Ashley Graham is one of the most relatable models and public figures out there. After becoming the first-ever plus-size model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, she has made it her mission to spread the body positivity message. And since Graham is keeping it real in every aspect of her life, she also held nothing back throughout her pregnancies, showing what it really takes to be a mom.
Being a mom to a boy and 2 twins, Graham is spreading a message that every mom has a right to choose whether breastfeeding is right for them, regardless of society’s expectations.
In a recent interview, Graham got candid about the consequences of being pregnant that every woman goes through but prefers to not be too vocal about. The model said she also considered keeping some things to herself, 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.”
Ashley proceeded to explain her experience with breastfeeding: “With my first kid, I was like, ’I can only breastfeed! This is the right way!’ Then I had the twins, and I was like, ’I’m not doing this. This is not working here. Both of you want both of these? This is a lot of work.’ So I stopped breastfeeding when they were 5 months, and I gave them the best formula that I could find… And these little guys are so strong and so happy.”
Ultimately, Graham believes it’s up to every mom to decide between formula or breastfeeding based on their personal experience. She drove her point home, saying, “I don’t think we should be telling people how we should be feeding our kids.”
The model then became even more relatable, sharing her physical struggles after giving birth. She said, “Your body just fills up with nutrition, and the baby sucks it out of you. And then the baby comes out and all of a sudden you’re just fully depleted of everything, so your hair falls out, you get acne, I mean, the weight doesn’t come off.”
Graham explained her candidness, saying, “I like to represent myself as someone who’s just happy with who I am. And I had a journey, like, it is a journey, body confidence, being okay with who you are is a journey… I don’t ever want to lie.” And we’re all grateful for the model sharing her experiences with us, as it makes mothers around the world feel seen and heard.
Preview photo credit ashleygraham / Instagram, ashleygraham / Instagram
Texas mom breastfeeds newborn son at a restaurant, then stranger asks her to do something you won’t believe
Breastfeeding is a natural and beautiful process that helps create intimacy and bonding between the mom and her bundle of joy.
Feeding babies whenever and wherever they are hungry is something mom’s shouldn’t feel bad about, but sadly, there are people out there who give them a hard time as they believe feeding babies in public is not appropriate or acceptable if they don’t use a cover.
Back in 2018, Melanie Dudley, a mom of a 3-month-old baby, was at a restaurant with her family and some friends when the little one started crying for food. Without hesitation, Melanie, who is from Texas, started breastfeeding her son. And although everyone was fine with that, it looked like a stranger who was sitting on the next table was uncomfortable with this mom not being covered while breastfeeding.
He approached Melanie and asked her to cover up. And well, she did just that, but in a manner that stranger expected.
”I was on vacation in Cabo San Lucas with my entire family, and a man asked me to cover myself. I’m usually discreet but we were seated in the back of the restaurant,” Melanie told Yahoo.
“I did have the cover on, but it was so hot. It was like, 95 degrees, and my little baby was sweating,” the Texan told TODAY.
“I said, ‘You know what? I’m on vacation, I’m taking this off.’”
Melanie took the cover and put it on her head instead, having the entire restaurant bursting out in laughter.
”I just put it over my head. I don’t know why. It wasn’t like a salacious fight or anything. That was just my response. I had no words, so I thought, I’ll just cover my head instead,” the woman explained.
A woman who witnessed the entire thing, Carol Lockwood, took a photo of Melanie and shared it online with the caption, “I’ve never met her, but I think she’s AWESOME!!! (Please share! With permission, I’ve made this post public — I’m SO over people shaming women for nursing!!!” In no time, the photo was shared 225,000 times and counting.
A great number of people stood my Melanie’s side and supported what she did.
We truly believe that breastfeeding is the most normal thing and no mom should feel ashamed for giving food to her baby in public.
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