Ashley Graham, the renowned model, is known for breaking stereotypes and embracing body positivity. From gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated as the first plus-size model to sharing the raw and real moments of motherhood, Graham is on a mission to empower moms.
The model opened up about her decision to stop breastfeeding her twins at 5 months. She challenges societal expectations, reminding every mother of their right to choose what works best for them.
The discussion kicked off when Chelsea Handler, the show's host, commended Ashley for advocating the normalization of breastfeeding.
During the conversation, Ashley shared personal experiences while also considering some aspects of her life to keep private, admitting, “Especially with how your body is changing when you’re pregnant, and stretchmarks, and the saggy skin, formula, breastfeeding. Cause there’s also this whole thing with people telling you how to feed your child.”
Before, she openly shared pictures on her Instagram, breastfeeding her firstborn, Isaac. Her posts struck a chord with followers, sparking positive responses and inspiring many.
Source: ashleygraham / Instagram
But this time, Ashley shares that her babies are on formula. Back when Isaac came along, she was firm in the belief that breastfeeding was the only "right way" to feed a child.
However, her perspective shifted with the arrival of twins Roman and Malachi in January 2022. At some point, she thought, “I’m not doing this. This is not working here. Both of you want both of these? Like, that’s a lot of work.
Ashley gave her all to breastfeeding the twins for the first 5 months, but eventually, she found it too challenging. Dealing with twins was a whole different ball game.“It felt like I was feeding a nation,” she admitted. She even posted pictures on her Instagram, attempting to breastfeed both sons simultaneously. Yet, she was candid about feeling exhausted in the process.
Source: ashleygraham / Instagram
Ashley replaced breastmilk with formula which is considered the best in the US. She noticed her babies seemed content with the change, and their development wasn't impacted by the formula.
The model firmly believes that each family has the freedom to choose how they feed their children, regardless of others' opinions. Viewers of the show rallied behind her, offering support, and some even shared their own stories. These women, like Ashley, came to realize that people often show too much interest in what someone else's babies eat.
She said, “I didn’t want to breastfeed, but I was pressured into it by everyone around me (including my female OB-GYN). That lasted about two weeks. Childbirth is incredibly taxing on a body, and what works for one person doesn’t always work for another.”
Source: ashleygraham / Instagram
The news blew up on the internet, and loads of women chimed in, saying moms don't have to be over the moon about breastfeeding and can call it quits whenever they darn well please.
One user shared a similar experience and said, “Breastfeeding twins was so tough. At first, I would literally never get a break — when one finished, the other needed to latch on, and so on. I was a zombified milking machine. But even after I’d mastered tandem feeding, I struggled to produce enough milk to satisfy them both. I started mix-feeding (breast plus formula top-ups) pretty early on and then, like Ashley, gave up breast-feeding entirely around 5 months.”
Another user claimed she enjoyed breastfeeding and did it for quite a long time. But she was fully supportive of Ashley, “If I had twins, I’m sure I would’ve stopped nursing much earlier. Even with just one baby at a time, there have been times, when I am so touched out and exhausted and overstimulated that I just need my body to myself. I couldn’t imagine a whole additional baby on me.”
Source: ashleygraham / Instagram
As a mother of three, she talks openly about the challenges of keeping up with her energetic boys and making time for self-care. Many moms appreciate her honesty, and feel understood and supported.
“I think the biggest struggle, besides keeping a schedule with snack time and nap time, is making sure that the days are filled with activities where everybody’s having a good time, and finding time for myself,” Graham shares. “Moms know, if it’s not on the calendar, it’s basically not happening. It takes a lot of effort to carve out me-time, whether it’s a workout or acupuncture or yoga.
Source: ashleygraham / Instagram
She added, “I’m like, ’Wow, I birthed three kids. I’ve been married forever and a day.’ It feels so cool that I’m still hot,” she says with a laugh. “And I think it’s a testament to other women in the same position as me, who have stretched-out stomachs and cellulite that yeah, this is hot. We are hot. It’s all what you make of it.”
If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it on your favorite social media platforms. Stay tuned for more articles by giving us a follow!