Former Love Island contestant Montana Brown has made a candid and emotional announcement, revealing she is concluding her breastfeeding journey with her one-year-old daughter, Miley. The 30-year-old influencer, who is also mother to two-year-old son Jude with fiancé Mark O'Connor, shared that the cumulative effect of breastfeeding and co-sleeping for three years had severely impacted her mental health.
The Decision to Prioritise Herself
In a lengthy and honest social media post on Tuesday, Montana explained her decision. She described feeling "irritable, impatient and angry" after suffering from a chronic lack of sleep. "I’ve not slept properly in 3 years," she wrote, detailing that she breastfed Jude for ten months and Miley for nearly a year, with the night feeds taking a significant toll.
She expressed immense relief at stopping, stating she had not enjoyed breastfeeding for the last four months but persisted due to its benefits for Miley and for convenience. However, she emphasised that for her, it "ALWAYS come at a cost of my mental health." Her reactive feeding style, combined with co-sleeping, meant she had little routine, exacerbating the sleep deprivation.
A Message to Other Struggling Mothers
Montana used her platform to send a powerful message of support to other parents. "There is no award for breastfeeding the longest," she asserted, encouraging mothers to prioritise their own happiness if they are struggling. "Happy mum, happy baby. I’m so glad I’m done," she concluded, adding a firm "Thank you and goodnight" to this chapter of her life.
This revelation follows a recent post over the weekend where she showcased her figure in a bikini, discussing her commitment to feeling her best. She elaborated on this, writing: "I feel like I’ve co-slept for 3 years, breast fed and just given every damn inch of myself to those babies and it has felt really nice to spend more time to focus on personal goals." She urged other mums not to feel guilty for taking time for themselves after bringing "humans into this earth."
Parenting in the Public Eye
Montana often shares details of her family life online, which sometimes attracts scrutiny. Last week, she posted a TikTok titled "First proper screen time on the flight at 2.5 years old," about her son Jude watching a film during a long-haul Christmas flight. However, fans quickly noted she mentioned he had previously watched YouTube clips, leading to some online debate about her parenting claims.
Previously, she faced criticism for comments about teachers. Her latest, deeply personal posts about the sacrifices of early motherhood have, however, struck a chord with many followers, highlighting the very real challenges of postnatal mental health and self-identity.
