Elsie Hewitt Opens Up About Choosing Formula Feeding for Newborn Daughter with Pete Davidson
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — In a heartfelt essay published this week, actress and model Elsie Hewitt has spoken openly about her decision not to breastfeed her daughter with comedian Pete Davidson, sparking widespread conversation about the pressures new mothers face. Hewitt, 29, who welcomed baby Scottie Rose Hewitt Davidson in December 2025, detailed the physical and emotional toll of pregnancy and postpartum recovery, as well as the societal expectations placed on mothers to breastfeed.
Hewitt’s daughter is named in honor of Davidson’s late father, Scott Davidson, a firefighter who died during the September 11 attacks in 2001. The couple shared glimpses of their newborn on social media, with Davidson recently praising Hewitt’s parenting during an appearance on The Tonight Show.
In her essay for Elle magazine, Hewitt revealed that her choice to formula feed was influenced by her personal health journey, including a diagnosis of stage 4 endometriosis and subsequent surgery in 2024. She described feeling disconnected from her body for years, a sentiment compounded by the demands of her modeling career, which often placed her physical appearance under intense scrutiny.
“Feeding a baby carries an unusual amount of moral weight,” Hewitt wrote. “Breastfeeding is presented as what you’re meant to do — the gold standard. 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.”
Despite the well-documented benefits of breastfeeding, Hewitt emphasized the importance of recognizing formula feeding as an equally valid choice. She acknowledged the “quiet shame” often attached to formula feeding, a stigma that can isolate mothers who opt out of breastfeeding.
Her essay also candidly addressed the challenges she faced immediately after birth, including developing mastitis, a painful breast infection that made breastfeeding physically impossible. Hewitt recounted being prescribed antibiotics while simultaneously recovering from wisdom tooth removal surgery performed the day after delivery.
“I needed a BREAK!” she wrote, underscoring the exhaustion and physical strain that influenced her decision. Hewitt highlighted the imbalance in postpartum responsibilities, noting that while conception involves two people, the physical burden largely falls on the birthing parent. “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.”
Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognize breastfeeding as beneficial for infant and maternal health but also acknowledge the importance of supporting all feeding choices without judgment. The Office on Women’s Health similarly advocates for informed and individualized decisions regarding infant feeding.
Hewitt’s openness has resonated with many parents and advocates who emphasize that postpartum care must include mental health and physical well-being alongside infant nutrition. Her essay has been applauded for challenging the often unspoken guilt mothers face and for encouraging a more compassionate dialogue around feeding choices.
As Hewitt and Davidson navigate parenthood, their story contributes to a broader cultural shift toward recognizing the diverse realities of motherhood. With baby Scottie thriving on formula, Hewitt’s message underscores that the well-being of both parent and child is paramount, regardless of how feeding is approached.
Leave a Reply