A couple of weeks ago, this tidbit was posted  about a famous actress
quitting breastfeeding because it "exhausted" her:

http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?
A2=ind0409A&L=lactnet&P=R3796&I=-3

and here is another tidbit, maybe giving another reason for the early
weaning:

http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?
A2=ind0409B&L=lactnet&P=R9116&I=-3

I was unable to respond at the time, because it is an appalling quote
to read but also because it is so typical of many American couples. In
a way, that little blurb sums up the conflict we have in America about
breastfeeding. Denise Richards' husband, as it was pointed out in the
article is a "long time fan of Playboy", the mens magazine his wife is
to pose nude in. She claims she was exhausted and wanted her body back,
but her husband, who has been a notorious womanizer for the past 2
decades, whose name has been associated with dozens of women in the
Adult entertainment industry has at least as big a role to play. I
can't think of someone more likely to sexualize the breast (not to
mention objectifying women to an extreme) and so it should be no wonder
to me that she (he) wanted her body back. I suppose I am shocked she
nursed the baby at all (if she did). While this might not be an
everyday situation (how many women wean to prevent sagging because they
are going to be in Playboy?) I think this situation says a lot about
what we  have to overcome while working with new mothers and their
partners.

People magazine posted this letter from a reader:

"It's sad that Denise Richards chose to stop breast-feeding after a
mere six weeks because it was 'exhausting'. Doesn't she realize she's
depriving her daughter of many of the benefits of breast-feeding? As a
breast-feeding mother, I can say I'd rather be exhausted than put my
child at risk."

I have yet to see a discussion in the media about how the sexualization
of the breast and the objectification of women contribute to
bottle-feeding, or whether young women are coming to motherhood with
realistic expectations.

Michelle DePesa

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