Molly Baz, a new mom, faces backlash over her breastfeeding billboard after a previous ad was banned, sparking conversations about motherhood and body image.
So, you know Molly Baz, right? The cookbook author and food influencer? Well, she’s been making waves lately. Back in May, she teamed up with a breastfeeding brand called Swehl to promote lactation cookies. They even had a billboard in Times Square featuring her holding cookies over her bikini-clad chest. But guess what? That ad got pulled just three days later for being too racy, which really ticked off a lot of moms.
Fast forward to now, and Molly’s back with a new billboard, this time with her baby boy, Gio. She’s partnered with Bobbie, an organic infant formula company, and the new ad shows her breastfeeding Gio while holding a bottle of formula. It’s all about her choice to combo feed, which means she’s giving him both breast milk and formula.
Molly shared with Yahoo Life that the whole drama over her first billboard was a wild ride. But it also taught her to stand up for what she believes in, especially as a new mom. So when Bobbie reached out for their “Everybody’s Gotta Eat” campaign, she jumped at the chance to get involved again.
She was shocked when her first billboard got taken down. It really hit her how unfair it was that her pregnant body was deemed unacceptable while other ads flaunted women in much less clothing. It made her realize she had to speak up for mothers and their bodies in the media.
Now, she’s sharing her combo feeding journey with Bobbie in a big way. She believes it’s important to change the conversation around motherhood and feeding choices. For her, 80% of Gio’s feeds come from nursing, with the rest being formula. She loves that combo feeding allows her to keep working without the stress of breastfeeding being the only option.
Motherhood has been a beautiful journey for Molly. She spent her first few months just enjoying time with Gio, figuring things out day by day. But now that she’s back to work, she’s juggling her roles and learning that every week brings something new.
She’s also picked up some great parenting advice along the way. One piece of wisdom compares having a child to snorkeling for the first time—it’s like diving into a whole new world. And she’s learned that everything is just a phase, which helps her stay present and not stress too much about the little things.
Of course, mom shaming is real, and Molly has faced her share of judgment. She recalls a time when she posted a photo of herself eating an oyster while wearing her baby in a carrier. People were outraged about how she wore the carrier, thinking she was putting her baby in danger. But Molly stands firm in trusting her instincts as a mom.
As for her relationship with food, she hasn’t noticed a huge change in her appetite since having Gio. She’s all about balance and doesn’t believe in restriction. And after nine months of pregnancy, the first thing she treated herself to post-birth? A cold tuna sandwich, which she absolutely loved!