http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1294493/Why-Ive-breast-feeding-Denise-Van-Outen.html
“Why I’ve had to give up breastfeeding, by Denise Van Outen
By Ben Todd
Last updated at 1:05 PM on 14th July 2010
There are many reasons that new mothers might opt out of breastfeeding.
Some find it too painful, some find it too difficult. Denise Van Outen, on the other hand, simply found it too public.
The 36-year-old actress said she gave up breastfeeding her daughter Betsy after less than a month, claiming she didn’t like the idea of being spotted nursing in Starbucks. Or, heaven forbid, the Post Office.”
So Denise – this is ok?
But this is not?
Jerry Hall breastfeeding
The 36-year-old new mum said: “I probably should have persevered a bit longer than three weeks. “But I can’t be sitting in Starbucks and breast feeding, because they (photographers) are taking pictures.”
Hmm, I wonder if there is a connection:
http://babybornfree.wordpress.com/tag/denise-van-outen/
“Any old Cow” Short Sleeved T 3-6 months 
“Any old Cow” Short Sleeved T 6-12 months 
Any Old Cow – Shopping Bag 
Mummy Milk Rocks – Shopping Bag 
Care Instructions – Shopping Bag 
Such a sad reason to stop breastfeeding…makes me wonder if there were other underlying issues that she’s not admitting to.
I for one would love to see more photos of celebs breastfeeding their children. It would make a delightful change to the usual ‘ooh look at her knickers/cellulite/unshaved armpits/saggy tummy’, kind of snaps that those crappy magazines are full of these days
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She also said she didn’t have enough milk, but at 3 weeks old the baby could have been starting a growth spurt, such a shame she didn’t get more support.
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That’s a fab picture of Jerry Hall!
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another pro breastfeeding celeb huh? Wonder how much shes getting paid by the formula companies. x
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Though I think here reasons are wrong…they are hers no the less. Atleast she tried to breastfeed, unlike others that judge it before it is done. At least she is willing to admit it wasn’t for her and atleast she didn’t slag off those who do breastfeed!!!
I find it wrong that you say she has a brain the size of a peanut because she stated here opinion and that breastfeeding isn’t for her! Breastfeeding is a choice! A choice in nurturing ones child, please leave her to make her own choices right or wrong and don’t pass judgment on her.
The only time you should have something to say is in defense if someone is spouting incorrect facts about breastfeeding or if someone is harming a child by malnourishment.
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Though I think her reasons are wrong, they are hers none the less. At least she tried to breastfeed, unlike others that judge it before it is done. At least she is willing to admit it wasn’t for her and at least she didn’t slag off those who do breastfeed!!!
I find it wrong that you say she has a brain the size of a peanut because she stated here opinion and that breastfeeding isn’t for her! Breastfeeding is a choice! A choice in nurturing ones child, please leave her to make her own choices right or wrong and don’t pass judgment on her.
The only time you should have something to say is in defense if someone is spouting incorrect facts about breastfeeding or if someone is harming a child by malnourishment.
It does no good to slag someone off in defense of breastfeeding either…it makes you both look bad.
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Theresa, you are right of course, but I do think she is being incredibly stupid at the moment, if you google her you get pretty much nothing but pictures of her in provocative sexy pictures, she looks very happy to be photographed indeed. I’m saying (and it is my opinion of course) that she has a brain the size of a peanut because she is being inconsistent. It’s ok to get your breasts out for some things but not for what they are actually intended for? We are mammals after all
You brought up the good points I hadn’t considered though, at least she gave it a go and she hasn’t been nasty to breastfeeders.
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Theresa, it is the concept that breastfeeding is a choice, inferring it is a choice between two equals, that makes mothers like Denise feel it’s ok to stop because it’s “not for her”. It’s not a simple lifestyle choice, not like which pram, or what colour cot linen to buy, it can make a significant difference to the long term health of both mother and baby. By stopping so early Denise has increased her risk of developing breast cancer and diabetes, and increased the risk for her daughter of several, significant health problems.
I think the honest truth is that Denise wanted her “life” back. She was pictured out and about without her baby very soon after giving birth, which to me speaks volumes about how she prioritises her life, ie; Denise first, Baby second, and when you couple this with her trotting out the old chestnuts of “not enough milk” and “Daddy wanted to feed her too” it all becomes a bit tedious and transparent.
If Denise was a modest lady in the rest of her life then these excuses would wash with me, but I’m afraid Lisa makes a very valid point, Denise is happy to get her boobs out to make money or gain publicity, but not to give her daughter the nutrition and immune support she is meant to get. It’s a very sad, shallow world she must live in.
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While I don’t agree that it is fair to imply Denise Van Outen is stupid because she has chosen to stop breastfeeding, I do think it is a shame that she has stopped. Breastfeeding could undoubtedly do with some ‘glamourous’ role models like Ms Van Outen to help normalise and put the issue in the public eye. What I don’t think is helpful is to throw nastiness at a new mum, because whatever her lifestyle she undoubtedly has the same pressures as any other new parent. What would be far more useful, in my opinion, would be to use Ms Van Outen as an example of the many mothers who stop breastfeeding because they simply do not have the full information and sufficient support, and look at ways in which this support and knowledge can be made more accessible to everyone.
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Jenny, you take the words right out of my mouth. Let’s stop beating around the bush. There are some things that don’t fall into the “if it feels ok for you” category. Shouldn’t we make sacrifices for our children? After all, it isn’t forever.
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I don’t think it’s just celebs who feel self-conscious in public, especially in the early weeks. It’s a shame that she felt it was down to her status that she was feeling so uncomfortable about that, when in actual fact, it is a feeling shared by almost every mother who has ever breastfed.
Unfortunately, her article seems to be very much part of the culture that makes it so difficult to feel excepted & comfortable breastfeeding in public when you first start. Product placement after endless product placement, when all we really need is to see more mums feeding in public, being their natural shape & proud of it, etc. etc.
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Why not just be honest and say it wasn’t for her? Why do so many women trot out the ‘i didn’t have enough milk’ excuse. Yes a very tiny minority will have supply problems the majority who use this excuse think their baby wanting to feed non stop means they don’t have enough milk, when instead it is the baby having a growth spurt and therefore stimluating supply. There is so much support there if you are determined to breastfeed and it takes a good six weeks or things start to settle down and become bit easier. I myself struggled at first and got help rather than simply quit and trot out some crappy excuse.
As for the excuse about being photographed feeding has she never heard of a nursing cover? They cover everything, so no chance of anyone catching an eye full! The amount of flesh she has shown over the years in lads mags I think she would actually be showing less whilst feeding her baby!
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Oh and the excuse that Lee wanted to feed her too he could have used expressed milk, or he could bond with the baby in other ways-e.g bath time and cuddles. Such a shame she didn’t stick with it, it is a lovely way for mum to bond with baby, it’s best for baby and that drunk little look on the baby’s face after a feed is so cute. It is such a small part of your life to give up to breastfeed and gives you such a good feeling each time your baby gains weight and you know that is down to you and no-one or nothing else.
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I am always amazed that women feel the right to judge other women for the choices they make. She is not beating her child, or doing anything terrible. We all know breast is best etc. and it is a shame that not all women feel/ are able to do it. But no-one would berate a women who could not breast feed e.g. because of medical reasons. There are other reasons than medical why people don’t/ can’t breast feed. Many are psychological and emotional e.g. the pressure and responsibility of it is too much, they have significant body image issues/ eating disorder and can’t cope, their culture dictates that they cannot undress in public so breastfeeding ties them to the house, they have been abused in the past and breastfeeding is traumatic. Women may not share the true reasons (and given how judgemental others are I am not surprised!) so the best thing we can do is support women’s choices, and be supportive.
This nastiness, and mean, childish comments is quite unpleasant and unfortunately I have seen a lot of this from the pro-breastfeeding lot. I breast fed by son for 2 years and was lucky enough to love it but I never judge others. Maybe it is because I am a psychologist and lucky enough to be able to see things from different perspectives. But we could all try…. couldn’t we?
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Emma, I think the implication that other people cannot see other people’s points of view because they are not psychologists is rather patronising. I say this as a psychologist myself.
I was saddened to read Denise’s comments in the media, but it doesn’t surprise me. Centrefolds remain a far more socioculturally typical and approved part of our visual diet than the sight of a mother nourishing her baby.
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I think plenty of people who are not psychologists can see the point of view of others. Maybe I wasn’t clear enough on that – I have worked specifically with women who have experienced PND and other pregnancy/ postnatal problems and that is where my wider viewpoint comes from. The article about Denise Van Outen here is narrow minded and judgmental, and whilst the majority of women support one anothers choices, and are respectful of difference, there are clearly some who find this hard
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just to add….. I agree with breast feeding, and that there is something wrong when page 3 models getting their boobs out is fine, but a woman breastfeeding her baby is not. But that does not give women (or men) the right to make spiteful comments about other women who choose to bottle feed.
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Emma, it’s not her choice to stop breastfeeding that is being belittled, as such, it’s her pathetic, transparent excuses. She’s a self-confident, feisty woman (she would have us believe) so why can’t she just be honest about why she stopped. I can tell you why, because she knows her real reasons for giving up are selfish and petty and shallow.
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Jenny – there are a couple of things that have upset me about Denise Van Outen. The first is the fact that she mentioned it at all. It is her choice how she feeds her baby but she does have influence, thousands of women want to be like her and if she formula feeds people will want to do so too. She didn’t need to publicly announce her decision at all. To be honest I don’t actually care what she feeds her baby, I do care that people can be influenced not to breastfeed.
Secondly, as you say, it is her excusing her choice by blaming the press. She is obviously not camera shy. I know that when you have a new baby you can feel vulnerable and she could do with not having people photograph her right now but there are ways around it, she could express milk if she really wanted to breastfeed, then the headlines would have read – Denise Van Outen Bottle Feeds Breast Milk. Not so newsworthy maybe?
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Check this out; http://www.realbollywood.com/news/2010/08/denise-van-outen-hits-breastfeeding-bullies.html The use of this particular picture shows just how shy Denise is about showing her breasts. Silly excuses and shallow lies. So sad.
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