Model Elsie Hewitt shares why she's not breastfeeding
The new mom says she didn't want to remain her daughter's "sole lifeline" in a way that would further "deplete" her.
Elsie Hewitt has shared an unconventional take on breastfeeding.
The British model and her partner, comedian Pete Davidson, welcomed their daughter, Scottie Rose, on December 12, 2025.
In a new essay for Elle magazine, Hewitt says she has decided not to breastfeed her newborn.
The World Health Organisation recommends that new moms exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months of their lives.
However, many women are unable to breastfeed and have to rely on options such as formula, which is considered a safe and nutritious alternative.
In Hewitt's case, her choice not to breastfeed is based on her mental health and recovery.
"Feeding a baby carries an unusual amount of moral weight. Breastfeeding is presented as what you’re meant to do—the gold standard," she writes for Elle.
"It offers antibodies, unmatched nutrition, and powerful bonding. But at what cost? It also concentrates most of the physical and logistical labor of feeding onto one body—the same one that just grew a child, birthed it, and is already moving through the seismic shift that is postpartum recovery."
Hewitt adds that formula milk is seen as only an alternative "you turn to if something goes wrong," which further adds to the pressure.
"It is less often framed as an equally valid choice, one that creates space for shared responsibility and lifts just a fraction of the load from a mother during one of the most vulnerable seasons of her life. I was aware, even before pregnancy, of the quiet shame attached to formula feeding."
Hewitt says doing what's best for her daughter will always be "the most important thing".
"It took some grappling with that shame, and some exploring of the moral hierarchy around breastfeeding, to affirm that what was best for me and what was best for my baby did not exist on different levels or rankings—they were one and the same.
"And I needed my body to feel like it belonged to me again."
The truth is, there is a profound imbalance in the physical and emotional labor of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. Conception may begin with two contributors. After that, the physical load is singular. Biology assigned me the greater share of the burden. I chose to redistribute a small part of that weight by making feeding something we both carry.
The reaction to her essay received mixed views online. Many praised her for speaking out about a topic many women are afraid to discuss, with some moms sharing their personal experiences.
"I have never felt more isolated, stressed, on the brink of collapse mentally and physically than the time I was breastfeeding," one mom commented.
"I lasted 2 months and I realized my son was not getting the mother we both deserved me to be. I stopped and it was the best decision. It is so nice to see other moms speak up about their decisions too."
A second person wrote: "Here to support all moms, regardless of their feeding journey!"
Actress Olivia Munn, who is a mom of two, also shared her views.
"Saying 'breast is best', is disheartening for some of us mamas who can’t breastfeed because of things like low supply or breast cancer (I have gone through both). @elsie is an amazing mama and I’ve seen firsthand how much she adores and cares for little Scottie. She’s doing a phenomenal job as a first-time mom."
Some social media users accused Hewitt of being selfish.
"Let’s not normalize choosing vanity over what’s best for our children!" one person said. Another added: "This feels like propaganda for formula."
One Instagram user summed it up perfectly: "The most important thing for a newborn baby is a calm, rested mother."
Hewitt and Davidson officially confirmed their relationship in March 2025 when she shared a picture of the comedian on her Instagram Stories.
Hewitt has previously been linked to record producer Benny Blanco and actor Jason Sudeikis. Davidson has dated Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, Kate Beckinsale and Emily Ratajkowski.
Four months after Hewitt’s post, the couple announced that they were expecting.
She later admitted that the bundle of joy was unplanned, and she didn’t think she could get pregnant due to her endometriosis diagnosis.
The 29-year-old also underwent surgery to treat the endometriosis and preserve her fertility. "I was 100% convinced I was infertile and not going to be able to have kids," she told People magazine.
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Image credit: Instagram/@elsie