Lauren Bushnell welcomed her first child earlier this month, but the reality star admits she’s been having a tough time breastfeeding in the weeks that followed.
The Bachelor alum opened up about the subject on Instagram. The new mother posted an image of herself breastfeeding her baby boy while sitting in his nursery. She included a long caption in which she explained the difficulties she’s encountered while trying to nurse. Lauren admitted the image wasn’t a “realistic representation” of what breastfeeding looks like for her.
“It’s been hard and honestly painful at times and quite the opposite of glamorous,” the mother-of-one wrote in her post.
Luckily, Lauren said things have improved since she sought out the help of a lactation consultant. Not only did she say having the consultant helped correct her son’s latching issues, but it made her feel better to have someone reassure her she was doing her best. At the end of her post, Lauren encouraged her followers to leave their own pumping and breastfeeding tips.
What to Expect explains that lactation consultants are professionals who specialize in helping moms and babies breastfeed. They also provide prenatal preparation and education to parents-to-be. It’s best to find a consultant who is certified as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant.
A lactation consultant can help with the following problems:
- Latching issues
- Baby refusing to feed
- Baby sleeping during nursing
- Low or inconsistent milk supply
- Maternal exhaustion while feeding
- Baby not reaching weight milestones
- Postpartum depression affecting nursing
Lauren welcomed her first child, Dutton Walker Lane, with her husband, country singer Chris Lane, on June 8th. They confirmed their son’s birth to PEOPLE Magazine. The baby boy was born weighing 9lbs and measuring 19 inches. Chris told the publication that watching his wife give birth was the “most incredible thing” he’s seen. Lauren added she felt “immediate unconditional love” like she had never experienced before when meeting her son.
The couple originally announced Lauren was pregnant on December 6th, 2020. The following month, the reality star told PEOPLE that she and Chris tried for “four to five months” before they conceived. Lauren said it was a difficult process, as she witnessed many people around her seemingly having an easier time getting pregnant. She added that her mother had experience four miscarriages, so she also worried she could lose the pregnancy.
Lauren originally rose to fame as a contestant on the 20th seasons of The Bachelor. The season ended with Ben Higgins proposing to her. Though the pair went on to star in their own spin-off reality show, Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After?, they called it quits by May 2017. Lauren became romantically involved with Chris Lane the following year, and they were married by 2019.
Sources: Instagram @laurenlane, What to Expect, PEOPLE Magazine, PEOPLE Magazine,