Would You Breastfeed a Sick Baby Like Salma Hayek Did?

February 9, 2009

While on a UNICEF mission in Africa to raise awareness for tetanus in partnership with Pampers, actress and producer Salma Hayek showed a mother's compassion to an ailing one-week-old baby. The humanitarian nursed the hungry baby. Would you do the same?

29 Comments

3 years

My Aunts swapped on occasion. One Aunt was horribly engorged and having trouble getting her newborn to latch on so they switched. The older cousin was a pro and helped her out and my other Aunt, a more experience breastfeeder (and less sore) fed the newborn. It is a bodily fluid and one has to take precautions, but I would definitely feed a starving child. I feel a let down every time a baby cries and it has been years since I nursed. My mother felt a let down and had the instinct with my daughter as well. Its hard to hear a baby cry

4 years

Disgusting and risky.

4 years

That was THE sweetest most selfless thing I've ever seen.

Sharon Mc 4 years

My answer is- yes! Yes, yes. I would breast feed a needy child, any child in need. It's about and for the baby, it is not about me, it is about the baby. How could anyone say no? I cried watching the clip, proud of Salma's choice to give of herself and to make this public statement in support of nursing and seeing it as the healing, nurturing gift it is.It is a conscious decision. I took exception to the answer as written, "Yes, it's maternal extinct". It is a conscious decision, a selfless act that also has wonderful, emotional benefits for the giver. Knowing only we, as women, can do this. The phrase "mother's milk" has come to mean that something is the best of the best, most natural thing there is, and what the person or situation needs and wants most.

Sharon Mc 4 years

My answer is- yes! Yes, yes. I would breast feed a needy child, any child in need. It's about and for the baby, it is not about me, it is about the baby. How could anyone say no? I cried watching the clip, proud of Salma's choice to give of herself and to make this public statement in support of nursing and seeing it as the healing, nurturing gift it is. It is a conscious decision. I took exception to the answer as written, "Yes, it's maternal extinct". It is a conscious decision, a selfless act that also has wonderful, emotional benefits for the giver. Knowing only we, as women, can do this. The phrase "mother's milk" has come to mean that something is the best of the best, most natural thing there is, and what the person or situation needs and wants most.

redheadkimie 4 years

I just watched the video and it brought me to tears....sniff sniff. what a completely moving story!

Ericka 4 years

I saw the piece on TV and it was so moving! She mentioned how she believed her daughter wouldn't mind sharing her milk and that she hoped to teach her daughter a giving heart when she grew up.

sofi 4 years

A starving baby is in front of me in desperate need of a meal? Of course, I would feed the baby. I do understand and feel this is an intimate bond between a mother and child, but my heart would ache if I just stood by and didn't offer food to this sick babe.

pinkprincess1101 4 years

of course i would feed a child that might die of starvation something that no child should die from (even if that child was going to die atleast it went to heaven not hungry) so you are damn right i would do it.

HipMom 4 years

I'm not comfortable with the idea of putting another baby on my breast, but I would definitely share my breast milk (using a breast pump) if needed/asked to do so.

missyd 4 years

oh, ok.I can see the functionality in that for sure then, if need be

missyd 4 years

oh, ok. I can see the functionality in that for sure then, if need be

Greggie 4 years

The swap thing is not new, or what "moms are doing now." It's been around as long as wet nursing. It's essentially a friend and I both nursing each others' babies as needed. Not something I've done, but not outside my realm of possibilities either.

missyd 4 years

hmmm momma tikita whats the 'swap' thing?

wonderwoman80 4 years

I admit I didn't read the entire story, so I apologize if I don't have all the information, but she picks up a sick one week old baby and nurses it. Then what happens? One serving of breast milk isn't going to save that baby. I think there are probably other things that could have been done. Clearly she is just making a statement, it isn't solving the problem.

momma tikita 4 years

I wouldn't do the "swap" thing some mothers are doing now. But if it were for a hungry baby absolutely.

momma tikita 4 years

I wouldn't do the "swap" thing some mothers are doing now. But if it were for a hungry baby absolutely.

HoneyBrown1976 4 years

Yes, it's my natural instinct to fee an hungry baby. If it's okay with the mom, fine. The question is whether or not my toddler (who I'm still nursing) would allow it. : )

malunna 4 years

My baby was breastfeeding when he born because i had no much milk, and for that i wold be very thankfull to this woman, i prefer other mom milk than formula...moms milk is made for babys naturally, so i had no problem with it...absolutley agree...

GirlC 4 years

Ditto Greggie - with permission.

mstrauss 4 years

I would only breastfeed another mothers child if the baby were very sick and couldn't get formula. Though, I wouldn't go around showing other mothers how to breastfeed by putting their child on my breast.

lawchick 4 years

I agree with what someone else said in the orginal post on this. I wasn't breastfed, haven't had a baby yet, and am not sure if I will breastfeed when I do -- I know it's the most natural way to feed a baby, but I'm just not sure if it's for me. But I find what Salma did to be an amazingly selfless thing. It warms my heart!

Greggie 4 years

I do agree that pumping would be my first choice, however if a child was in immediate need, it'd take me too long to clean and sterilize my pump and then get the milk. Then clean and sterilize a bottle, assuming I could even find one now... *lol*

luckyme 4 years

redheadkimie, I do agree with you. It is an intimate thing between a mother and child, but I would do it in a situation such as this. The earthquake situation in China comes to mind...if the children were going to die or be otherwise affected by severe starvation, I would definitely do it.

luckyme 4 years

Without a second thought.

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