Salma Hayek Lauded For Breastfeeding African Baby

Some are uncomfortable seeing a woman breastfeeding in public. This time it is actress Selma Hayek. The actress is seen breastfeeding a starving African baby. But, the question Hayek asks, "would my baby want to share her milk with this starving baby?"

Sharing her breast milk with a starving child is Selma Hayek's way of bringing attention to the need for tetanus shots in developing countries. Selma's travels recently aired on Nightline.

"To most people in the United States, tetanus brings to mind rusty nails and a quick trip to the doctor's office for a shot. But in developing countries like Sierra Leone, maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) is a top cause of death among mothers and their babies," according to Nightline.

During the trip Selma Hayek met a malnourished baby and decided to share her breast milk with the child since she was still breast feeding her own daughter, Valentina. The selfless act has some unsure how to respond. Americans, culturally have not accepted the natural act of providing sustenance to a baby without being wrapped in sexual conotations. Perhaps the perspective of saving a life, makes Selma Hayek's act appear as it is, loving.

The following is an excerpt from the show that aired on Nightline:
Sharing breast milk is not a new concept. People have been doing it for years, like wetnurses, and there have even been recent spikes in moms breastfeeding for friends and family. But it is something discouraged by Le Leche League.

According to a news story by KGO:

Although breast milk is the perfect food for babies, sharing breast milk could be risky and organizations such as the La Leche League discourage this practice. Breast milk is, after all, a body fluid, so sharing it, can be risky. Infections can pass through the milk, as well as some medications.

And, with some infections, most people don't know they have them, and yet they could pass a dangerous infection like hepatitis, HIV, and others through the milk.

But there are safe ways to share breast milk... by donating milk to milk banks that screen the milk before sharing it. You can find more info on that if you're interested in participating from the Human Milk Banking Association of North America.

Recently a group on Facebook began a protest against the social network because its rights are being denied to publish photos of women breast feeding on the social network. The issue is a hot bed right now.

And in October, Brad Pitt, allowed W magazine to publish private photos of Angelina Jolie breast feeding their new born twins.

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