Breast is best left to baby

WHAT KATI DID NEXT: Kathryn Blundell certainly stepped into the limelight this month.

As deputy editor of Mother and Baby magazine, she made her feelings quite clear when she described breastfeeding as “creepy.”

I quote: “I wanted my body back. (And some wine). I also wanted to give my boobs at least a chance to stay on my chest, rather than dangling around my stomach.

“They’re part of my sexuality, too — not just breasts, but fun bags. And when you have that attitude (and I admit I made no attempt to change it), seeing your teeny, tiny, innocent baby latching on where only a lover has been before feels, well, a little creepy.”

Blimey! Talk about taking your life into your hands. As any mother knows, the questions of how and what to feed your baby are politically explosive.

Breastfeed, and you are a hippy-dippy who will inevitably have a 12-year-old dangling off your chest in years to come, formula feed and you are denying your child the best start in life. I breast-fed and I had a glass of wine every now and then. It’s allowed. Absolute drunkenness is a no-no but with common sense a small drink may help you relax and let’s be honest, a new baby can be a little stressful.

My boobs are not dangling round my stomach.

In fact, mine and most of my friends who breastfed have still got very lovely perky ones, thank-you very much. Which brings me to her final point.

Knowing that I am providing my baby with the best start in life and seeing his weight on the scales go up every week, is far more satisfying to me than imagining a lover attached to my “fun bags.”

They’ll still be there for the lover, long after the baby has moved on to broccoli and banana.

In her defence, printed in the magazine the following month she argued that she had written the piece with humour as the subject can get far too serious. She is right, it can.

However, when the subject is regarding the provisions to ensure your child grows into a healthy human being then Kathryn’s “fun bags” are, or should be, the last thing on her mind.

I hope her lover and her child appreciate the sacrifice in years to come.