There is a delicate and precious period after a baby is born when the exhausted new parents are both in awe of their new addition and trying to adjust to their presence. Many moms begin their breastfeeding journeys during this time. For some, this is not an easy process. Selling Sunset star Heather Rae El Moussa can relate.
She and husband Tarek El Moussa welcomed their son Tristan to the world on January 31, 2023. Heather and Tarek are soaking up the newborn period but also being real on social media about its struggles. Heather opened up about her difficult beginnings in breastfeeding, which included finding out Tristan had tongue-tie, cheek-tie, lip-tie, and jaundice.
Heather took to Instagram to give fans an update on her breastfeeding journey. She posted a candid photo of herself and Tristan outside on the balcony with the family dog. "Have been in mama hibernation mode for the past couple weeks but soaking up some fresh air today with my lovey. As promised, I want to talk to you guys about my breastfeeding journey because it’s definitely been a journey !! I thought…. I’ll just pop him on my boob and feed him anytime. Ya no!!!” she began.
“Tristan had tongue tie, cheek tie, lip tie and jaundice which were all caught very early on thanks to my incredible lactation specialist and @tonguetietribe, they’re literally baby fairies ♀️ I’m so lucky to have found them for the knowledge & support ,” she continued.
Although it was difficult, Heather and Tristan were able to get through it like champs. “It made it very hard for him to latch & suck and it made it so that he was burning a lot of calories because it was so hard for him to eat so his weight was dropping. We’re now 2 weeks past getting his tongue tie fixed and he’s latching so well on the left side and we’re still working on the right side using non-traditional positions which were shown to me by the baby fairies ♀️," Heather explained.
Heather offers some helpful advice for mothers and families in similar situations. “Having a lactation specialist and someone you can turn to is something I highly recommend if you choose to breastfeed,” Heather wrote.
She also urges mothers to take care of themselves. “You really have to remember to take care of yourself,” Heather advises. She wants new moms to remember to stay hydrated and fed. She suggests “coconut water and greater than drinks. I also suggest getting on a meal plan if you don’t have time to cook especially in the beginning.”
Even though her breastfeeding journey was not easy and is still ongoing, Heather would not change a thing. “Even with all this going on, I genuinely love breastfeeding. I love the skin to skin connection and think it’s such a beautiful bonding experience,” she went on to say.
She and Tristan are in it to win it. They will figure it all out together. “It might be hard and challenging at the moment but it is such a special experience that I get to share with our baby boy and we’re working together to make it easier like we’re a little team ,” Heather concluded.
Tristan is Heather and Tarek’s first child together. Tarek and Heather recently revealed they picked the name Tristan because Tarek was supposed to have that same name. Tarek also shares two children with ex-wife Christina Hall, a 12-year-old daughter named Taylor and 7-year-old son named Brayden. Heather loves being a stepmom.
