Salma Breastfeeds Someone Else's Baby

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Salma Breastfeeds Someone Else's Baby

Thursday, February 12, 2009

filed under: suzanne gilberg-lenz

Not only is Salma Hayek gorgeous AND a talented actress -- she also breastfeeds starving babies in Africa.

On a recent trip to Sierra Leone, Salma Hayek (a spokesperson for UNICEF) was kind enough to offer up her breasts, and her one-year-old daughter's milk, to a malnourished baby. Coincidentally, the baby was born on the same day as her daughter Valentina, which made Salma feel even more bonded to him.

"I actually think that my baby would be very proud to be able to share her milk, and when she grows up, I'm going to make sure she continues to be a caring, generous person," says Hayek.

Salma says she isn't the first in her family to offer her breast milk to a starving child -- her great-grandmother did the same exact thing years ago in Mexico.

We asked Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz to weigh in on a custom that seems unusual to Americans, but is commonplace in impoverished countries.

"When I first heard the news that the beautiful and talented star Salma Hayek had breastfed another woman's baby while promoting infant immunizations and health on a trip to Sierra Leone, I have to admit, I thought, 'Not another wacky celebrity escapade!' But as I learned more about what actually happened and why it happened, the phrase 'You go, girl!' is what entered my mind.

Infant mortality remains high in much of Africa and apparently a social stigma attached to prolonged breast feeding is preventing many women in Sierra Leone from doing what comes naturally, free, always the right temperature and chock full of nutrients, breast milk is the best known food for babies. This 'event' has caused quite a stir and brings up so many interesting issues:

Empowerment of women to feed, if at all possible, their babies what is best;
The right to show a boob and put that boob into a baby's mouth for sustenance; and
De-sexualizing a favorite body part. Salma Hayek made a powerful statement about all of the above.

For centuries, poor, working class women and slaves served as wet nurses for generations of well-off frequently, white babies. These babies' own mothers were constrained by the social norms of their own times that discouraged breast feeding. How ironic that in the new millennium, the shocker is that the well off white woman would breast feed a poor African baby. Will guerrilla breast feeding become the next step in feminism's evolution?"

23 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

I think this is a beautiful act of kindness and selflessness.

- Drew

Posted 02/11/09 03:27 PM

I already thought she was fantastic. Now, I am in awe.

- Brie

Posted 02/11/09 03:58 PM

i agree. i don’t see anything wrong with it.

- Beth

Posted 02/11/09 04:02 PM

It made me cry to see how hungry the little baby was, he didn’t come close to looking a year old. The simplest of gifts, it was beautiful to watch.

- Anonymous

Posted 02/11/09 04:55 PM

This brought tears to my eyes. Such a beautiful act of love for a child.

- Melissa

Posted 02/11/09 04:57 PM

What a blessing for the baby. A hungry baby deserves to be fed. Period.

- Heather

Posted 02/11/09 05:56 PM

I cried. Plain and simple, as a mother who breastfead her babies, that was a beautiful moment. When she walked away that baby was no longer hungry. I would have done the same thing.

- Anonymous

Posted 02/11/09 07:08 PM

this act is probably the polar opposite of the infamous mom of 14

- Anonymous

Posted 02/11/09 08:28 PM

I love Salma!

- Veronica

Posted 02/11/09 08:56 PM

What an inspiration!!! It’s amazing, I have always looked up to her, and now she made me admire her even more!!!!

- K&C's mom

Posted 02/12/09 01:19 AM

What a beautiful woman both inside and out. I breatfed both of my children for 2 years each and would not trade that experience for the world. When I saw how hungrily the baby ate it made me tear up…what a blessing to see someone be so gracious with a most simple but meaningful gift. May God Bless her for her tender heart and may she see the fruits of her wisdom in her own child. An amazing woman…..

- Vicki

Posted 02/12/09 07:49 AM

this is the most beautiful thing ive read in a long time. Salma’s awesome!

- maeby

Posted 02/12/09 08:53 AM

Made me cry too, I wish the innocents in this world didnt have to suffer, but kindness is universal.

- shauna

Posted 02/12/09 10:57 AM

UUUEEEWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!! I HOPE SHE IS UP TO DATE ON HER RABIES SHOTS!!! tHE POOR BABY WAS SOOOOOOOOOO HUNGRY…WAIT……..I’M HUNGRY TOO!

- JAI

Posted 02/12/09 12:47 PM

It is beautiful.

- Barb

Posted 02/12/09 02:13 PM

I wish more women were more open to this very NORMAL practice. What a beautiful thing.

Posted 02/12/09 02:50 PM

That is awesome! Go Salma!! =D Maybe this means wetnursing will make a comeback?

- Lori

Posted 02/12/09 03:34 PM

This is truly admirable!

- Hailey's Mommy

Posted 02/12/09 05:23 PM

This is truly admirable! - Hailey’s Mommy

- Hailey's Mommy

Posted 02/12/09 05:24 PM

the shocker is that the well off white woman would breast feed a poor African baby. Will guerrilla breast feeding become the next step in feminism’s evolution?” That is so rude!!!! 1

- april

Posted 02/12/09 10:51 PM