Lesley Murphy and daughter Nora.Photo: Lesley Murphy/Instagram
Lesley Murphyis calling for support for all moms, regardless of the method they choose to feed their babies.
The Bachelorseason 17 contestant shared a question to her Instagram Story Thursday — “Why aren’t youbreastfeeding?” — which one fan asked after Murphy, 33, posted a video of a formula maker that she was using for her 1-week-old daughterNora Blanche.
“Lots of these so wanted to address! I had a double mastectomy 4 years ago and am not able to breastfeed,” Murphy responds.
She concludes with a request for blanket acceptance, writing, “Even if I was, we should allsupport everyone’s unique feeding journey.”
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Lesley Murphy’s Instagram Story.Lesley Murphy/Instagram
“I find her so perfect that sometimes words fail me and I’m left in tears instead … like right now,” Murphy wrote. “Pure loveis being home with this little ball of joyon a snowy Valentine’s Day as a family of 3!”
RELATED VIDEO: Lesley Murphy Undergoes Preventative Double Mastectomy Nearly 3 Years After Her Mother’s Breast-Cancer Diagnosis
Murphy previously discussedundergoing a preventative double mastectomyin 2017 after learning that shecarries the BRCA 2 gene— which puts her at a higher risk ofdeveloping breast cancer— and, later, getting breast implants. (Her mother was in remission at the time from her own 2014 breast-cancer diagnosis.)
In an October 2018blog post on her website, Murphy candidly opened up how her life — and her sex life — has changed as a result of the surgeries. She explained that although it was “intimidating as hell in the beginning” to be honest with her partner, the experience only helped “fuel” her self-love and acceptance.
“I can’t lie to you. Not all days are rainbows and daisies,” Murphy admitted. “I have an inner critic that frequently tells me my chest isn’t normal. Then,my inner best friend comes into play and says DIFFERENT is SEXY, and she always wins. Feeling or no feeling, your partner should find you sexy because you are, not because you’re brave or because they feel an obligation to say certain words to your face.”
“If you’re someone who is super attached to your breasts, losing a body part can feel similar to grief,” she added. “In the end, we must work through the pain and accept the ‘new’ and healthier versions of ourselves. Suffering, of any kind, connects us all …reminding us that we are all beautifulno matter the route we choose.”
source: people.com
