Hilary Duff Says She 'Still Could Cry' Thinking About Breastfeeding Struggles, Admits She Was 'Stubborn' About Combo Feeding
Hilary Duff Says She 'Still Could Cry' Thinking About Breastfeeding Struggles, Admits She Was 'Stubborn' About Combo Feeding
Becca LongmireWed, February 25, 2026 at 5:17 PM UTC
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Hilary Duff; Duff with her daughter TownesCredit: Daniele Venturelli/Getty; Hilary Duff/Instagram -
Hilary Duff opened up about her breastfeeding struggles through the years on the latest episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast
"I still could cry thinking about … you wanna be everything for your kid because you grow them and you birth them and they're yours," she told host Alex Cooper
The Lizzie McGuire alum said of her struggles with her youngest child, daughter Townes, "That's my fourth kid. Like, just supplement. What are you doing? You know? ... I was so stubborn about it"
Hilary Duff is getting candid about her struggles with breastfeeding.
During an appearance on the latest episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, which aired on Wednesday, Feb. 25, the Lizzie McGuire alum, 38, was asked about how her difficulties with nursing in the beginning of motherhood impacted her self-esteem.
Duff shares her daughters, Townes, 21 months, Mae, 4, and Banks, 7, with husband Matthew Koma. She is also mom to son Luca, 13, from her previous marriage to Mike Comrie.
The "Mature" singer told host Alex Cooper, "I still could cry thinking about … you wanna be everything for your kid because you grow them and you birth them and they're yours. And you watch, you know, Reels of, like, people just nursing their baby in public and it being so natural. And … it just wasn't like that for me."
"This was with Townes mostly, but, like, she wasn't gaining weight. And I'm trying to nurse her literally around the clock," Duff continued.
Hilary Duff on the 'Call Her Daddy' podcastCredit: Call Her Daddy
She went on, "And that's my fourth kid. Like, just supplement. What are you doing? You know? And you're just like, I was so stubborn about it."
Duff insisted that she "just wanted it to work out," but "it didn't."
"Then you're two weeks out of not nursing, and you're like, 'Yes, this is the best freedom ever!' But in that moment, you're like, 'How will I ever cope with this? How will I... why can't I be good at this?' " she told Cooper.
Hilary Duff with her daughter TownesCredit: Hilary Duff/Instagram
Duff said of her eldest child, "Luca, I nursed him the most. It was easier then. And down the line … each child got less and less and less. And now I'm like, who cares? But in the moment, you're so consumed."
"I think by design. Right? We're designed to take care of our child by feeding them from your body," the pop star said, adding that "guys have to do one thing one time."
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Duff has spoken openly about her breastfeeding struggles in the past, admitting in 2021 after welcoming her daughter, Mae, that nursing had always been "really hard for me."
Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma with their kidsCredit: Hilary Duff/Instagram
The former Disney star said at the time, while speaking with Dr. Elliot Berlin for a post-birth edition of Informed Pregnancy Podcast, "I'd say it was the easiest with Luca. All of the babies latch really great, I'm just not a huge milk-producer, so it's emotional for me."
"In fact, this is the first baby that I haven't supplemented with yet, so I've just exclusively been breastfeeding her. I'm going to keep trying that for a couple of weeks," she previously added in the interview.
She continued at the time, "Just still painful and it's hard, and it's even harder having the other two that I know need me so much, and this takes up such a huge portion of the day. It seems like every 20 minutes, I'm feeding the baby, and I have to be sitting in one place, and Banks is still not quite old enough to understand, even though she has been amazing with the baby. It's just hard."
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Before that, Duff opened up about her decision to stop breastfeeding her second child at that time in a May 2019 Instagram post.
The actress said she decided to share her outlook because stopping breastfeeding "was so emotional and hard."
Duff added in her lengthy written message at the time that she felt "fine and happy and relieved and silly that I even stressed on it so hard" after feeling conflicted about switching to formula.
"Banks is thriving and I get even more time with her and daddy gets to do more feeds! And mommy gets a tiny bit more sleep!" she said at the time. "Whether you are pre or postpartum. Or just a busy mom, You are a [superhero] everyday for all that you do. Always putting yourself last and running a mile a minute… while carrying all of the bags lol. Love you all and hope this helps anyone struggling! See you nursing bras✌🏻 until next time!"
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
