Keke Palmer Says She ‘Wanted to Give Up’ During ‘Difficult’ Breastfeeding Journey

'The relationship I had with my son during that process empowered me to get back up,' the new mom revealed

Keke Palmer is getting candid about the challenges of motherhood, specifically breastfeeding.

The Hustlers actress, 29, recently spoke with Essence about how life has changed since becoming mother to Leodis "Leo" Andrellton. Although she focused on creating her look for the Met Gala earlier this year for the magazine’s Fashion Issue, Palmer also explained the one factor of motherhood that was "difficult" for her.

"I think my breastfeeding journey was also very empowering because it was so difficult," Palmer stated in the interview. "And I wanted to give up at so many different points, but I just kept pushing myself and kept trying to figure it out."

The Nope star admitted that her baby boy is the reason she decided to continue pressing forward.

"The relationship I had with my son during that process empowered me to get back up and do things for myself again," Palmer shared. "In the midst of trying to work out and do things that I wasn't sure I was going to be able to do — like going to the Met Gala — I was able to say, 'You know what, I'm gonna get out there and experience everything again, and I'm still gonna be there for my boy.'"

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When it came to breastfeeding, providing for her child was all the motivation she needed. "That kind of resolve built so much confidence and so much strength in me. I just got this overwhelming sense that I can do anything,” the Alice actress told Essence.

Sergio Hudson, who designed Palmer's Met Gala gown, explained to the magazine that Leo's birth came into play when preparing for the big night.

“The challenge was that she literally had just had the baby. So she was changing by the day,” Hudson said of Palmer. “I think we measured her like three or four times. And when she actually came to the final fitting, we had to take the dress in like maybe two, three inches. It was a lot. Her body was ever-changing, is still changing — so it was fun to make her feel confident in that moment.”

The Emmy winner noted that she didn’t want to feel insecure about her “brand-new body” and admitted that fashion can already be “quite overwhelming” at times. However, in the end, Palmer was proud to admit that she felt like the belle of the ball at the annual event.

“I feel like I was the most beautiful woman there,” the new mom recalled of the evening. “I knew that my hair was on point. I knew that my makeup was on point. I knew that my look was on point. And then Sergio being beside me made the whole thing that much better, because he was acting like my mom, Sharon."

Palmer said it was "so funny" how Hudson acted. "He was like, ‘Get out there and talk to these people. You need to work the room. These people need to see how good you look,'" she recalled. "He was breathing so much life into me. It makes me feel a little bit emotional now, talking about it, because I honestly feel like he brought me back to the world, honey. He really did.”

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Palmer gave birth to Leo, whom she shares with Darius Jackson, in late February. "Hey Son!!!! Born during Black History Month, with a name to match! LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world baby Leo,” Palmer wrote on Instagram to share the news.

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