(NEXSTAR) – Actress Bette Midler is facing backlash Friday after her response to a tweet discussing the ongoing baby formula shortage. The tweet was met with derision from many users, who say the sentiment is insensitive and also unrealistic.
In a tweet Thursday night, the Tony- and Emmy Award-winner wrote: “TRY BREASTFEEDING! It’s free and available on demand.”
One of those to reply was Dr. Daniel Summers, a Boston-area pediatrician and writer.
“Just in case all the other people in your replies don’t make the difference, this is a terrible, thoughtless and unhelpful take,” Summers responded. “Not every woman can breastfeed, no matter how much anyone says they can.”
Summers told Nexstar on Friday that it’s very common for him to see new mothers who find nursing doesn’t work, and whose circumstances make it harder to work at it.
“… Saying breastfeeding is free means that no value is put on the mother’s time, because breastfeeding requires a great deal of time and effort. Some mothers do not have the resources necessary to give that time, in many cases because they need to bring home money to support their families and cannot dedicate the time to nursing.”
– Dr. Daniel Summers, MD
Moreover, Summers said some women don’t produce milk at all. Additionally, new mothers could have other health issues and personal conflicts that make breastfeeding an unrealistic option.
A bit later Monday night, Midler added to the controversy, tweeting: “People are piling on because of former tweet. No shame if you can’t breastfeed, but if you can & are somehow convinced that your own milk isn’t as good as a ‘scientifically researched product’, that’s something else again. The monopoly news is news to me, tho, no lie. #WETNURSES.”
Summers said that while he’s never going to shortchange the value of breastmilk, he finds the idea that breastmilk is superior to formula is “supremely unhelpful.”
“It’s not a question of formula vs. breastmilk, it’s a question of formula vs. starving,” Summers added, saying many women may produce some breastmilk but not enough to provide a sole source of nourishment.
For those women who worry their milk supply isn’t enough, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said as long as babies are being fed regularly (8-12 times per day), there’s likely no issue. For women who are struggling, Summers recommends working with a pediatrician to develop a feeding plan that works best. He also says lactation consultants can help.
Summers said women should never feel shamed or unsupported by anyone for choosing formula feeding, either in part or whole (hybrid breastmilk-formula regimens are common). He said if a women feels shamed by her doctor for choosing formula, “it’s a sign they need to look for a new pediatrician.”
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched its Fact Sheet: Helping Families Find Formula During the Infant Formula Shortage, which provides resources for families looking to find formula in their area. HHS said manufacturers have ramped up production by up to 50%.
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Fact is that many of the 30-35% of hard-core Democrat female voters use various sorts of Drugs, legal and illegal whose contents cannot be tolerated in the body of a newborn infant. Many seek abortions because of this very fact as well because taking of innocent human life in the womb just protects the guilty life of the adult already born and addicted. Some are able to get off the drugs while pregnant but usually cry for them immediately, most often in the form of pain killers as they are being wheeled out of the birthing room with dreams of their former narcotics again being available which again prohibits breast feeding.
AND add to that, not every new-mom, even produces milk, while some women (and even men) who DO lactate, are not even pregnant..
True dat! Not all birthing peoples can produce milk. She’s just posing as a leftist, or she would know that.
As with all things, political or otherwise, the Hollywood Elite—just as with the DC Elite—think they are worshipped and adored for their vast knowledge, keen insight, astute analysis, and good ol’ homespun wisdom—none of which they possess. But it makes them feel important and it feeds their ravenous egos. When they are in front of a live audience, they relish the applause and smiles from the mesmerized idolators.
Any advice for Pete Buttigieg, Bette? He’s still trying to figure it out.
The democras believe, ” If you can’t Stiffle Them with brillance , Stiffle them with Bull shiz . ” P. T. Barum , Author, I believe.
>”TRY BREASTFEEDING”<
Another 2 ounce-brained Hollywood imbecile heard from…..
2 ounce? You give her too much credit!
Ask all the pregnant men to donate their breast milk, problem solved.
Substituting donkey milk, I do not think will work.
response to Mosgopusa6
As Joe Biden said, ” oh, Come on, Man.!!
It is a scientific fact that breast feeding is healthier than formula, but there are down sides to breast feeding. Like one other person said, if mom is a drug addict or drunk (or both) that **** will go into the infant’s body. Then there is the fact that some women dry up before the breast feeding process is suppose to stop. Many women in the past made there own formula, but since this is pretty much a lost art it would be advised to do some research before jumping into home made formula. Some of the so-called home made formulas can do more harm than good. Nothing is fool proof, but this is the first time I ever read Bette Midler saying anything that was even half way reasonable. I’m surprised she didn’t advocate these mothers post abort their children like the dummycrat party platform encourages.
A while back, while doing a Bing of L&O episodes, i remember one woman (druggie) BEING charged with the death of her kid, BECAUSE SHE breast fed it and it died due to the drugs in HER system…
Breast feeding, like she did for her kids, right?
How did the human race survive without Similac and other breast milk alternatives.?
The same way they survived without a 4 WD pickup, the NFL, the golf course, and an electric lawnmower. Before WWI we were an agricultural society, now we are not. We do not live on farms growing our own food and the woman of the house staying home raising the children, growing her own garden, canning what she got from it, sewing the husband’s shirts and helping him in the fields when he needed her.
Things began to change when the men went to WWI and then again in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc. Mama went to work. Now women still work but it’s not at home.
This is America. We are a first world country and we have nice things. At least we did until Joe Biden came along. His followers seem to resent those nice things and want us to become a socialist, communist, third world hellhole where things like baby formula are not available.
I’m not signing on to that bandwagon.
However, I would bet that women who are about to deliver now are getting ready to breastfeed until Joe Biden gets kicked out of office.
What’s next on his list to destroy? Whatever it is we better stock up on it now.
With the recent spate of high profile mass shootings i predict a GUN GRAB soon.