Ronda Rousey wants to end breastfeeding stigma: ‘Nothing to be ashamed of’
Ronda Rousey is getting real about breastfeeding.
On Sunday, the 34-year-old professional wrestler shared a selfie to Instagram showing herself lying in bed while breastfeeding her daughter La'akea Makalapuaokalanipo Browne, born less than a month ago. Rousey used the caption to call attention to the stigma around breastfeeding.
"Our boys asked me the other day how I’m gunna feed Pō on the plane when we take her with us to Hawaii. And I was like 'uhhh, same way I always do' Then it occurred to me that they probably never seen anyone breastfeed before and weren’t sure if it was appropriate in public," she wrote. "Motherhood’s some badass, primal, beautiful shit that shouldn’t be hidden. It still blows my mind that my body assembled this little person, pushed her out and now makes everything she needs to thrive. It’s really nothing to be ashamed of, it’s something to brag about #normalizebreastfeeding #proudmama."
Celebrity friends and fans took to the comments to praise the star for calling attention to what has been a very divisive issue.
"Love this post!!!!" Trish Stratus said. "You now own the greatest title of all … mother," a fan wrote.
"Grown people eat in public, babies should be allowed to too. It’s that simple," someone noted, with others adding, "Breastfeeding is the most natural thing to do. Some people just judge and nothing you can do. My partner breastfeeds too, screw the haters hahaha your baby comes first over their opinions lol," and, "It is the most epic, most beautiful life changing experience ever!! You’re amazing!!"
This is not the first time the Rousey, who shares her daughter with MMA fighter husband Travis Browne, has been open about other aspects of her motherhood journey. Earlier this month, she shared mirror selfies of her post-baby body and updated fans on her progress.
"My body seems to be recovering faster than I hoped, but I won’t really know if Pō tossed a grenade on the way out till my 6 week checkup," she wrote in part. Since breaking both my hands and getting pregnant it feels like I lost a lifetime of muscle - it’s easy to get discouraged over all that lost progress - but if anything I’m looking forward to getting cleared to train again even more. This is an opportunity start over and mold my body into its next phase."
