Jamie Otis doesn’t understand why people have become “sensitized” to breastfeeding.
“The amount of people who get offended by a breastfeeding mom will forever shock me,” the Married at First Sight alum, 38, wrote via Instagram on Friday, May 23, alongside a video of her pumping (with a hands-free breast pump) in her car. “A woman FEEDING her baby — however she can — should be supported. No questions.”
Otis shares four children with husband Doug Hehner, including 8-month-old twin baby boys — Hawkins Tyler and Huxley James — whom she is currently combo-feeding. (They also have daughter Henley, 7, and son Hendrix, 5.)
“Breastfeeding is the most natural and primitive way to care for your infant, but yet I guarantee I’ll get comments about how inappropriate it is to pump my breastmilk out in car line pick up or nurse my twin babies in public,” she continued. “And honestly, the reason society feels so strongly about a woman not breastfeeding in front of people is bc they don’t see enough of it. A hundred years ago there would be no issue at all bc that’s was the only way to provide nutrients for your baby.”
Otis claimed that the rise in popularity of formula contributed to how people view breastfeeding today, despite it being “the most natural thing a woman’s body is made to do.”
“And just to be clear, I breastfeed AND supplement with formula so this definitely isn’t a knock on formula. I’m soo thankful for formula! I nurse my twin babies when my breast have breastmilk and I mix formula for my babies when I run out of breastmilk — no matter where I am. But yet, I feel a little shy to nurse out in public bc I know society is so judgmental about this,” she wrote. “But I believe the only way we can change this stigma surrounding breastfeeding is to normalize it in public. So here I am, showing up publicly on my own social media page trying to do my part to help desensitize the most primitive, natural way a mommy can feed her baby.”
She concluded: “I know some people will definitely come at me, but I believe with my whole heart that a mom should be able to feed her baby anywhere and anyhow — and she should not be judged or shamed for it. …so I’ll take the backlash in the hopes of helping society see breastfeeding for what it is — feeding and nurturing our babies.”
Otis was supported by fellow parents in the comments section of her video post, which she titled, “Pumping my breastmilk out at car line pick up … nothing to see here.”
“Amen! You’re doing amazing, Mama!!,” one commenter shared with another adding, “Lol. I use a cover but I breastfeed anywhere and everywhere.”
Otis met Hehner, 41, on season 1 of MAFS in 2014 after appearing as a contestant on season 16 of The Bachelor in 2012. She has been open about her difficult journey to motherhood, sharing her and Hehner’s experience with multiple miscarriages and the loss of their first child, Johnathan Edward, at 17 weeks in 2016.
“I’m a labor and delivery nurse, so I’ve envisioned the day of having my baby more than I ever envisioned ever getting married or anything, really,” Otis said during a 2019 episode of their former “Hot Marriage Cool Parents” podcast. “I never, in my wildest dreams, would’ve envisioned that I would be delivering a 17-week-old baby who went immediately to be in heaven. Not only did he go to heaven, but when we looked at him, he was perfectly formed — he had all 10 fingers, all 10 toes. He had a little button nose. He was a perfectly formed baby who just couldn’t look at us, who couldn’t cry to let us know that he needed us. He couldn’t communicate to us and we couldn’t protect him.”
The couple has now been married for 11 years, with Otis writing via Instagram on Saturday, May 24, “There is absolutely no one I’d rather live this life with. I love you, @doughehner! Thanks for always being so loving, kind, and PATIENT with me.”
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