Of course we already know that, but it helps to be reminded from time to time. According to reports, Salma Hayek enjoys breastfeeding so much she breastfed a hungry child when she made a visit to Sierra Leone. The mother could not produce breast milk, and the actress stepped in to help. Her trip to Sierra Leone was part of a fact finding mission for UNICEF.

Hayek was quoted online saying that she enjoyed breastfeeding her daughter Valentina so much she was “like an alcoholic.” She appeared on NBC’s Today show to talk about the experience. “It’s about women sticking together and we really need to help the children in any way we can,” she said.

As part of her work for UNICEF, Hayek is trying to encourage more women breastfeed their babies as a way to strengthen their immune systems. Addressing the issue, Hayek said, “It is the best thing you can do for your child, not only the bonding, that’s how you build the immune system, so in a country like Africa imagine how important it is for the mothers to do that.”

Then she spoke on one aspect of caring for a baby that is probably an area of concern for many parents. “…there is the belief that if you are breastfeeding you cannot have a sexual life, so the husbands of these women are really encouraging them to stop…,” she said. It is a well known fact that having a young baby can sometimes lead to problems with intimacy, and this is something that many couples have struggled with. I do find it surprising though that the husbands Hayek spoke of would try to discourage their wives from breastfeeding. This is especially surprising, since in many third world countries breastfeeding is actually used as a form of birth control.

I certainly hope that Hayek’s efforts and the work of UNICEF in Africa and indeed worldwide will yield results. I think there is enough evidence to support the idea that breastfeeding is the best thing for a baby, as long as the mother is able to. Many people including myself would not think this would be an issue in Africa, but more likely in more developed nations where new mothers often have careers or other concerns. In fact, in many African countries and others with primarily people of African descent, breastfeeding is the norm rather than the exception. However, times are changing and so women everywhere may well be moving away from breastfeeding exclusively during the first few months of their babies’ lives.

I applaud Hayek for helping this baby in need. I hope that some suitable alternative was found to help the mother to feed her child. There were no further details available in the online stories on the issue.
Hayek’s daughter, Valentina was born in September 2007. Her father is Francois-Henri Pinault, CEO of the French company, PPR.

One celebrity or another seemed to announce her pregnancy, deliver a baby, or deliver twins almost daily in 2008. Never mind the latest it-handbag, babies are by far the most fashionable accessory in Hollywood.

Here’s a rundown of some of the highlights of the celebrity baby year!

Mom working furthest into her pregnancy: Amy Poehler on Saturday Night Live performing her infamous moose rap with Sarah Palin just seven days before giving birth to son Archie.Best Celebrity Baby Name: That’s a hard one. My favorites are Harper Rosie, daughter of Dixie Chick Martie Maguire, and Harlow Winter Kate, daughter of Nicole Ritchie.

Worst Celebrity Baby Name: Bronx Mowgli Wentz, son of Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Pete Wentz. Bronx Wentz? Try saying that three times fast.

Most Expensive Baby Photos: We don’t know for sure, but we are guessing that it’s Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s twins, Vivienne and Knox.  Photos of their first baby, Shiloh, sold for $4 million, Jennifer Lopez recived $6 million for her twins, and the sum paid for Vivienne and Knox’s snaps is reportedly a “record” we can only imagine they are the most expensive baby pictures ever. As with Shiloh’s photographs, the Jolie-Pitts donated the money to charity.

Most Normal Celebrity Moms: A parade of Hollywood stars taking their babies and toddlers to the Hollywood Pumpkin Patch. See, they are just like us. Albeit with high heels.

There’s Defnitely Something in the Water: The must have celebrity trend? Not it-bags, not a baby – the most fashionable accessory seems to be twins. Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Marcia Cross, Lisa-Marie Presley, Diane Farr, Ricky Martin,  Tony Dovolani, Nancy Grace all became parents of twins, and Charlie Sheen, Jenna Jameson and Rebecca Romijn are expecting twin babies.

Skinniest Pregnant Mom: Nicole Kidman. Aussie Nicole Kidman barely seemed to gain weight with her pregnancy. We know it’s vital to be invisible when you turn sideways to make it in Hollywood, but surely the rules are relaxed when you are pregnant? I was pleading for you to eat a burger, Nicole. Or lasagne. Mac & Cheese? Anything with cheese is good. Growing babies love cheese. And food, in general.

Most Delightful Disregard of Hollywood Standards: Has to go to Salma Hayek, for still nursing her 14-month-old daughter and prioritizing her baby above diet and exercise. Way to go, Salma!

What was your favorite celebrity pregnancy moment of 2008? What is your favorite and least favorite baby names?

I’m psyched to have something in common with Salma Hayek. No, it’s not that I’m almost as gorgeous as she is. We both nursed our babies longer than the one year most pediatricians recommend.

If you go by the advice in many baby books, age one is when moms should be weaning their babies, and the majority of moms who choose to nurse do wean before 12 months. It speaks to how unusual it is to nurse past one year by the fact that it has a name – “extended nursing”.

Salma’s daughter, Valentina Paloma, is over 13 months old and still nursing, and Salma gave an interview to the Times Online saying how much she loved nursing, and had no intention of stopping soon.

In many cultures around the world, babies are allowed to nurse as long as mom and baby want, and baby is allowed to wean when they are ready. Nursing until age 2 or 3 is very common in other countries, and perhaps that’s actually the most natural thing to do.

I nursed my son until he was 18 months old. At that time, we moved house, we had so much going on
that he was too busy to nurse, and then he forgot about it. It was nice, because I was getting to the point where I was ready to be done nursing, so it worked out wonderfully for both of us.

Here’s where me and Salma diverge, and you’ll have to forgive me for being a teeny bit smug here. She slammed the myth that breastfeeding helps you loose weight, citing her tummy on Oprah (Watch the video – she looks awesome. Meh.) Anywway, I dropped all 60lbs of pregnancy weight and then some nursing, right now I weigh less than I ever have. I can’t gloat too much, she’s a glamorous, rich, beautiful Hollywood star and I’m not!

But I love to hear that she’s nursing her daughter because she enjoys it so much, in total disregard of Hollywood’s standards and ignoring the pressure to be skinny and gorgeous.