‘The Bachelor’ Alum Jade Roper Tolbert Responds to Breastfeeding Photo Backlash: ‘This Is My Real Life’

Mama’s not here for the haters! Jade Roper Tolbert took to her Instagram Story on Monday, February 12, to address backlash she faced after sharing a post-breastfeeding pic of herself with daughter Emerson.

In the snap posted on Thursday, February 8, the 31-year-old Bachelor in Paradise alum could be seen snuggling her 5-month-old — who she shares with husband Tanner Tolbert — while promoting a paid partnership with thirdlove nursing bras.

Mommy PSA! Nursing Emmy has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life (I adore these after feeding snuggles, too). It’s so incredible how our bodies transform during and post-pregnancy. But all nursing mommies out there know how difficult finding a good, functional nursing bra can be! @thirdlove has created a comfortable, practical and beautiful nursing bra that FITS! You go on their site and take a quick fit finder quiz and they ship the bras straight to your door. Even better they offer a 100% fit guarantee! They have a wide range of styles and sizes for every woman. (I also got a beautiful lace bra). Use my code JADE15 for 15% off your first order! #mythirdlove

A post shared by Jade Tolbert (@jadelizroper) on Feb 8, 2018 at 2:45pm PST

The proud mom began the series of stories: “So, I had some comments about the picture I posted of me and Emerson after I was breastfeeding and people telling me they don’t look like that when they breastfeed and that I was setting up a standard that’s impossible to live up to.”

“The truth about that picture is I had a photo shoot the day before and I hadn’t taken my makeup off, so that’s literally the day before’s makeup,” she continued. “And it was slightly staged — we positioned Emerson just right to make the picture [work], but that was literally right after I had fed her and she had fallen asleep on me and we do have those moments where we snuggle so I don’t get what’s so unreal about it.”

She added: “This is my real life,” before panning to the “dirty” bathroom she was filming in.

In the next series of clips, Jade went on to detail how she then got reverse criticism for covering Emerson while she fed in a restaurant. “People were telling me I shouldn’t cover up,” she said. “I was actually getting flack for putting a cover over my baby which I just don’t understand why that would be something people would give me s—t about.”

“And my baby is feeding right now and I’m still going to cover up because that’s what I feel the most comfortable with. I feel like I don’t need to share all of that with the world, that’s not the message. It’s just that women should be able to do what they feel like they need to do for their babies,” she concluded.

Jade and Tanner got engaged on the season 2 finale of Bachelor in Paradise and tied the knot four months later in a televised ceremony in February 2016. They welcomed their first child, the aforementioned Emerson, in August 2017.