Breastfeeding in the News: Public Feeding, Postpartum Fitness & Breaking Expectations

Friday, 16 October 2026

Welcome back to Breastfeeding in the News, our weekly roundup of stories we're reading, conversations we're following and issues affecting breastfeeding mums and families.

Each Friday, we're bringing together stories from around Australia and beyond, sharing the key takeaways in our own words and adding a little OMM perspective along the way.

This week, we're looking at actress Sienna Miller's refreshingly unapologetic approach to breastfeeding in public, and the incredible story of Melbourne Marathon winner Camille French, who took out the women's title while still breastfeeding her 11-month-old daughter.

Two very different stories, but both are reminders that breastfeeding doesn't have to mean putting your life, ambitions or comfort on hold.

Sienna Miller has a message for anyone uncomfortable with breastfeeding in public

Actress Sienna Miller has spoken openly about her relaxed approach to breastfeeding in public, making it clear that she isn't going to let other people's opinions dictate how she feeds her baby.

In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, the 44-year-old mum discussed how motherhood has changed her relationship with her body and why she doesn't see a problem with breastfeeding wherever her baby needs to feed.

Her message? If a baby is hungry, feed them. A breastfeeding mum shouldn't have to worry about whether someone else is comfortable seeing a breast doing exactly what it's designed to do.

It's a conversation that continues to pop up in headlines, despite breastfeeding being a completely normal part of caring for a baby.

Read the full story on Yahoo Lifestyle →

Breastfeeding is normal. Let's stop making it weird.

At OMM, we're always here for conversations that help normalise breastfeeding, particularly when they challenge the idea that mums should hide away to feed their babies.

Feeding in public shouldn't require an elaborate plan, a strategically placed muslin cloth or a frantic search for the nearest private room.

Of course, some mums prefer to cover up, and others appreciate clothing that gives them extra coverage while feeding. That's completely valid too.

The point isn't whether you cover up. It's whether you get to choose.

That's why we create breastfeeding-friendly clothing: to make feeding a little easier when you're out and about, without telling you how you should do it.

Whether you're breastfeeding at a café, in the park, at a family dinner or wherever your day takes you, you deserve to feel comfortable feeding your baby.

And if someone else has a problem with that? Well, that's something for them to work through.

Melbourne Marathon winner reveals the reality of running while breastfeeding

From public breastfeeding to pushing physical limits, our second story celebrates a mum achieving something extraordinary while navigating the realities of life with a baby.

New Zealand runner Camille French won the women's race at the 2026 Melbourne Marathon Festival, finishing the 42.195-kilometre course in 2 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.

What makes her achievement particularly remarkable is that she did it just 11 months after giving birth to her second daughter... while still breastfeeding.

French has spoken about the challenges of preparing for the marathon, including managing breastfeeding and the demands of family life while training for an elite-level event.

Her journey is a reminder that returning to sport after having a baby isn't always a straightforward process. It can involve disrupted sleep, feeding schedules, physical recovery and finding the time and energy to train around the needs of a little person.

And yet, French crossed the finish line as the women's marathon winner.

Read the full story on Yahoo Lifestyle →

Motherhood doesn't mean giving up on your goals

We love stories like this because they show another side of motherhood. The side where you're still a person with your own ambitions, interests and things you want to achieve.

Having a baby changes so much, and the postpartum period can look very different for everyone. Some mums are focused on recovering, some are adjusting to breastfeeding, some are finding their feet with a new routine, and others are gradually returning to activities that make them feel like themselves.

There's no single right way to navigate that season.

Camille's achievement is incredible, but the takeaway isn't that every mum should be running marathons less than a year after giving birth. It's that motherhood and personal ambition can coexist, even if the journey looks different from what it did before.

For some mums, that goal might be returning to competitive sport. For others, it might be getting back into the gym, starting a new business, pursuing a creative passion or simply finding time for something they love.

And breastfeeding can be part of that picture, too.

It might take more planning, flexibility and support, but continuing to feed your baby doesn't mean you have to stop being you.

Two stories, one important reminder

This week's stories celebrate two women in very different circumstances.

One is speaking out about feeding her baby wherever she needs to, without worrying about other people's opinions. The other is showing what's possible when motherhood, breastfeeding and an ambitious sporting goal all meet.

Neither story defines what breastfeeding should look like for everyone. And that's exactly the point.

Some mums will breastfeed discreetly. Others won't give a second thought to feeding in public. Some will return to exercise quickly, while others will need much longer to recover. Some will pursue big goals while breastfeeding, and others will be perfectly happy focusing on getting through the day.

There is no one-size-fits-all version of motherhood.

At OMM, we want mums to feel supported in whatever their breastfeeding journey looks like, and to know that feeding their baby doesn't mean they have to put their own comfort, identity or ambitions aside.

More breastfeeding news next Friday

That's this week's edition of Breastfeeding in the News!

Every Friday, we'll continue sharing stories about breastfeeding, postpartum life, women's health, research, advocacy and the experiences of mums around the world.

Have you spotted a story we should feature? Send it our way.

See you next Friday.

Sources: Yahoo Lifestyle Australia, reporting on Sienna Miller's interview with Harper's Bazaar and Camille French's Melbourne Marathon win. Visit the original articles linked above for the full reporting.