Hilary Duff Explains Why She Stopped Breastfeeding Her 6-Month-Old Daughter

By Paris Close

May 8, 2019

2019 Tribeca Film Festival

Hilary Duff is getting real about breastfeeding.

On Tuesday (May 7), the Younger star and full-time mommy opened up about her decision to stop nursing her 6-month-old daughter Banks in a candid Instagram post. In it, the 31-year-old explains her biggest reasons for putting down the pump had mostly to do with the demands of filming as an actress.

"Last week was my last week nursing Banks (my six month old). I am a working mom of two. My goal was to get my little girl to six months and then decide if I (and her of course) wanted to keep going," Duff began.

"Let me tell you. Pumping at work sucks. I had zero down time and am usually pumping in a hair and make up trailer while four hands work to get me ready for the next scene with lots of other people around," she continued. "Even if I had the luxury to be in my own room, it’s not even considered a 'break' because you have to sit upright for the milk to flow into the bottles!"

Duff also despises the annoying sound the breast pump machine makes and the issue of finding a place to sterilize bottles and keep her milk cold. Despite the drawbacks to breastfeeding at work, the singer's enjoyed the bonding experience it's afforded her and her daughter.

"I know many women are not able to and for that I am sympathetic and very grateful that I could," she added. "For six wonderful months. But I needed a break. I was going to break."

In response, Duff received a wave of support from her fans, including comments new mom, YouTube star Colleen Ballinger, who applauded, "THIS THIS THIS! this is so important for moms to hear! thank you!!!"

Duff is the mother of two children, including 7-year-old son Luca, from her previous marriage with NHL star Mike Comrie. She and her boyfriend, singer Matthew Koma, welcomed their daughter in October 2018.

Read Hilary Duff's full note below.

View this post on Instagram

THIS ONE’S FOR THE LADIES Just a few thoughts that I wanted to share on Breast-feeding. Last week was my last week nursing Banks (my six month old) I am a working mom of two. My goal was to get my little girl to six months and then decide if I (and her of course) wanted to keep going. Let me tell you. Pumping at work sucks. I had zero down time and am usually pumping in a hair and make up trailer while four hands work to get me ready for the next scene with lots of other people around. Even if I had the luxury to be in my own room, it’s not even considered a “break” because you have to sit upright for the milk to flow into the bottles! Plus you are having your damn nipples tugged at by an aggressive machine that makes an annoying sound, that echoes through your head day and night (I swear that machine and I had many conversations at midnight and 3 am)! Ttttthen having to find someplace to sterilize bottles and keep your milk cold (ok I’m done with that rant lol)! Anyway, I didn’t know this because with Luca I didn’t work until he was about nine months old, so I didn’t pump very often. Your milk supply drastically drops when you stop feeding as often and lose the actual contact and connection with your baby (😞). So I was eating all the feunugreek goats butt blessed thistle fennel cookies/drops/shakes/pills I could get my hands on! It was maddening. (Does fenugreek make anyone else smell like maple syrup and rubber gloves?...not chill) With all of this complaining, I want to say I enjoyed (almost) every moment of feeding my daughter. Felt so lucky to be so close to her and give her that start. I know many women are not able to and for that I am sympathetic and very grateful that I could. For six wonderful months. But I needed a break. I was going to break. With the stress of a dropping milk supply and a baby that was getting bored or not caring about nursing when I was available to. I was sad and frustrated and feeling like a failure all of the time. When really I’m a bad ass rock star. Moms get high on feeling like superwoman...because we are! Doing too much, because we can! KEEP READING in the comments below 👇🏼♥️

A post shared by Hilary Duff (@hilaryduff) on

Photo: Getty Images

Hilary Duff
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