Bling Empire Star Kelly Mi Li Opens Up About Breastfeeding Struggles

Bling Empire star Kelly Mi Li is opening up about one of the hardest parts of being a new mom—breastfeeding.

On a recent episode of Love and RIce with Christina and Ant Ma, Mi Li launched straight into her breastfeeding struggles when asked about the most difficult part of being a new mom. “The hardest thing I have ever experienced in life by far was breastfeeding,” the reality TV star said.

“I thought I had done enough research, I thought I’d talked to enough moms, but for some reason, I didn’t know breastfeeding was hard I just thought it happens naturally, but it was so hard.”

The serial entrepreneur and mom to 8-month-old Mili Ma explained how difficult the first two months were between issues latching and the vicious cycle of feeding. “There was a point I was feeding her, supplementing because I wasn’t producing enough, and then I pump, and it starts to cycle all over again. And then the amount of bottles you have to wash like it’s insane so that was really hard and so much stress.”

Ma and Mi Li also touched on the mom guilt that comes with breastfeeding issues. “When You’re a new mom, you’re like, ‘oh no I’m lacking in this because I can’t produce milk’ or ‘I’m not able to get the baby to latch on like what am I doing wrong,’ so you kind of like feel mom guilt in a sense,” Ma added.

“Oh yeah, and it’s like feeling like you are not able to feed your own baby it’s like such a sad feeling and frustrating feeling and I was just so defeated you know. So that was really really hard,” Mi Li said.

Through it all though Mi Li credits her family and support system for helping her stay afloat. “I was really lucky that I had a lot of support in my house when Milli was born. That was actually really helpful so I was never really alone and I had a lot of visitors so you know if I just wanted to rest for a little bit I was able to pass her to somebody you know and food that was made for me,” Mi Li added.

The reality TV star also noted that despite how lucky she was she has “so much respect for single moms. They’re heroes.”

Mi Li officially welcomed her daughter with boyfriend William Ma in April. The film producer and entrepreneur introduced the world to her new addition with a post on Instagram. “Happy birthday to our little Easter bunny,” Mi Li captioned the carousel of photos featuring her cradling her baby girl. “After a little over 24 hours of labor, you’re finally here! There’s so much love and kindness you are surrounded by, and so many people for you to meet. Welcome to the world, we can’t wait to show you around!”