Though breastfeeding is a naturally beautiful process, it doesn’t come naturally for many. It may take a while before some new mums can finally get the hang of nursing their newborns. It can also sometimes be downright uncomfortable and even, frustrating.
New mums often feel blindsided by just how long breastfeeding takes. And celebrities like model Chrissy Teigen are no exception.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight (ET), she admitted how it sometimes kind of makes her feel like, well, a “cow.”
She gave birth to her first child with singer John Legend nearly two months ago. In the said interview, she gushed about little milestones such as baby Luna Simone’s first smile and making eye contact.
“There is no feeling like that first little smile…”
“Her eyes have uncrossed a little bit, and, like, now, rather than looking right through you, she looks at you, which is really nice,” marvelled the new mum. “There is no feeling like that first little smile, your first Mother’s Day, which was so beautiful and sweet to me. The entire day my eyes were on the verge of tears because I was so happy.”
The funny model became more candid when talking about breastfeeding. More on that on the next page!
Though it is a very special bond, she admits she was shocked by the gruelling feeding schedule of a newborn. “The feeding schedule surprised me a lot. If you kind of do the math, you’re kind of breastfeeding for 10 hours a day total,” she told ET. “It’s very loving and sweet, but it’s not easy. They just use you for your milk and you just feel like you are just a cow all day.”
Adds the new mum, “It’s hard to work your entire day around getting her the nourishment she needs because they are just little animals.”
“[Breastfeeding] is very loving and sweet, but it’s not easy.”
Though many mums—celebrity or otherwise—idealise breastfeeding, it’s refreshing to see a new mum who’s not afraid to own up to their struggles, revealing the not-so pretty side of motherhood.
Being a new mum can be draining, exhausting but it can also be blissful and rewarding. It’s good to know that there are mums like Chrissy who can serve as an inspiration to other mums, reassuring them that they’re not alone.