Nothing ‘natural’ about breastfeeding on a catwalk
NORMALISING breastfeeding is to be applauded, but there’s nothing “normal” about doing it on a runway in the middle of a fashion show, writes Carleen Frost.
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IT could have been the biggest scandal to hit the Garden of Eden.
From the very first days of human existence — before you could even think about ducking down to Coles for a tin of baby formula in the middle of the night — mothers breastfed their newborn babies.
It came naturally, it worked and babies were well fed.
And hey, there was really no other option so new mums gave it their best shot and went with it.
Everyone was happy.
But it seems that the very “normal” act of breastfeeding has made headlines ever since.
Everyone all over the world, across every eon of time has had an opinion on how, why or if new mothers should do it.
Early cultures debated over whether they should commission a wet nurse or experiment with DIY formulas.
Some even thought it was a good idea to substitute breast milk with tea.
In 2018, though some are taking the debate beyond the simple breast-versus-bottle and taking it to the fashion runway.
That’s right: the subject became a global talking point again this week when Sports Illustrated swimwear model and budding internet sensation Mara Martin felt the need to haul her five-month-old baby daughter down the runway breastfeeding en route.
Under glaring lights and in front of dozens of flashing cameras, little Aria was paraded in front of the screaming crowd which was so loud she needed noise cancelling headphones.
But whether you are pro-breast or pro-bottle, this cannot seriously be the best way to feed a hungry baby. Can it?
Even the logistics seemed dicey.
What if she tripped? She wouldn’t be the first model to stumble under the glare of designers, industry leaders and flashing bulbs.
It’s her body and her baby but hardly the sort of thing to do with one’s most precious cargo in your arms.
You would forgive that poor baby for never wanting to feed again.
Most experts will recommend feeding your baby in a calm environment where they won’t be disturbed.
And so they should whether that be at home or in public.
But deliberately walking your feeding baby under the glow of spotlights and the crack of flashbulbs and the thump of music just to make a point seems opportunistic at best.
And with Martin following in the footsteps of Nicole Trunfio and Gisele Bündchen before her, it seems that the must have fashion accessory for model mums these days is a breastfeeding baby.
At every turn this new generation of social media-savvy women claim to want to “normalise” breastfeeding but it’s hard not to view these sorts of attention-grabbing acts as a grab for fans, likes, clicks or followers.
Martin’s run down the catwalk this week is no exception.
Just like Trunfio’s breastfeeding front page on Elle magazine, the organisers behind Martin’s new claim to fame say it was not pre-planned but a last minute decision to feed a hungry baby.
“I saw that Mara’s baby was sleeping and peacefully nursing. I asked Mara if she would want to walk and continue to nurse,” Sports Illustrated editor MJ Day told reporters.
Following her mummy march down the catwalk, Martin has been lauded by some a hero for new mums everywhere
As Good Morning America put it, she represents a “model mom revolutionising the runway”.
Well, that’s one way to put it.
But let’s not pretend for a moment that Mara’s heroics (as some would describe them) have anything to do with the struggles facing mums who live ordinary lives out of the public eye, without press agents to spin their every move in the most positive light.
No, the real heroes fighting to “normalise” breastfeeding are the ones expressing milk in their offices, popping into their child’s daycare centre in their lunchbreak or trying to feed their newborns at the park while wrangling a toddler.
It’s not a model on the catwalk being helped along by a team of hair and makeup professionals and probably some help to watch the baby as well.
The real mothers out there are not taking their babies into large crowds of people to feed them, and putting them under scores of hot, bright lights just to show that they are “normal.”
They are not walking the streets — while breastfeeding — trying to get attention.
And they do it whether there is a headline in it for them or not.
For most people on the forefront of “normalising” breastfeeding it’s on with the job and nothing to see here.
Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor Renee Kam agrees.
She says although celebrity does draw attention to the cause she is stumped as to why breastfeeding needs to be “normalised” and as to why it’s can become such a headline grabber.
“It’s been around since the dawn of time and it’s something that babies do,” she said.
Carleen Frost is The Daily Telegraph chief of staff.