Today’s episode of HLN’s lively entertainment news show Showbiz Tonight got mothered… by ME. (Hey, it’s their fault they let me back in after a year and a half…) Now that I’m a mom, I get more and more revved up by celebrity mom topics in the news… like Kim and Kourtney (ie: those Kardashian sisters) talking about cross-nursing on The Today Show and the fact that Jessica Simpson is having two babies in two years… so that’s what we talked about on Showbiz Tonight. Since just a snippit of what I thought about it all got to air, thought I’d expand my thoughts a bit for you. I’ll start with the Kardashian sisters:
Image courtesy CelebrityBabyScoop.com
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised about anything that comes out of the Kardashians’ mouths anymore. Yet I find that I am. And the fact that they’re joking about “kross-nursing” their babies… well….. eeewwwwwwwwwww. Really ladies? Is this how we’re promoting reality shows to get ratings now? Now that we’re moms, let’s just think of the most polarizing topic among women with babies and GO FOR IT for the success of the upcoming Kourtney & Kim Take Miami premiere. Again, I shouldn’t be surprised. Maybe marketing genius mama Kris came up with this idea?
Perhaps it’s not very mature of me to be so immature about this questionable breastfeeding topic as a responsible mom of a toddler and baby, but EEEEEWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!! Come on.
Those of you who’ve followed me for a while know how I feel about nursing. You know how I feel about that infamous Time Magazine cover (and what it represented) last year. You know how I found myself shockingly defending a pregnant Snooki. You know how I feel about stuffing your bra with cabbages just a week after giving birth. But all of those opinions have nothing to do with the fact that I got annoyed with their vapid conversation on this topic.
Kourtney and Kim’s jokes about cross-nursing nag at me because they so casually joked about a practice that happens to be unhealthy and incredibly risky for even the most pressing advocates of nursing… without even having the slightest bit of education about it. Even the La Leche League (possibly the most vocal organization promoting the benefits of nursing) heavily advises against what the Kardashian sisters discussed as being ‘normal’ and common “back in the day” (that’s a quote from Kourtney).
According to TMZ, who reached out to LLL to get some real information about this: LLL says advises against cross-nursing and milk-sharing “due to awareness of pathogens that can be transmitted in milk.” In light of those health risks, LLL says they wouldn’t advise casual and improvised shared nursing … and says it’s “not permitted to suggest an informal milk-donation arrangement, including … cross-nursing.” Bottom line: you can pass unknown infections and diseases to babies by cross-nursing. Did ya know that, girls who watched their interview and thought they were so cool and funny to suggest a quick fix like cross-nursing? Yes, I know the sisters were probably joking for the sake of getting more publicity and TV coverage (this blog included)… Yes, I know that it was a ridiculous conversation for a light morning show… Yes, I know I’m probably acting way too high-and-mighty for someone who works as an vapid Entertainment Reporter herself.
But my issue is this: These girls have such a HUGE fan base of young and impressionable women around the world – who take what they say as gospel, fact and truth – that I wish the Kardashian sisters would realize it more and really THINK before they speak about topics like this concerning women’s and babies’ health.
As for Showbiz Tonight’s TV discussion about simultaneous new-mom & mom-to-be Jessica Simpson’s intended sitcom based on her life (which I’m guessing will touch on her having two babies in two years) here’s some personal advice from someone who is right where Jessica will be in another year… From me to you, Jessica… with love:
WHAT CELEBRITY MOM TOPICS GET YOU REVVED UP?
Jessica is not having two babies in two years. She literally had them in just one year, unless you’re counting the conceptions.
Aha! Esther you are correct! (I was counting “pregnant-time”, but saying 2-babies-in-ONE-year is much more dramatic! Well done!) 🙂