Salma Hayek breastfeeds african baby

[Todd&Copper]

I think it is kind of odd to breastfeed another person's child. It makes me think of wet nurses and poor slaves who were forced to become Mammies to white plantation owner's babies.

Also, I do not drink milk at all, since someone intimated that drinking cow's milk is more odd than another person's breast milk.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Breastfeeding a baby that is not your own is a beautiful gesture but being that HIV/AIDS is rampant in Africa is frightening. I know you can get it from breastmilk but can a baby give it to a breastfeeding person?

 

[Tinijocaro]

My guess is that in America, we totally sexualize the whole breast thing. We even call it "breast milk". It's milk, same as what we get from a cow, only it's actually meant for humans to drink, as opposed to cow's milk, which is meant for cows to drink.

I don't believe that human milk has ever needed to be pasteurized or tested. Tested for what? Cow milk is pasteurized to kill bacteria that develops after the cow is milked-unclean equipment, containers and handling. When a mother nurses a baby, the baby gets it straight from the source with no chance of unsterile equipment to introduce bacteria.

 

[Ohiodislover]

Breastfeeding a baby that is not your own is a beautiful gesture but being that HIV/AIDS is rampant in Africa is frightening. I know you can get it from breastmilk but can a baby give it to a breastfeeding person?

I what I know, the risk is low w/ saliva. The risk might be if there was blood in the babies mouth for whatever reason.

Was the baby HIV positive? I didn't get that from the clip. Would they even know yet. I thought babies needed to be a bit older to be diagnosed.

I think it was a wonderful thing. Probably not one that I could bring myself to do. I would love to say I was that giving, but I just don't think I could.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

That's so true. We definitely are in a tough place for breast feeding in America, with the overt sexuality of breasts. But, they can be both sexual and functional...just at different times!

I thought it was a very nice gesture. Good for her!

 

[Scurvy]

I find it ironic that most of us will readily drink the milk of a cow-milk that was never meant for humans, but get queasy at the idea of one human feeding another human her milk.

Most people don't drink directly from the cow, though.

Add me to the list of people who could never have nursed another child other than my own, though I would have had no problem with pumping and donating the milk.

I find this whole situation odd - seems like publicity stunt. There are better ways to feed even more children, and she could certainly afford to donate funds for that cause if she chose to.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't believe that human milk has ever needed to be pasteurized or tested. Tested for what? Cow milk is pasteurized to kill bacteria that develops after the cow is milked-unclean equipment, containers and handling. When a mother nurses a baby, the baby gets it straight from the source with no chance of unsterile equipment to introduce bacteria.

My point is that you never know what a stranger might have. I imagine that Hayek is safe but would all people be? I would think that testing would be paramount. (And if I'm showing my ignorance, please feel free to enlighten me. )

 

[themarquis]

Breastfeeding a baby that is not your own is a beautiful gesture but being that HIV/AIDS is rampant in Africa is frightening. I know you can get it from breastmilk but can a baby give it to a breastfeeding person?

That doesn't happen (transmission from saliva to breast). Not only does saliva not transmit HIV, but there is also no access to the bloodstream from the nipple.

Interesting that that was your first thought.

 

[luvmy3]

I find it ironic that most of us will readily drink the milk of a cow-milk that was never meant for humans, but get queasy at the idea of one human feeding another human her milk.

I'm not queasy at the idea of a woman giving her breast milk to another baby for nurishment. I thinkits a wonderful gift. When I breastfed my own ther was bond and intimacy that I felt with them that I can't even put into words. I could never imagine doing that for a child that was not my own, especially for publicity's sake. I would however, gladly donate my breastmilk to one.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Interesting that that was your first thought.

Do you know what the AIDS/HIV rate on the continent of Africa is? You are judging me because that was my first thought?? Wow.

39.5 million people had AIDS in Africa in 2006. 4 million get infected every YEAR! (Source: United Nations) And for the record, my FIRST THOUGHT was that breastfeeding a baby who is not your own was a beautiful gesture. (as can be seen in my post above).

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I read the story and thought - no biggie.

She saw a hungry child, the mother did not have milk and she did - so she simply fed the baby. How is this different than if she handed her a can of formula?

I think Selma did it without a thought - not knowing that it would be talked about.

 

[Tinijocaro]

That doesn't happen (transmission from saliva to breast). Not only does saliva not transmit HIV, but there is also no access to the bloodstream from the nipple.

Interesting that that was your first thought.

The more realistic way to spread AIDS through nursing is from an infected mother to an uninfected child, so I can see where Salma probably should have been tested first-who knows, maybe she was?

"HIV passes via breastfeeding to about 1 out of 7 infants born to HIV-infected women. But in many situations where there is a high prevalence of HIV, not breastfeeding dramatically increases the risk of infant mortality. Infants can die from either the failure to appropriately breastfeed or from the transmission of HIV through breastfeeding."

http://rehydrate.org/breastfeed/faq-hiv.htm

To the poster who said we don't drink straight from the cow, yes, this is true. If you think about it, humans are really the only animal who even drinks milk past the weaning stage and into adulthood, so yes, it would be weird for us to continue to drink straight from the source.

I personally find it endearing that a mother would nurse a child in need. We see it all the time in the animal kingdom. It's not unnatural. Whether or not it was for publicity, I don't care- those women need to know that nursing is good for their babies.

 

[Scurvy]

Do you know what the AIDS/HIV rate on the continent of Africa is? You are judging me because that was my first thought?? Wow.

You're right - it is a huge problem over there right now! It's tragic, but it's a fact of life. Hopefully it won't be a problem forever, but it certainly is now.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Theres a lot of people in envy of that baby

The only thought that registered with me - Lucky baby!!!

 

[SwedishMeatball]

That doesn't happen (transmission from saliva to breast). Not only does saliva not transmit HIV, but there is also no access to the bloodstream from the nipple.

Interesting that that was your first thought.

I didn't realize that was their first thought, but what's wrong with asking a question??

 

[themarquis]

Do you know what the AIDS/HIV rate on the continent of Africa is? You are judging me because that was my first thought?? Wow.

I just have never heard anyone say that they thought HIV could be transmitted via saliva or the mouth. I though it was pretty well understood today that that is not how you get HIV, so I was surprised. Also, I was surprised because when reading a story about a person breastfeeding another person's baby, disease transmission to the mom would not have been my first thought,. but maybe that is just me. I'm sorry you were offended.

 

[Planogirl]

I've never understood why some think it's odd that we drink cow's milk and do so into adulthood. We eat many things that other animals don't and I don't see what makes cow's milk unique. Besides I would never give up cheese.

I think that this was a nice gesture no matter what the reasoning was. A bit odd maybe but harmless.

 

[lillygator]

that is just too weird for words.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Also, I was surprised because when reading a story about a person breastfeeding another person's baby, disease transmission to the mom would not have been my first thought,. but maybe that is just me. I'm sorry you were offended.

Well I guess I am more aware of world issues. That's ok though. No biggie.

 

[themarquis]

Well I guess I am more aware of world issues. That's ok though. No biggie.

I think we all know about HIV being epidemic in certain parts of Africa (not the entire "continent of Africa", FYI).

But I guess I am more aware of the biology of HIV transmission. That's ok though. No biggie.