Stacey Solomon praised for 'honest' approach to motherhood as she opens up on breastfeeding struggles

Stacey Solomon has been praised for her “honest” attitude to motherhood after opening up about her struggle to breastfeed her newborn son.

The Loose Women panellist, who welcomed her first child with partner Joe Swash last month, shared a photo of herself with her two-week-old baby on Instagram and told fans that it had been “a bit of a shock” when her feeding experience wasn’t “blissful” and her son had struggled to latch.

“Trying to smile,” she wrote. “This is my face every time he latches on. I didn’t breastfeed Leighton and I don’t remember 11 years ago with Zach so it came as a bit of a shock to me when my feeding experience wasn’t blissful breast time and expressing pints of milk in between!”

Solomon revealed that she had sought help from “just about every health visitor and breastfeeding specialist around” and is now “finally getting there.”

She then shared a message of support for other mothers who might be in the same position, telling them that they are “doing amazingly.”

“We still haven’t mastered it yet and we might never master it - that’s ok too,” she wrote. “I just thought for anyone out there struggling or who struggled to breastfeed that’s it’s perfectly OK, there’s nothing wrong with you, and you’re doing amazingly. All things I’ve struggled to believe at times.

“It’s so wonderful to see people’s happy breastfeeding pictures and amazing expressing photos - I love them, but from somebody who is lucky to express 10ml if not dust when I put a pump on I would have loved to see some different experiences too.”

The former X Factor contestant was praised for her candid admission, which prompted many of her followers to share their own struggles with breastfeeding.

“Thank you for talking about breastfeeding,” one fan wrote. “I wasn’t able to due to medical reasons, but it’s nice to hear a celebrity talk about the struggles. So many ladies aren’t supported enough around breastfeeding.”

“Thank you for being so honest!” another said. “I beat myself up so much for not being able to breastfeed & looking back wish I’d had more support to just let it be. Us Mummys give ourselves too much tough love!”

A third praised Solomon for “talking about the positives and negatives of childbirth and feeding,” adding: “It’s important to help every other mum realise that others are going through exactly the same things as them.”

“I don’t think you realise what an amazing human you are, even tho your [sic] in the public eye, you are so real and your posts and pictures relate to so many people!!!” another comment read. “Love how you try and make other women in the world feel good.”

Solomon’s boyfriend Swash announced news of their baby’s arrival by sharing a photo of the mother and newborn in bed, telling fans that they were “overwhelmed, overjoyed and apprehensive of what’s to come.”

The couple are yet to announce their child’s name.