing!

BTW I may work in breastfeeding, but my SIL only nursed for 4 weeks and she said of everyone I was the most supportive. At the end of the day, she didn’t want to do it, but wanted to give her baby a good month of it (antibodies). She said her own mom who is very anti nursing more than 12 weeks was the one who gave her the hardest time, and us SIL’s who nurse for 12-24 months all supported her.

The other day I overheard my SIL say this to a friend who was pregnant.
I’ll be totally honest, breastfeeding isn’t for me and I didn’t want to do it. I learned about why it is important in classes and said to myself, if I can’t get past my own feelings to at least give it a month, then I shoudln’t be a mom. I did it every 2-3 hours for a month. I never really changed my view. I didn’t want to do it in public so didn’t and I didn’t want to do it for a long time. But in a month I gave him some antibodies and protection against diabeties, cancer, allergies and skin conditions. I guess that’s being a mother, I put him ahead of me.

Katie

- Katie on August 8th, 2007

I live in the UK. It is definately NOT a breastfeeding friendly society.
Added to which, the importance of banning formula adverts is because so many UK parents believe that formula is ‘the same’ as breastmilk. Which it clearly isn’t.
The WHO Formula advertising code also bans formula tins from carrying statements like ‘Now even closer to breastmilk’ because it’s not the same and it never will be. And it does women and babies a disservice to imply that it is as good.
I feel for anyone who wanted to breastfeed and was unable, but you can’t sugarcoat the facts. 30% of children in this country will never see a drop of breastmilk. There’s an extremely strong formula feeding bias. Everyone’s so busy shouting about their right to formula feed and no-one is acknowledging a baby’s right to the food that was biologically designed for them.

- Bel on August 8th, 2007

her comments are just odd and immature to me. whatever. hasn’t she posed nude before?

why do people get so bent out of shape when the established medical FACT that formula feeding is a nutritionally inferior way of feeding a baby is mentioned?

- Linda on August 8th, 2007

She can do what she wants and feels comfortable with. But her baby doesn’t look too healthy, or is it just me?

- Valérie on August 8th, 2007

I think Katie’s comments about breastfeeding were odd, but only in that they are different from my opinion. Still, I would not tell her that she shouldn’t feel the way she feels, and her decision not to breastfeed is just that: HER decision. I think this is a very hot topic amongst mothers everywhere. I can’t believe that Britain has a law forbidding advertisement of formula for babies under 6 months. Why does the government need to be involved in every mother’s personal choice whether or not to breastfeed their infant? Ugh!

- Mimi on August 8th, 2007

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE. IM TALKING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NEGATIVE TOWARDS KATIES COMMENTS. ITS HER CHOCIE WHAT SHE DOES. IT REALY MAKES ME ANGRY BECAUSE SHE IS MY IDOL AND I LOVE HER TO BITS. WITH OUT HER I PROBLEY WOULDNT HAVE A LIFE. EVERYONE THAT READS THIS PROBLEY THINKS IM SAD. IM USED TO HEARING THAT FROM PEOPLE BUT I REALY DONT CARE. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU THINK SHE IMMARTUE AND ARAGONT. JUST LIKE YOU SHE HAS AN OPINION OF HER OWN MIND. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING IF SHE WANTED TO BREASTFEED YOU WOULD ALL LOVE HER. WELL THATS NOT TRUE IS IT SO SHUT UP STOP WRITING SHIT ABOUT HER AND GET A LIFE. YOU COULD ALL THINK THE SAME ABOUT ME BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I DO ACTUALLT HAVE A FUN LIFE AND I ENJOY IN MY SPARE TIME WRITING GOOD STUFF TEACHING PEOPEL ABOUT KATIE EG MY FRIENDS AND GOING TO BOOK SIGNINGS AND BEING SOCIABLE MAYBE YOU SHOULD BY HER BOOKS WATCH HER SHOWS AND RESEARCH BEFORE YOU START JUDGING. ACTUALLY I LOVED HER BEFORE SHE EVEN HAD A BOOK AND BEFORE SHE WENT IN THE JUNGLE I JUST LOVED HER WHOLE IMAGE SO I PROBLEY KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT HER THEN YOU THINK AND NOT PRES STUFF ITS ALL FROM HER OLD DOCUMENTRIES ECT I LOVE YOU KATIEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

- LUCY CHARLTON on August 8th, 2007

I honestly believe that if the pro-bf’ing camp were to let up a bit, MORE moms would opt for bf’ing. I dealt with two very aggressive LC’s after the birth of my daughter and it turned me off. Even on boards like this, when I read posts from people saying that the worst breastmilk is better than the best formula, it just makes me mad; it doesn’t give me positive feelings about giving bf’ing another try when I have my second child this fall. Although I think some of them are well-meaning, most of the pro-bf’ing posters I’ve seen and heard comes off as pushy bullies who feel superior.

- Tori-Ann on August 8th, 2007

Just stating a fact Tracey1974. Breastmilk is superior. I’m sorry if that offends you or anyone else; I didn’t mean it to be rude.

But I come from a medical background and education, and the WHO, FDA, and every major health organization can do nothing to dispute the fact that breastmilk contains optimal nutrition, antibodies, and immunoglobins for infants. Neither I nor anyone else can do anything to change that fact.

- sarawara on August 8th, 2007

I am not going against Katie for saying she feels funny to breastfeed her new baby girl, as I think I know where she is coming from. Her breasts are huge! It would be really odd to have a baby feed from them as they don’t look like natural breasts. Thats my interpretation anyway. In regards to formula advertising, I don’t mind it myself. On the tins it says breastmilk is always best for baby, that has never been disputed. I fed my prem son for 7 months until I found he really wasn’t gaining enough weight no matter how much I fed him or what methods I used, so I weaned him onto formula and he has been fine ever since. I do miss the feeding now though, and I never thought I would seeing at times I’d be so tired and he would stay on so long and to add to it the thought he wasn’t getting enough, really drained me and turned me off a little. I now miss it, and he doesn’t even go for my chest like a hungry little monkey anymore, just the bottle.

- Kim on August 8th, 2007

Apparently Sugar Water is given for Pain Relief after painful procedures:
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=18947

BTW-Sugar Water can cause Hypoglycemia in babies:
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJulAug97p107.html

- preesi on August 8th, 2007

Katie has a right to say what she feels for HER, It doesn’t sound like she is making judgements for anyone else, thats just how she feels about HER breastfeeding. I don’t think she should be criticized for feeling that way. I don’t believe that breastfeeding is for everyone and if it isn’t for you it should be your choice and you shouldn’t be criticized for it.

- Diana on August 8th, 2007

The real issue is: when poor mothers use formula, they often dilute it to make it last longer. This is especially true in impoverished nations. I imagine those organizations promoting breast feeding for the welfare of the child are concerned that this sets an example for women who are unaware of the benefits. Formula companies have been known to give free samples in order to promote their product in poor countries, where clean water is scare. This is a complicated issue, much more far reaching than whether or not, a celebrity nurses her child. IMO, feeding a baby that young in that position doesn’t seem very “cuddling” either. But, I understand this woman is known for her tenderness towards her children…hm.

- brookefan on August 8th, 2007

Preesi, Hypoglycemia is not diabetes. Hypoglycemia occurs when the body’s glucose level is too low as a result of not enough food or too much insulin. Yes, the article that you provided suggests that giving a baby sugar water can cause elevated levels of insulin to be released to the body thus making the baby hypoglycemic and in need of extra sugar or glucose. However, that is NOT diabetes and is not related to Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes in any way. Anyone can become hypoglycemic if they skip meals throughout the day, however, is does not mean that you are diabetic. Constant HYPERglycemia, in which there are high levels of glucose in the body regularly with out any insulin to counter it suggests diabetes.

On a side note, people need to be aware that it is really a mother’s choice about whether or not to breastfeed and that they have a right to do so without the harsh criticism of others. There was a woman in NY whose baby died because the mother was guilted into continuing to try and breastfeed her child even though her breast were not producing any milk or nutrients. The baby eventually starved to death. There are various reason why people make the decisions that they do for their children and we all need to respect that. If Katie doesn’t want to breastfeed then she doesn’t want to breastfeed. Her child, her body, her choice. I can’t even imagine having to explain to complete strangers why I chose not to breastfeed my children. I don’t owe anyone an explanation or a rundown of my medical history except my little ones if they feel the need to ask me some day. A woman in a store once tried to lecture me about not breastfeeding my oldest and I let her have it. THE NERVE!! Do not approach me or attack with your opinions. I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but as mothers we really should be more supportive of one another and not go into attack mode and spew out harsh judgements every time someone chooses a different path for THEIR children.

- lizzielui on August 8th, 2007

I don’t like her comments either. They sound selfish and immature, but who knows maybe they were taken out of context.

I don’t think they government should say that formula advertising should be banned…government should have a limited roll in telling people what they can and can’t do when it is something like this…some women can’t/won’t breastfeed and that is fine. Different strokes for different folks. But breastfeeding is best for them for sure! I am still breastfeeding my daughter at 15 months(I think I may have to go to college with her one day!! I don’t think she will ever stop!! )I breastfed her exclusively the first year while pumping at work b/c I was fortunate enough to have an understanding boss. But people do think I am weird b/c she is still nursing. I think it is a d*mned if you do, d*mned if you don’t kind of world myself!!

- DWS on August 8th, 2007

I find that the most staunch pro bf’ers use it as a way to intimidate ff’ing moms. If they were THAT confident in their own mothering, they wouldn’t feel the need to attack other moms the way they do. If you CAN breastfeed, well GOOD FOR YOU! But in the end, your child will be no more healthy, smart, happy (whatever) than anyone else’s, so don’t try to pull this “I’m better than you” crap. It’s really getting old.

- GailS on August 8th, 2007

Just to see what kind of caring mother she is, read this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=473978&in_page_id=1773
I mean, the baby gilr is five weeks old, at that stage i was still watching them breathing when sleeping!

- stekill on August 8th, 2007

stekill, are you telling me you didn’t go out at all when your child was a baby? What kind of existence is that? When my son was 5 days old, we left him in the care of his grandparents and went out for lunch and shopping. I think you’re just upset by her decision not to breastfeed and using this as an indirect swipe. If she was breastfeeding, you would probably have NO problems with her. Grow up people and quit being so petty.

- JTsMom on August 8th, 2007

I’m not at all surprised about her views on breastfeeding, and agree that it’s a personal choice that we have no right dictating for each other.

Katie Price has had a number of breast implants, she’s been a glamour model, she’s ogled by men wherever she goes — she’s going to have a complicated psychological definition of what’s appropriate and what’s not for her child. Maybe she feels the same way about breastfeeding her child as I would about breastfeeding at Stringfellow’s.

She clearly adores her kids. Good enough for me.

- Nina on August 8th, 2007

how sad . i hope that cute baby never reads some of the quips her mother says.

it is every womans choice to breastfeed or not. but it is every baby’s RIGHT to breastfeed.

formula IS inferior to breastmilk. it has been proven time and time again.

you can debate all you want, but as long as you are confident in your choice and feel it is the very best choice why get offended?

- sdurdin on August 8th, 2007

why the hoopla? breastfeeding or bottle feeding is a personal choice. I have 3 grown children who were all bottle fed with formula. They are fine! Isn’t it silly that in the UK they don’t advertise baby formula, but they advertise liquor and cigarettes!!!!People aren’t ignorant, it’s a choice!

- jill on August 8th, 2007

Frankly, it boggles my mind that women think whether to breastfeed or not is just a personal choice, like picking out a nursery theme or something. Why wouldn’t you do the absolute best for your baby? The fact that you want your body to yourself or your husband is NOT a valid reason, or if it makes you feel squeamish. You choose to have a baby, you should also make the commitment to do the best you can for your baby. At least women should try earnestly to breastfeed. It is so far superior to formula.

I breastfeed each of my babies for 9 months and neither had to see the doctor at all during that time or for a long time after, in fact they have never been in for a sick visit. What about the fact that breastfeeding actually makes your baby more beautiful? Would that be a good enough reason for some mothers, since health is not? Yes, breastfeeding builds a more beautiful palate and facial bone structure because the baby has to work hard for their meal and exercise many muscles.

I just can’t believe everyone bothers to post “it’s her choice” over and over again and few people seem to think you owe it to your baby to at least try. My breasts are my #1 erogenous zone and yet I was willing (as was my husband) to put them into their practical use for 9 months and do what was best for my babies. It’s not “weird”.
Anyone who says that has clearly not given breastfeeding a chance and was unable to overcome their hangups for long enough to experience how natural and beautiful it is. What a shame.

- Sarah on August 8th, 2007

Like it is so much better to give your children milk from a COW!

Also, her comments on “ginger babies” are really weird to me. She seems horribly vain.

- tara on August 8th, 2007

*Sigh*

When people get behind their computers, they think they are completely right and everyone else is wrong.

To all those who are bashing Katie for HER choice:

Who gave you the right to call her ignorant, uneducated, selfish and stupid? I would like to see you in her shoes. What if she is reading this? How would you feel if someone was bashing the way you were raising your child. We all have our own ways of doing things. We may not agree, but please be respectful! There are so many circumstances that can affect a persons decision, and one reason does not trump another. My cousin, who’s mother passed away when he was 13 days old, was formula fed from the age of 6 days old and he is the most healthiest and smartest child. He’s only 2 and the doctors have put his language and cognitive responses at the level of a 6 year old. Now tell me that formula makes unhealthy and stunted children.

Again,I thought CBB was being more stringent on their comments, but I guess I was wrong. Calling Katie Price ignorant, uneducated, selfish…personally I find THOSE comments to be ignorant, uneducated, selfish, rude and just plain offensive.

I’m a little disappointed with CBB.

Sarah’s note: Actually, we are being very tight with these comments (I have edited quite a few before publishing if they were clearly nasty, which we don’t allow), but luckily most everyone has followed our discussion rules and not name-called, and expressed their points as best they could. If they said they felt Katie was immature or seemed ignorant in her comments, they said ‘I think’ or ‘I feel,’ making clear it was their own personal opinion of what she said and they were not calling her that.

I apologize if you are disappointed — if anyone has specific comments they are upset with, feel free to send me an email.

- Devon on August 8th, 2007

YoMomma– you said what I wanted to say, thanks

Pressi- they used to give sugar water to hypoglycemic newborns (often infants of diabetic mother’s who’s insulin levels are affected by the diabetic effects through the placenta and suffer a glucose drop immed. after delivery)– now we offer breastmilk or formula, or in rare cases of premature infants or babies with extreme hypoglymecia start an IV with a dextrose solution.

Breastmilk is better than formula in most (NOT ALL) cases, thoses saying that autism/allergies are caused by toxins passed through breastmilk are grossly inaccurate and that thinking is dangerous to the future of breastfeeding. Formula is made from the cheapest oils and sugars available and is recalled quite frequently for contamination and other dangerous problems. I wouldnt want to risk that if I didnt have to.

- mariposa on August 8th, 2007

oh my gosh!! katie price said she does not breastfeed, i will not breastfeed now!!! lol, come on people, it’s her choice, i believe children are happy and healthy either way, yes breast milk is the best, obviously, but some women cant do it, or they are not comfortable doing it.

- LENA on August 8th, 2007

did anyone watch meet the barkers with shanna moakler and travis barker?
when she was pregnant in the second series she was in a baby shop and was offered a breast pump from the sales assistant, but she came out with the comment “oh no mama dosen’t breastfeed at all” so this is another person who does not want to breastfeed, did she get this much attention for being honest? I’m from the uk and brestfeeding does not appeal to me in the slightest, my mother could not breastfeed me due to a complicated c section birth (although she said she did intend to)and i’m fine, my friend has just given birth and whilst pregnant she said all along she would not breastfeed as as soon as her beautiful baby girl was born she took to it straight away, suprising everyone!, everyone has preferences weather it’s optional (katie price shanna moakler) or out of their control (my mother)people should not be judged for THEIR choice, we should be trying to get better options for working mothers in the uk longer time off, better support for going back to work instead of arguing over breastfeeding

- katie on August 8th, 2007

I think breastfeeding is best but I sure am not going to give anyone a hard time that I see bottle feeding their baby. I have just one question – do you think mothers complained about breastfeeding 100 years ago or more when there was no formula? Or did they just accept it as part of being a woman & nurturing their baby??

- Lynn on August 8th, 2007

Lizzie? My late sister was diabetic and so I KNOW what diabetes is and everything. That is exactly why I was concerned that feeding sugarwater to my son would trigger diabetes…
Unless we can pinpoint what TRULY triggers it in youth, all ideas are open!
From that one article I posted, it seems that they give sugarwater AFTER painful procedures and maybe they had just circumcized my son…

I still do not agree with it…

In the case of Katie?
I believe that ALL mothers should at least TRY to breast feed! It IS best and I wished I would have had a lactation consultant or a UNloony mother to help me, but I couldnt get him to latch on and gave up. I just dont understand WHY you wouldnt TRY? I believe that SOY in formula is harmful to baby boys.
I have seen Katie “get away” with saying some weird things. Like, Newborns are ugly and now THIS…
Me thinks Katie should stop talking to the press!

BTW NO one is chastizing women who COULDNT breast feed, nor is this a Breast vs Bottle debate. Its a debate about NOT EVEN TRYING something that is KNOWN to be BEST for baby…

- preesi on August 8th, 2007

i can’t believe anyone would complain about the CBB comment policy. it always seem to me like the moderators err on the side of placating the bottle feeders.

all these *it’s her choice* comments are rubbish anyway. i mean, DUH. everyone knows it’s her choice. what’s being forgotten here is that breastfeeding is in the best interest of the BABY.

- Linda on August 8th, 2007

“Yes, breastfeeding builds a more beautiful palate and facial bone structure because the baby has to work hard for their meal and exercise many muscles.”

sarah, are you kidding?!

let’s be real now. i don’t know about the aesthetic benefits of bf’ing. that seems a bit ridiculous to me. I’ll agree with the nutritional aspects of bf’ing ,but this last part was OTT.

- sinclair on August 8th, 2007

Mercy is all I have to say. Again, Type 1 Diabetes is not TRIGGERED. If excessive sugar in children triggered diabetes then the majority of kids in the US would have it. It is an auto immune deficiency which is sometimes genetic.

- lizzielui on August 8th, 2007

Katie-
I recall Shanna Moakler’s comment and that it was talked about QUITE a bit here as well, granted, there weren’t 100+ posts about it but quite a few expressed their thoughts about Shanna not even trying to breastfeed. What Katie has done is on a larger scale, as she is basically advertising for formula, and makes breastfeeding sounds wierd.

- mariposa on August 8th, 2007

How a mother feeds her child is her decision and no-one should try to make her to feel guilty about it. Mothers do, however, have a right to accurate information free from commercial pressure.

In the UK a government survey has found 90% of women who stopped breastfeeding before their child was 6 months old said they wanted to breastfeed for longer. In Sweden 98% of mothers initiate breastfeeding, but in the UK only 76% and rates fall off rapidly. The difference is not biological, it is cultural and political.

Baby Milk Action wants every mother to be able to say she breastfed as long as she wanted by ensuring there is adequate support. For mothers who use formula, for whatever reason, we want to see safer formula and better instructions on labels to reduce the risks.

All UK health worker and mother support organisations are calling for the UK law to be brought into line with international baby milk marketing standards and for their to be greater support for breastfeeding. See:
http://www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk/

For links to information from UNICEF and the Food Standards Agency on how to make formula feeding safer and other information on this story, see:
http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2007/08/learning-from-jordan.html

- Mike Brady on August 8th, 2007

Lizzie? What TRIGGERS that AUTO IMMUNE RESPONSE? Unless YOU know what does, and no one does actually. ANY and ALL speculations are OPEN! (For instance: Strep Throat can trigger Psoriasis)

In nature, bottles of highly concentrated sugar water do not grow on trees and certainly dont grow on trees with a silicone nipple attached saying, “FEED TO YOUR BABY”!

Also, I disagree, American children are getting diabetes at alarming rates BECAUSE of our HIGH sugar/Carb, High Fat, Sedentary diets…

Sarah’s note: Once Lizzie responds (if she wants to), if you guys want to continue this convo, please email each other. It’s too far off topic. Thanks.

- preesi on August 8th, 2007

Sarah said: “Yes, breastfeeding builds a more beautiful palate and facial bone structure because the baby has to work hard for their meal and exercise many muscles.”

Sarah, are you kidding me?? That’s by far, one of the silliest arguments I have EVER heard in my life. I am a part-time model (I’m also 3rd year pre-med) and part of the reason I was taken on by my agency is they said I have high cheekbones and other exceptional facial features…. big blue eyes, full lips, etc. (no, not bragging!… just making a point). And guess what, I was a formula fed baby (*gasp*). And no, I’m not overweight, don’t have asthma, allergies, mental problems, cavities… and even though my mom fed me with a bottle, I still love her dearly and we’re the best of friends.

I COMPLETELY support breastfeeding and plan to do it myself someday, but when I saw your comment, I HAD to respond.

- Michelle on August 8th, 2007

mariposa at Aug 8, 2007 12:06:50 PM –

Sorry, I must say that you are wrong. The jury is still out on the correlation between breast feeding and autism. The fact is scientists are not sure how the body processes toxins (plastics and mercury). There is a prominent UCSF (a leading medical research university) researcher who is investigating toxins that pass through breast milk. There is no “baseline” of acceptable levels of many plastics and other bio-chemical compounds, so you cannot openly dismiss theories still under investigation by legitimate scientists. But in the meantime, breastfeeding still has its benefits. (But formula is hardly poison either.)

- m on August 8th, 2007

Ironic that when Britney drove with her baby on her lap nobody jumped to her defence as a “choice” not to put her baby in a carseat. *Our* family never used carseats & we all turned out fine, why would I consider using one? Besides it’s inconvient to have to put a baby in one. So what if it’s a scientific FACT that carseats are safer & all the goverments & medical agencies of the world support it. It’s MY choice & everyone shold support my choice.

I just don’t get how Katie’s choice(along with her comments) about you breastfeeding are any different. When you are a celebrity make a public statement on any subject, then you should be prepared to take the heat. I think Tom Cruise learn that lesson.

The facts are clear, breastmilk is the biological norm-it’s the standard. Anything other than breastmilk is a risk. If breastfeeding didn’t work 95% of the time then humans wouldn’t be here. For the 5% of the time breastfeeding is not physically possible it is a blessing we have an alternative. Only 11.3% of babies in the US being breastfed at 6 months-88.7% are not. If you take away the 5% that actually can’t physically breastfeed(either mom or baby) then 83.7% of moms are choosing to give their babies an inferior substance.

Breastfeeding is clearly NOT the choice of the vast majority. So I just don’t know how all these moms that choose to FF are getting bullied & made to feel guilty by the very small number of breastfeeding moms.

- andi on August 8th, 2007

PSB – I highly doubt they would have held you hostage in the hospital or not let you take your baby home, without taking the bag. If you don’t want the formula, then it’s simple…throw it out or hey, donate it to a woman’s shelter where there may be a mother there who could use it. What about those FF mothers who have to go home with a bag full of breastfeeing equipment they can’t use?

Linda – people “get bent out of shape” because of people who begin to confuse the choice, with whether a person is a good parent or not, based solely on that choice. You aren’t any better of a mother than I am just because of how I chose to feed MY babies! My babies are healthy and loved and isn’t that really the only goal any of us should have? Again, my two sisters kids were all breastfed and they are 3 of the sickest kids I know.

Thank you Gail S. You said that well!

Sarah – people say it is a mother’s choice because well…it is! It was MY choice to formula feed…and it was YOUR choice to Breastfeed. And you know what…my kids are healthy, too! AND beautiful. And smart on top of that!

And back to Linda…personally I find that CBB actually leans towards the breastfeeding moms. You find very little support in the way of Formula Feeding on here. Certainly never seen anyone asked for pictures of moms formula feeding their babies. As for what’s best for baby…alot of things could be argued as to what is best for baby, but that doesn’t always mean it happens or that if it doesn’t, a child is doomed for life.

I am not a victim of child abuse, I’m not a drug addict, I’m not some porno star who is obsessed with her body, or some sexual creature who wants to save her boobs for her husband, I’m just an average, every day, middle class Mom, who isn’t comfortable with some of the parts of her body, and extremely ticklish to boot, and who doesn’t even feel comfortable with her husband touching them, and wouldn’t feel comforable with breastfeeding. So I made the choice to Formula Feed. Why not even try it? If I were to try it, and was stressed about it, with all the hoity toity, better than thou, you must bf or you aren’t a good parent, people in my face, then the baby would sense that and stress out…and certainly the last thing that anyone needs is a stressed out baby!

- Carol S on August 8th, 2007

Posted by: andi at Aug 8, 2007 2:22:49 PM
I just don’t know how all these moms that choose to FF are getting bullied & made to feel guilty by the very small number of breastfeeding moms.

It seems to me that that “small number” is very vocal and quick to jump all over anyone who chooses not to breastfeed, regardless of their reasons.

- LaurieF on August 8th, 2007

Well said Carol S!

- Kim on August 8th, 2007

Posted by Carol S “And back to Linda…personally I find that CBB actually leans towards the breastfeeding moms. You find very little support in the way of Formula Feeding on here. Certainly never seen anyone asked for pictures of moms formula feeding their babies.”

I have noticed that, too Carol! As much as I love coming to this site and find the moderators very nice, I was disappointed when the post with Maggie Gyllenhall was closed to anything but positive comments. It was almost like if you didn’t agree with Maggie’s very indiscreet breastfeeding,the hell with you and your opinions.Also, I don’t go into the breastfeeding galler because I’m really not interested in seeing pictures of CBB readers topless TYVM. I think ANY form of feeding a baby should be applauded because it’s all done for the same reason.ITA with helping support new moms with breastfeeding, but formula feeding/bottle feeding moms are just as important.

- Mom2Two on August 8th, 2007

Thank you Anon for your comments as I agree about what you said in the beginning of your post.

I think Joy Behar said it best on the View, “The La Leche people are like the Peta people, they jump down your throats until you do what it is they want you to do!”

People need to just stay out of everyone else’s business. You want to nurse your babies, great. If you choose not to, that’s also great. Formula wouldn’t be on the market if it wasn’t good enough for your baby. I was not BF and nor was my brother. We’re happy, healthy and fine! And all 3 of my nephews and my niece also were not BF. Guess what they too are happy, healthy, very intelligent and just FINE!

All that matters is that the babies are healthy and happy and until forumla is proven to be the culprit for so many kids illnesses then who are we to judge anyone for their choices?

I have no idea if I will BF or not in the future. I may try it but I too feel that for me personally it will be all to “wierd” and if anyone tries to tell me what I’m doing is wrong they better be prepared to run! I don’t take crap from people who try to tell me how to live my life!

- J.M. on August 8th, 2007

No, I don’t see a problem with it. They’re feeding their baby. As for Katie’s comments about breastfeeding, she was probably asked about it. Sounds like she just gave her honest opinion. The only reason there’s so much hype about this is because she’s formula feeding.

- TwinMom on August 8th, 2007

I wasn’t going to comment on CBB’s well-known stance on breastfeeding, but since a note addressing the subject has been added, I would like to ask why a website that is supposed to published photos and news regarding celebrity parents and children sees it appropriate to tutor readers on the topic of breastfeeding at all. I don’t know about other readers, but I come to this site to read about my favorite celeb kids-not a laundry list of reasons why I should breastfeed. I’m not saying the issue of breastfeeding should never be addressed if it is relevant to specific conversations, but the reason for promoting a certain lifestyle choice to a point that it goes beyond relevant discussions has never been explained. To be honest, I think it’s why so many BFing mothers here feel so comfortable putting formula and formula feeding mothers down; they know they have the support of the site, so they feel they can get away with it (and to be honest, I do believe they sometimes get away with more than if a FFing mom said as much). Overall, I think this site is the most professional celeb gossip site out there, which is why I always come back. But this is one issue I’ve never understood…

- Lauren on August 8th, 2007

Our sons are 20 and 22 and healthy as can be – always have been.

I don’t see this mentioned anywhere yet, but a huge benefit for us with FF was that Daddy could be as important to the baby as Mommy.

My husband bonded so deeply with our babies because he could be the one to feed them as much as I could.

That was invaluable and they still are close and think he’s the best dad ever.

- Mousie on August 8th, 2007

There are a couple of people on here that stay on the computer so much and comment on what people do with their kids, I wonder how they take such great care of their kids. Do they want to breast feed our babies. How do they have time to feed their own. Give your own kids some attention and leave other people’s alone!!!

- jen on August 8th, 2007

I FIND IT FUNNY THAT THE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSING THESE LAWS ABOUT BREASTFEEDING ARE MEN! SUCH AS THE LAW THAT CAME OUT IN NEW YORK RECENTLY ABOUT THEM NO LONGER GIVING OUT SAMPLE OF FORMULA IN THE BABY BAGS YOU GET TO TAKE HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, TO PROMOTE BREAST FEEDING. WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO BREAST FEED, I SHOULD GET MY FREE SAMPLES LIKE BEFORE. BUT NO, THESE MEN DECIDED THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL WOMEN!
GIVE ME A BREAK!

- BELA on August 8th, 2007

Preesi,

I realize that these responses have gone a bit off topic. However, as a woman who has had diabetes since childhood I think that it is important to correct misinformation as it relates to the disease. Whereas providing an infant with sugar water may cause incidents of hypoglycemia (low glucose levels because of too much insulin in the body), it does not cause diabetes. As I stated earlier, I am a TYPE 1 Diabetic and have lived with this disease since I was a toddler. My brother is an endocrinologist who chose his profession as a result of my disease so I am very well informed about the effects of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes develops due to a genetic autoimmune disorder that is not created by eating excessive sugar. The body’s immune system behaves inappropriately and starts seeing one of it’s own tissues as foreign. In the case of Type 1 Diabetes, the islet cells of the pancreas that produce insulin are seen as the “enemy” by mistake. The body then creates antibodies to fight the “foreign” tissue and destroys the islet cells ability to produce insulin. The lack of sufficient insulin thereby results in diabetes. Most often Type 1 diabetes is a genetic tendency. Sometimes it follows a viral infection such as mumps, rubella, cytomegalovirus, measles, influenza, encephalitis, polio or Epstein-Barr virus. Certain people are more genetically prone to this happening although why this occurs is not known. Other less common ( very rare) causes of Type 1 Diabetes include injury to the pancreas from toxins, trauma, or after the surgical removal of the majority (or all) of the pancreas.

Children are not getting TYPE 1 diabetes at alarming rates because of their diets. In fact, 94% of the people affected with diabetes in this country have Type 2 diabetes. These people are are becoming more succeptible to Type 2 diabetes because of diet and lack of exercise. Type 2 Diabetes is associated with insulin resistance rather than the lack of insulin. With Type 2 there is also a genetic factor which causes it to run in families. And although a person can inherit a tendency to develop type 2 diabetes, it usually takes another factor, such as poor diet and obesity, to bring on the disease. It can lay dormant in the body for years until the diet changes. Type 2 diabetes may be prevented or delayed by following a program to eliminate or reduce risk factors particularly losing weight and increasing exercise.

You provided information of why sugar water can be harmful to babies and that was very valid. That info is especially important for mothers who are diabetic. Those mothers should always pay attention to how much sugar they give their infants because of the high levels of insulin they may have received from the mother’s diabetic medication in the womb. Again, the sugar water can make the baby hypoglycemic. However, diabetes is not a symptom of an infant having sugar water.

- lizzielui on August 8th, 2007

Carol S:

Well, looks like NY state agrees with me because I just read today that they are banning those freebie bags of formula! I, personally, am happy about it. I think a hospital is a pretty gross place to be advertising formula and sending out mixed messages.

Also, not sure if you were trying to be facetious, but no hospital sends a woman (FF or bfing) home with breastfeeding equipment. The only “equipment” you need are your breasts. You can rent a hospital grade pump if you need, but they aren’t going to give it to you for free.

If hospitals have decided to vigorously promote breastfeeding as hard as they do, then they should not be giving out free formula bags–period. I’m no lactovist, but I definitely think if you had formula on hand, you would be more inclined to use it, especially if you were not having a smooth time bfing. Statistics prove this, and that’s why it’s being banned.

- PSB on August 8th, 2007

Perhaps she got paid to talk about this formula as well as take the picture, so who really cares?? I mean if someone wanted to pay her to “pretend” to BF and talk about the benefits of it that’s also her business.

People get so up in arms over nothing.

I don’t know about you people but advertisements don’t really influence my life one way or another. I don’t base my life situations around what this ad says over that ad.

It’s a personal choice either way.

- J.M. on August 8th, 2007

Us modern women are lucky because we have a choice.
We have the choice not to fall pregnant.
We have the choice not to keep our babies if we don’t want to.
If we do, we might opt for a c-section because it’s the latest trend and frankly, we can’t be bothered to deal with the pain of a natural birth. Sure, the c-section will hurt too, which sucks, but we can always pop some painkillers when it gets too bad.
Breastfeeding? No way! That is gross, because daddy owns our boobs and after our breast enlargements we probably couldn’t do it anyway, so why even try?
When baby is a few weeks old, it’s back to work for us. Even those of us who could easily afford to stay at home with the baby choose to return to our careers because a) it makes us happy, and only a happy mommy has happy kiddies, b) our child is surely mature enough to understand that it can’t selfishly demand momma’s attention all day long, c) the day care is so nice and it’s open till late every day and d) it’s our choice.
After work we choose to go out and party every day because as hard working moms, we clearly deserve a break, don’t we?

We are such good mothers. And our children are so happy and healthy. Maybe they are a bit on the quiet side, so we may choose to consult a child psychologist. He will tell us that it’s because our children’s nutrition isn’t the best, it’s all those burger meals and take outs they eat but hey, we choose to feed junk to our kids because it’s convenient! And by the way, it’s our choice.

It’s good to have a choice! Those few weird holier-than-thou people who always try to give us a guilty conscience don’t know what they are talking about! We are modern career women and not some hippies from the sixties. We know what we want, and how to get it! We have a choice.

- momma dearly on August 8th, 2007

On a different site, they have Jordan/Katie quoted as saying “I don’t care what people say – you don’t have to breastfeed … I don’t want a baby drinking from me – the thought of it makes me feel really funny.”

I know this is back to the ethics portion of the issue, but I think having a more complete context of her quote is also appropriate.

Sarah’s note: Our writeup of the entire interview is linked right in the post (click ‘recent interview with OK! Magazine’) for those interested.

- scm on August 8th, 2007

PBS, My hospital sent me home with breast feeding equipment. It was a manual pump. You don’t know what EVERY hospital does.

- jen on August 8th, 2007

JTsMom, did you check out the site stekill referenced? I’ve seen it before, and there are pix of Katie stumbling out of a nightclub in the wee hours, ten sheets to the wind and falling out of both ends of her (very tiny) dress–as someone previously said, it’s probably a good thing she’s not breastfeeding! But her “me time” is hardly the “lunch & shopping while Grandma watches the baby” that you described (which I have no problem with; most of us need a little break from the 24/7 of a newborn). Likewise, as a mom who’s both breast- & bottle-fed, no judgement there (altho’ she expressed her own preference in such an unfortunate way). What disturbs me most is how immature, narcissistic and out-of-control she seems to me, with three children back at home–shades of a popular celeb here in the U.S.! Yeah, Katie, we know you haven’t had any “fun” lately, and that parenting is very hard work (join the club), but sorry–being a mother means you have to grow up, plain and simple.

tricia

- tricia on August 8th, 2007

I think the whole thing is really rather silly. If the UK thinks the company did something wrong, then go after the company. I don’t think it is worth all the drama and discussion. Who really cares? Maybe we could discuss something important like bridges killing people.

- Jaime on August 8th, 2007

i have the right to deny my baby air. it’s my choice & my baby. i just don’t feel comfortable letting my baby breathe air. i got this stuff in a package, it’s new. all you do is pop the top & baby sucks out the gasses instead of air. it’s not oxygen, but it’s what i want to give my baby. you have no right to force me to give my child oxygen. other babies are breathing the new gas instead of freh air & they’re just fine! so get off my back!

- yo momma on August 8th, 2007

“I love her even if she is a ginge.” *scoffs* wow……………………………………..

- Penny Lane on August 8th, 2007

I realy don’t think you can quite compare the brand of diaper you prefer to whether you choose to breastfeed or not.

The fact that this woman has chosen to express her personal choice is fine with me. We need to realise that every mom has her own decision to make and to stand by – and isn’t that what freedom of expression is all about?

- Jennifer on August 9th, 2007

If you want to discuss bridges killing people, you’re on the wrong site dude. This one is about celebrity babies, not about bridges

- aaron d. on August 9th, 2007

So what if Katie doesn’t want to breast feed. Many women like myself do not want to breast feed. I tried with my first child and found it VERY painful and uncomfortable and have since told my husband that NEVER again will I breast feed. I stopped after a few weeks and my son is perfectly healthy and happy from using formula. If it was so bad it would be against the law to feed it to babies. Some women don’t have the ability to breastfeed and its nobodies business but our own on how we choose to feed our child. Leave Katie alone she is a very good mother to her children I’ve have seen her in action, don’t knock her for your one-sided views.

- Alana on September 9th, 2007

So interesting how this became a legal issue.

- j.brown on December 20th, 2007