Famous Women Share Their Insights On Becoming New Moms
Just about every new mom-to-be has sought advice on motherhood from their favorite celebrities at some point or another. If you or someone you know is a mom, chances are that sentiment rings true. Mothers, celebrity or not, should be celebrated every day, and we found some of the best inspirational quotes from Hollywood's best to brighten your spirits and get you through the whirlwind of emotions that you might be feeling at the moment.
From Serena Williams and Chrissy Teigen to Beyoncé and Kate Middleton, these famous ladies are talking about what it's like to be a new mom. Take comfort in their advice!
Chrissy Teigen
Most women look to Chrissy Teigen for just about everything, and with her witty tweets and views on life, love, and motherhood, it's no wonder she’s a queen in our eyes. Teigen and husband John Legend have two children and life is never dull for either of them!
In July 2016, Teigen talked to People about breastfeeding and how confusing it could be. "I just think it’s so funny," she said. "Sometimes I’m Googling how to do it better. I’m like, 'Is it working? Is it taking? I don’t think I’m feeling enough pain!’ You just get so confused about how it’s supposed to feel, and as hard as anyone said it was, I feel like it somehow managed to be harder."
Serena Williams
On and off the tennis court, Serena Williams is a force to be reckoned with. Williams gave birth to her first child, Olympia, in September 2017. She gushed to Vogue about her. "We're not spending a day apart until she’s 18. Now that I’m 36 and I look at my baby, I remember that [becoming a mom] was also one of my goals when I was little, before tennis took over, when I was still kind of a normal girl who played with dolls. When I’m too anxious I lose matches, and I feel like a lot of that anxiety disappeared when Olympia was born."
Williams continued, "Knowing I’ve got this beautiful baby to go home to makes me feel like I don’t have to play another match. I don’t need the money or the titles or the prestige. I want them, but I don’t need them. That’s a different feeling for me."
Beyoncé
Whenever Beyoncé announces a pregnancy, the internet loses its mind! In fact, whatever this woman does makes the entire world lose their minds…and for good reason! In 2013, the singer talked to Vogue about giving birth. Here's what she dished.
"I felt very maternal around eight months, and I thought I couldn't become any more until I saw the baby. But it happened during my labor because I had a very strong connection with my child. I felt like when I was having contractions, I envisioned my child pushing through a very heavy door. And I imagined this tiny infant doing all the work, so I couldn’t think about my own pain. We were talking. I know it sounds crazy, but I felt a communication."
Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling is one of those girls who you just need to have as a bestie, so when she gave birth to her daughter in December 2017, you just had to have all the details! But Kaling has chosen to keep things private and we couldn't respect her more.
In an interview with Today, Kaling opened up about her decision. "People say, 'Did you even have a baby?’ I’m keeping her under wraps for now. I would kill someone who said anything about her … I knew how much I would love her and love the experience of being with her. I never understood how much I would worry and how much that worry is unceasing."
Kate Middleton
Just like the Beyoncé baby mania, Kate Middleton caused quite an internet frenzy when she had the royal baby. The world is captivated by Middleton and her adorable children for good reason. In March 2017, Middleton gave a speech at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists where she shared some personal feelings with the audience.
"Personally, becoming a mother has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience. However, at times it has also been a huge challenge — even for me who has support at home that most mothers do not," Middleton confessed. "Nothing can really prepare you for you the sheer overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother. It is full of complex emotions of joy, exhaustion, love, and worry, all mixed together. Your fundamental identity changes overnight."
Ali Wong
Ali Wong has been killing it as a stand-up comedienne and writer, but another role she's been killing it at is being a mom! There’s never a dull moment with parenting, and Wong shared a funny story about breastfeeding that you’ll be able to relate to!
"It used to take like an hour to breastfeed her. I’d have to get a pillow in place, and then I’d put a towel on one boob, because when your titties spout out milk — when you’re sucking out of one boob, it’s not like the other boob will just stop. It’s like crying, and asking one eye to stop crying. Both eyes make tears."
Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt is the talk of the town lately with her role as Mary Poppins. That motherly instinct is part of why we all love her so much, so whenever she shares insights on motherhood everyone listens!
"After we got home from the hospital, I didn't shower for a week, and then [husband] John and I were like, 'Let’s go out for dinner.’ I could last only about an hour because my boobs were exploding. When the milk first comes in, it’s like a tsunami. But we went, just to prove to ourselves that we could feel normal for a second," she shared with InStyle.
Chelsea Clinton
While Chelsea Clinton may be the famous daughter of two of the biggest political figures in the world, at home she kills it as a mother herself. Like most new moms, Clinton has a rather amusing take on breastfeeding!
"I wish that there'd sort of been a [breastfeeding] guidebook on how do you think about this, really, how do you make this work? I still was breastfeeding and I was pumping and I was so committed to ensuring I could keep doing that for Charlotte, and balancing those logistics [was] really hard. I figured it out, but it took a while to figure it out. It also just took lots of, like, swallowing my pride and being comfortable with pumping in airport bathrooms and kind of wherever I needed to get it done," she shared with Today.
Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek has been a goddess since we first saw her on the big screen. Aside from being an iconic actress, she has some comforting advice for new moms that will ease your anxiety in no time!
"Pregnancy is all a blur now," she said. "But I remember the advice that my aunt gave me — my aunt who never had any babies. She spent some time with us when Valentina was not even 1 month old, and she said to me, 'Put her to sleep yourself every night. Sing to her and cradle her in your arms and sit by her side — every night. Because one day, you won't be able to carry her anymore, and it’s going to happen really fast."
Mila Kunis
There's no doubt that Mila Kunis doesn’t BS her way through life, and that genuine approach has kept her at the top of our list of women who rock! Kunis sat down with Glamour in 2016, and here's what she had to say.
"Children are [expletive] crazy. They’re also suicidal. Like, at the park, certain jungle gyms have an opening for older kids to jump out of. Another important thing to learn is that kids have a personality that has nothing to do with you. I have a really sweet daughter. She wants to hug all the other kids. I didn’t teach her to be sweet. It has nothing to do with me. I’ve realized you can control only so much."
Ellie Kemper
Ellie Kemper kills it on the small screen but at home, she's just like all of us trying to balance work with family. "I’m a terrible cook and I’m terrible with timing," she said. "So, like the pasta will be ready, but then the sauce isn’t or whatever. Nothing comes together on time."
Kemper continued, "There’s just a lot always going on, whether you have one kid, two kids, ten kids. So sometimes, I don’t always heat up [the meal] if I’m giving him leftovers. If he’s starving, I won’t always heat up the food. He’ll like touch it and then he makes a shiver sound like, 'Brr.’ Probably not like he wants to remember from mom’s home cooking like, ‘It was really cold.’"
Amy Poehler
Chances are, you've been watching Amy Poehler since she made her debut on Saturday Night Live so she probably feels like either your bestie or your spirit animal…or both. Whether on-screen or off, there’s no denying the hilarious antics of this star comedienne.
In her book Yes Please, Poehler shared some insights into motherhood. "The sleep deprivation after children is so real. I liken it to what it must feel like to walk on the moon and cry the whole time because you had heard that the moon was supposed to be great but in truth it totally sucks. I slept wherever I could," she explained. "Twenty minutes at lunch. During production meetings. In my car. I remember being filled with rage when childless people would talk about brunch."
Blake Lively
Blake Lively really has it all, doesn't she? Killer looks, gorgeous husband, great circle of friends, adorable children, and an impressive resume. But it’s her outlook on life that really takes the cake, especially her views on having kids!
Lively told The Los Angeles Times that "having a baby is just living in the constant unexpected. You never know when you’re gonna get crapped on or when you’re gonna get a big smile or when that smile immediately turns into hysterics. It might be like living with a drug addict." #relatable!
Viola Davis
Viola Davis is by far one of the most empowering women in Hollywood to look up to. From her role on How To Get Away With Murder to The Help and beyond, Davis continues to prove that greatness is inside all of us every single day.
In 2011, Davis and her husband adopted a baby girl. "Becoming a mother has opened up my whole life and given me a whole new purpose," she told People. "I feel like a star at home only because she loves me so much. I mean, it's a red carpet every day. It’s wonderful!"
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde and husband Jason Sudeikis have been one of Hollywood's hottest couples since they started dating in 2011. The couple has two children and Wilde has no issue spilling the beans on the ins and outs of parenthood, especially being a new mom.
"First of all, you haven’t seen your vagina in months, even though it’s all her fault you’re in this situation," she said in one Shape interview. "Now that you can finally confirm that she is, in fact, still there, she isn’t the gal that you remember, and would rather you back off and give her some space (and an ice diaper) for the time being, thank you very much."
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks has been an advocate for women as long as she has been in the spotlight. From her talk show to her career in philanthropy, Banks is by far one of the best women to look up to. In January 2016, Banks and photographer Erik Asla had a biological son born via surrogacy.
On becoming a new mom, Banks said, "I'm tired right now because I was up all night. He was waking up all night last night, and [needed a] bottle at 5:30 this morning. I do have a lot of help, but I don’t have help all the time," she said to E! News. "So those moments when I’m like, in it and suffering, I’m like, 'This is what I’m supposed to be doing as a mama.’"
Zooey Deschanel
While some of you may still be bitter about the way things ended in 500 Days of Summer, Zooey Deschanel has moved on to motherhood. The actress and her husband – film producer Jacob Pechenik – have two children.
Deschanel told Us Weekly, "Nothing can really prepare you for it because you never again have a day where you don't think of your kids first. At least for me, that’s what I think of first thing. Like, 'How are the kids doing? What do they need?’ That’s my first thought when I wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night," she shared. "I’m always thinking of them. I’ve changed completely. You don’t realize what a sort of selfish existence you live in until you have kids."
Kerry Washington
Some of us may remember our first Kerry Washington sighting in the 2001 film Save The Last Dance, but her role on Scandal is one of the most talked about roles in TV history. Aside from killing it at work, Washington is a pretty amazing mom at home to three kids.
Like a lot of us, Washington juggles home life and work but manages to make it work. "I can be covered in spit-up on a conference call while I'm pumping and that’s OK, because this is my perfect. It may not be somebody else’s, but this is mine," she's shared.
Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz has stolen the hearts of many on the big screen, but her biggest role is the role of being a mom. She didn't hold back when giving advice to other new moms in a 2011 Vogue interview.
"From the first second, you feel so much love. It is a revolutionary experience. That's the best way I can describe it," she explained. "It transforms you completely, in a second. Nature is very wise and gives you nine months to prepare, but in that moment — when you see that face, you are transformed forever. Even if you have heard from all your friends and family, 'This is what’s going to happen,’ until it happens to you, it’s hard to understand in your soul."
Miranda July
Writer, filmmaker, and artist Miranda July may be a multi-creative soul, but her advice on motherhood is by far the best we've seen yet. "I think having a baby kind of reset me to zero, I felt like new in the world again," she said.
"I felt when I had a baby that maybe things are kind of screwed in terms of personal freedom — I can’t just go off, go to the movies, or go gallivanting around but I never did that in the first place. Actually, all I ever did was work, and it seems like I can just manage to still do that and have the baby. I’m probably at that point in your life where it’s good to add something else into the mix for everything."
