A person’s breastfeeding journey is full of ups and downs and it’s always refreshing to see our favourite celebrities talk openly about their breastfeeding experiences.
When celebrities keep it real about breastfeeding it can be incredibly inspiring for other new mothers who are considering breastfeeding as an option – or who are also experiencing the challenges in their own journey. 2023 saw more celebrities share their breastfeeding stories than ever. But which celebrities broke the internet when they posted about breastfeeding? Let’s take a look…
1. Kourtney Kardashian Barker
Kourtney Kardashian Barker ended 2023 on a high when she gave birth to her son Rocky. This is her first child with her husband Travis Barker, the drummer from Blink 182. Both Kourtney and Travis have children from previous relationships and were very open about wanting a child together. After trying IVF and then deciding to stop the process and let nature take it’s course, Kourtney went on to announce her pregnancy earlier on this year at a Blink 182 concert. The news of their baby made headlines worldwide.
Kardashian fans waited with bated breath for news of the arrival of their baby and in December Kourtney posted a series of photos of her and Travis with their son Rocky. One photo showed Kourtney dressed in black and breastfeeding her son. In previous years Kourtney has been vocal about her love of breastfeeding her three older children and it was wonderful to see she was carrying on the tradition and feeding her baby boy Rocky.
Of course it wasn’t long before Kourtney’s post racked up millions of likes and thousands of comments.
2. Serena Williams
In August of this year, tennis superstar Serena Williams welcomed her second child with husband Alexis Ohanian. When Serena posted a video about her “super soldier” breast milk to social media, the news made headlines around the world. The Instagram reel showed Serena opening a freezer packed with her expressed breast milk stored in special breast milk bags. She explained she had pumped all the milk on a recent trip to New York and wanted to donate it to those in need.
In the video Serena’s voice can be heard saying: “I’m really excited to donate some breast milk that I have left over from my trip to New York, to some people who really need it. It will be anonymous but super excited to just help – in some way.”
Serena’s 17 million followers were quick to applaud her decision to donate breast milk. One follower replied: “Love not only that you did this but that you’re posting about it to bring much needed attention and visibility to the need for donor milk ! Thank you !”. You can read more about this here.
3. Ferne McCann
Reality star and business woman Ferne McCann has been open and honest about her breastfeeding journey with baby girl Finty, whom was born earlier this year. She’s posted a selection of breastfeeding photos and shared her views and personal experience with breastfeeding. However, it was a video of Ferne breastfeeding on TV that went viral.
Back in October 2023 Ferne appeared on the daytime show ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’ extolling the benefits of breast milk and its many uses. During the interview her daughter became fussy and Ferne knew the little one needed fed. Ferne made the quick decision to breastfeed Finty there and then on TV and the act was praised by many for being bold and brave.
You can read more about the story here.
4. Keke Palmer
Actress, singer and TV host Keke Palmer gave birth to first child earlier on this year and since then she’s been praised for highlighting how challenging it can be as a first-time mom. Just a few months after her son Leodis Andrelton Jackson was born, Keke found herself needing to travel for work. As a breastfeeding mom this of course meant she needed to pump milk to relieve engorgement and to bring breast milk back for her baby.
When it came to transporting her breast milk, Keke quickly ran into obstacles at Houston Airport. In a social media post to X Keke wrote: “Breast milk discrimination at the Houston airport ruined my mood. I should’ve popped my tit out right then because the discretion and comfort of pumping is thwarted with threats to throw out over 16oz my babies food?!?!!! Why is that not a crime??I’M A MOTHER for crying out loud.”
Understandably it wasn’t long before Keke’s post went viral – with many other mothers relating to her issues of travelling with pumped breast milk. You can read more on the story here.
5. Rhianna
In August, during World Breastfeeding Week, Rihanna made headlines around the world when a photo of her breastfeeding her toddler was shown on her Savage X Fenty fashion page.
The photo in question may have been an image promoting Rhianna’s new range of maternity wear but the focus was on Rihanna breastfeeding her toddler whilst pregnant. One fan exclaimed: “Pregnant with one while breastfeeding another. Women are amazing.”. Around the world, Rihanna won praise for breastfeeding whilst pregnant and normalising breastfeeding a toddler.
6. Stacey Solomon
Loose Women presenter Stacey Solomon gave birth to her fifth child, a daughter named Belle in February of this year. This is the second daughter for Stacey and husband Joe Swash. They welcomed daughter Rose in 2022. Stacey always keeps it real with her followers, charting the ups and downs of being a busy mama.
In March 2023 Stacey uploaded a series of photos, with the first one showing her surrounded by her three youngest children whilst breastfeeding baby Belle. Stacey mentioned in the caption how proud she was feeling about how her day had went – acknowledging that she doesn’t always feel this way! She ended by saying: “Now we are home & I’m ready to collapse on the sofa & start the cluster feeds 🙌”.
It wasn’t long before Stacey’s heartfelt breastfeeding photo went viral.
7. Tamara Ecclestone
Mother of two and socialite Tamara Ecclestone Rutland has been a huge advocate for breastfeeding, and has particularly championed breastfeeding beyond infancy. Having breastfed her first daughter into toddlerhood and beyond, Tamara then went on to breastfeed her youngest daughter too.
In February 2023, Tamara posted a beautiful image of her nursing her two year old daughter Serena, with the simple but powerful statement: “It’s not just about the milk.❤️”. Her followers were quick to praise Tamara and agree with her sentiment. One follower @motherhood.bubble replied: “I couldn’t agree more @tamaraecclestoneofficial ❤️”
8. Katherine Ryan
At the very beginning of 2023 comedienne and mother of three Katherine Ryan posted a series of photos to her Instagram page – with one in particular going viral. It was a picture of he breastfeeding her newborn daughter whilst holding a glass of wine.
Kathryn’s followers were quick to praise her actions. One follower named blossomkeepsake wrote: “Beautiful! Thank for you normalising breastfeeding 💪”
9. Maggie Maurer
In what has been described by Vogue as possibly “the most fashion breastfeeding selfie of all time”, model Maggie Maurer rocked the internet when she posted a very unique breastfeeding photo.
With a face covered in gold paint, and wearing a bathrobe, Maggie was pictured feeding her baby backstage at the Schiaparelli spring/summer 2023 couture show – immediately after walking the runway. The things us working mamas have to do, right?!
10. Rumer Willis
When Rumer Willis posted her first breastfeeding photo in August 2023 it went viral. Womens Health Champion and daughter of Actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, Rumer had recently given birth to her first child when she updated her one million followers on life as a new breastfeeding mother.
Alongside the viral breastfeeding photo Rumer wrote a long caption about how grateful she was feeling and how in love she was with being a mother to her daughter. Touchingly Rumer ended by saying: “I have never felt more beautiful in my whole life”.
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