Nikki Reedis doing motherhood on her own terms.
In a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday, the actress opened up about breastfeeding her 20-month-old daughterBodhi Soleil, whom she shares with her husband and formerVampire DiariesactorIan Somerhalder.
“I often get asked how long I plan on breastfeeding. To be honest, I have no idea how long her and I will be on this journey together,” Reed began her post, whichfeatured a photo of her breastfeeding Bodhi. “I follow her lead, and she tells me exactly what she needs.”
Nikki Reed.Nikki Reed/Instagram
Reed explained that Bodhi tried bananas, avocados, and other semi-soft foods that babies typically enjoy but Bodhi “rejected everything.”
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“Never in a million years did I think to skip that step when she only had two teeth,” she wrote. “Also, I thought all babies loved avocado!”
Speaking to her fellow mom followers, Reed suggested that those who were struggling to feed their little ones try over-steamed diced-up vegetables or skip puréed solids altogether and “go straight for the big people food.”
TheTwilightactress also reassured her followers that each parent’s journey with their child is unique and right for them.
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Reed’s candid post comes one month after she last opened up about the challenges of raising a daughter while also juggling her life as a working mother.
“As wetransition from four feedings a daydown to two, I am remembering how important it is to stop what I am doing and enjoy every second of this bonding time,” she wrote. “I am remding [sic] myself that my hormones are shifting, and that it’s normal to feel weepy as your body regulates through the transition. It goes so fast.”
Reed, who is notoriously private about sharing photos of Bodhi on social media, then revealed that she often breastfeeds Bodhi while she’s working.
“I’ve got just a few minutes to approve imagery or go through CADs so lets [sic] do it all at the same time … right? Multitasking is the key to being a working mom … right?” she went on. “Today I am reminding myself to slow down and separate the two. Today working and bonding are going to have their own time, so I cantry my hardest to soak up every moment, and smile at every detail.”
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“Even if it’s just the nighttime feeding, people can wait and emails will be answered … when she’s finished,” Reed finished. “The sounds, the swallows, where she puts her hand, watching her daydream, because before I know it we will have turned the page … ”
The actress has previously been candid about theups and downs of new motherhood— for example, the work in juggling breastfeeding with making career-related appearances.
“On my way to present at @variety‘s #powerofwomen luncheon and this is my hot date,” Reedcaptioned a snapfrom Oct. 13, 2017, in which she’s holding up a breast pump from her seat in the back of the car. She added, “Kidding. I have another hot date. But this thing is definitely our third wheel.”
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And it’s not just Reed who parenthood has affected. This past December, theTwilightalum opened up about how she and Somerhalder, 40,changed their lifestyleonce their daughter arrived.
Before Bodhi was born, Reed said, she and her husband would typically be on planes every month or so, flying back and forth to visit each other. Butnow that they’re a family, they all travel together.
“We live such crazy nomadic lifestyles all over the place, on planes, and [we’ve had] to uproot and move,” Reed told PEOPLE. “Now that we’re a family, the whole family goes together so that Mom and Dad can both be there at every second to witness everymilestone and everything that’s happening.”
source: people.com
