MP urges TOWIE stars to breastfeed: ‘It will encourage working-class mums to do the same’

Labour MP Sharon Hodgson has urged TV stars to breastfeed in bid “to get working-class mothers give up bottle feeding”

MP urges TOWIE stars to breastfeed: ‘It will encourage working-class mums to do the same’

by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

In a move which has been praised by some, and slammed as patronising by others, Labour MP Sharon Hodgson has urged celebrity mothers to show working class mothers that breastfeeding is “normal and natural”.

Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate, the shadow minister for children and families said: "In some communities today, there seems to be an anti-breastfeeding culture among young mothers, which we need to challenge and reverse.

"We rarely see breastfeeding, and if we do it is usually by mums such as us - middle class, professional, older mums.

"This reinforces the image in some young mums' minds that breastfeeding is something for a certain type of people, not for them and their friends.

"We need to work to reverse that image and let new mums and young mums know that breastfeeding is not only good for their health and that of their babies, but it has immediate benefits, such as helping them lose their pregnancy weight much faster."

She added: "Come on, TV producers, soap writers, celebrities and TOWIE stars watching this debate - get to it.

“Get breastfeeding on TV and get working class mums seeing it.”

While encouraging TV programmes to show breastfeeding is a positive idea, it is quite clearly wrong and condescending to assume that working class mums are not breastfeeding.

Rosemary Dodds, speaking on behalf of NCT to HuffPost UK Parents, said firmly: "The NCT supports all mums whether they breastfeed, bottle-feed or do some of both - it’s up to parents to decide how they would like to feed their baby.

"We welcome new ways of giving parents accurate information about feeding their baby, enabling them to make informed decisions."

**What do you make of these MP Hodgson's comments? **

Let us know via our Facebook page - or send us a tweet over at @CloserOnline - now!

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us