Model Brooke Hogan opens up about breastfeeding challenges with newborn son, Billy
“I was so anxious about my body not producing milk to feed my baby.”
Earlier this year, after a two-year struggle with infertility and IVF, former Australia’s Next Top Model star, Brooke Hogan announced she was expecting her first child with her hotelier husband, Myles Pitt.
“Myles and I are so excited to be welcoming a little bebe into the world. We are still lost for words and feel overwhelmed with gratitude that our dream of becoming parents has finally come true,” the 35yo shared to Instagram in January.
“I will touch on this in more detail later but we couldn’t share our news without sending all of our love and strength to anyone who is going through fertility struggles. There were many times over the past 2 years where we thought this may never happen for us. The emotional and physical pain that comes with infertility and the roller coaster that comes with it is something that can’t be put into words.”
Brooke finished the post with a heartfelt message to others facing infertility.
“If you are experiencing fertility issues of any kind, I know how much it hurts seeing others sharing their news,” she wrote.
“Myles and I feel you, we see you and we hope and pray that you too will be blessed with your little miracle really soon.”
The couple were overjoyed to welcome their son, Billy John Pitt on July 17, 2023.
Now, nine weeks on since welcoming her son, Brooke has opened up about her breastfeeding challenges and is encouraging other women to confidently share their own feeding stories without shame or stigma.
“Having needed assistance to fall pregnant, at times I felt like my body had failed me,” writes Brooke.
“I was so anxious about my body not producing milk to feed my baby. Once Billy was here, my fear of under supply and having no milk was actually replaced with managing an oversupply and overactive letdown. But it’s not like that for everyone.”
She continues: “The past 9 weeks have come with lots of feeding challenges so it’s been so nice to have a break and give Billy expressed breast milk. It’s also so special for dad to have that bond and to help feed.”
Brooke admits discussing feeding, particularly online, can feel overwhelming but says she hopes @tommeetippeeaustralia’s #TheSocialFeed encourages all of us to “share our stories on social media – talking about it helps so many parents along their feeding journeys, and means new parents don’t feel alone.”
The new mum finished the post, “So far motherhood has been absolutely magical, and although feeding has been one of my biggest struggles it’s one of the most special parts of becoming a mum and caring for my little man. Shoutout to all the parents. However you feed your baby, you’re doing amazing.”
Following research revealing nearly one in two Aussie parents believe feeding has negatively impacted their self confidence, infant feeding brand Tommee Tippee has launched #TheSocial Feed.
The brand’s new campaign wants to celebrate different feeding choices encouraging parents and caregivers to share their feeding journeys across social media, knowing we’re all in this together.
Tommee Tippee’s research revealed:
- Nearly one in two (46%) Australian mums say that feeding has negatively impacted their self confidence
- Three in four Australian women (74%) feel overlooked as new parents
- Almost three quarters (71%) of parents say seeing other parents sharing their parenting journey on social media has given them confidence in their own parenting decisions
