“It Felt Like I Was Feeding a Nation.” Ashley Graham Revealed Why She Stopped Breastfeeding Her Twins at 5 Months Old

Ashley Graham, a mother of three, has often shared pictures of herself breastfeeding her little ones. Recently, when she openly admitted to stopping breastfeeding her twins at 5 months, it sparked a lively public discussion. While some supported Ashley, understanding that every mother makes choices based on their unique circumstances, others criticized her decision.

The conversation on this topic started after the show’s host, Chelsea Handler, praised Ashley for standing up for the normalization of breastfeeding.

Previously, the model was open about breastfeeding her eldest son, Isaac. She often shared photos on her Instagram page of herself nursing the baby, inspiring her followers and receiving enthusiastic responses in the comments.

But this time, Ashley said that her babies take formula. When she had Isaac, she believed that breastfeeding was the only “right way” of feeding a child.

But the model changed her opinion with twins Roman and Malachi, born 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 did her best to breastfeed the twins until they were 5 months old, but, at some point, she realized it was too hard. While managing to breastfeed one baby was fairly straightforward, it was a completely different story with twins. “It felt like I was feeding a nation,” she admitted.

The model even shared photos on her Instagram page of herself attempting to breastfeed both sons at the same time. However, she was honest about feeling tired.

Ashley replaced breastmilk with formula, the best one she could find in the US. The model says the babies looked quite happy with the situation, and the formula hadn’t affected their development.

The model believes that every family has the right to decide how to feed their children, no matter what anyone else thinks. The viewers of the show supported the model, and some even shared their stories. These women also eventually realized that other people often show too much interest in what someone else’s babies eat.

The news went viral online. Many women also said that mothers don’t have to be thrilled about breastfeeding and have the right to stop doing it when they see fit.

One of the users 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.”

Ashley is known for her honesty, especially when it comes to motherhood. As a mother of three, she openly discusses the challenges of keeping up with three energetic boys, especially while prioritizing self-care. Her candidness resonates with many moms, making them 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.”

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.”

Аshley and other celebrities openly advocating for breastfeeding in public are reshaping societal norms. Their efforts are breaking down the stigma surrounding breastfeeding in public spaces, empowering mothers to nourish their children openly.