Sara McGinnis
posted in CelebritiesOdds are good you'll never come across a photo of Tiffani Thiessen breastfeeding in public, because she prefers privacy even if that means slinking away to a bathroom to nurse her child.
"I think a woman should be able to breastfeed anywhere and everywhere," the woman who welcomed son Holt 9 months ago recently told Us Weekly.
The 42-year-old, who first became a mom when she and husband Brady Smith welcomed daughter Harper in 2010, went on to say, "I do what I need to do, but usually in a restroom … and sadly sit on a toilet and nurse my child."
"At the same time, I don’t judge women who … sit at a dinner table and do it.… It's just not me," she clarified.
While Tiffani Thiessen is well aware many of her fellow celebrity moms have found breastfeeding boosted their post-baby weight loss, it has yet to make her "skinny."
"That’s a myth for me," the former Saved By the Bell star explained. "I’m still not there.… What are you going to do? … I can’t starve myself because that’s not good for my child."
Although it's more common to cheer on celebrity moms who are loud and proud with their breastfeeding I would be doing Tiffani a disservice if I didn't applaud her speaking about her more conservative stance. Every word she's saying sounds an awful lot like me.
Breastfeeding in public made me incredibly nervous as a new mom, and while I agree with her anyone should be allowed to feed wherever they need, I also slunk away for privacy when it was time. I did the restaurant bathroom thing a handful of times, and often left family gatherings for a quiet bedroom rather than go for it right in front of everyone.
For quite a few years, as the nursing in public movement became more profound, I regretted not having the confidence to have fed anywhere. I envied my friends who breastfed in front of me with ease, and chided myself for not having tried harder (or relaxed more...it's still not clear which part I wasn't getting right).
But even more years since my supply has dried up I'm thrilled to see more discussion happening about the variety of ways people breastfeed. Loud and proud isn't the only commendable way. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- like Tiffani said -- but there ought to be a place for us quietly-getting-it-done breastfeeders as well.
Photo: PR Photos
Check out what more celebrity moms have said about the breastfeeding-weight loss connection:
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