Keke Palmer Opens Up About Her Struggles With Breastfeeding

Keke Palmer recently opened up about her experiences as a new mother, including breastfeeding challenges. Despite breastfeeding being considered natural, Palmer admitted that it didn't come instinctively to her and proved to be quite difficult.

Palmer also acknowledged the unfortunate reality that not everyone has access to lactation consultants. Additionally, therapy has been crucial for Palmer's mental health as she navigates motherhood, and returning to work has helped her maintain a sense of identity.

Keep on reading to learn more.

Keke Palmer has always been open about her experiences as a new mother. Recently, during her glamorous campaign with Zenni Optical, a fashion eyewear retailer, the 29-year-old actress shared the joys and challenges of parenting her four-month-old son, Leodis "Leo" Andrellton, whom she welcomed in February with Darius Jackson.

In the interview with People magazine, Palmer revealed that among the difficulties she faced, breastfeeding was the hardest aspect of motherhood.

Despite breastfeeding being considered "natural," the "Nope" actress explained that it didn't come instinctively to her and has been quite challenging. She described the journey of figuring out how to breastfeed and support her baby as a "doozy," adding, "I really went through the journey of just trying to figure out how to do that and how to support my baby — how to deal with the pressure of trying to do that right."

Palmer shared with the outlet that she initially felt lost and didn't know where to begin when she encountered breastfeeding struggles. However, she eventually connected with a lactation consultant who provided immense support and guidance.

Palmer expressed gratitude for lactation consultants, stating, "You don't even really know what to search and how to really prepare yourself for something like that. So shout out to all the lactation consultants because mine really, really made the difference for me."

However, the multi-talented Emmy winner acknowledged the unfortunate reality that not everyone has the financial means to afford a lactation consultant or access to a reliable one. "I wish that everybody had access to lactation consultants," she noted. "It sucks that it's kind of like a luxury. They have people saying breast is best, the breast is best. But not everyone can even get support. That's a mess."

While navigating the challenges of new parenthood, Palmer shared that therapy has played a significant role in her well-being. "I'm definitely honest and I talk to my support team — my family, my mom, and my sister," she shared. "They're there for me, which is amazing. I also talk to a therapist. Therapy is something that's always been a part of my life since I was about 17, and that helps a lot. Then getting back to my life also helps a lot."

Palmer also emphasized the importance of maintaining some aspects of her pre-baby life, as it allows her to navigate the changes in her relationships and home dynamics.

"You don't want to overwhelm yourself," she told the news outlet. "But I do think having some level of what your life was before your baby is important because your relationship with your partner changes. Your relationship at home changes so much. The only thing that you can kind of go back to the same is work, or whatever your outside activity is. I think that's helped because it's reminding me of how I existed before."

"Now it's very exciting to be back in glam," she added. "I'm appreciating it more than I did before my baby. I wanted to give my skin a break, and so I think pregnancy for me was really like an opportunity to let all that go like my entire pregnancy."

During the chat, the "Hustlers" star also revealed that she couldn't resist the opportunity to collaborate with Zenni because the campaign held a personal significance for her.

Expressing her love for glasses, she stated, per People, "I love glasses. I wear glasses and people have always been like, 'You should get Lasik.' But I feel like glasses are so much a part of the character — that they're an accessory."

Reflecting on how glasses became an essential part of her identity, she said, "I've been wearing glasses since I was 8. But at a certain point, I started feeling like, well, I actually want to wear my glasses, especially when I started doing daytime talk. That made me feel more comfortable."