Breastfeeding on the Boob Tube: Our Favorite Breastfeeding and Pumping Mamas

When breastfeeding a hungry newborn, you might find yourself up at odd hours, nursing or pumping, and reaching for the remote to keep you company. And even when you scroll through a seamlessly endless library of content, it can feel like there’s nothing to watch.

If you’re looking for some powerful—or simply fun—mom moments (or MOMents, as we like to call them at Aeroflow Breastpumps) you can relate to, you’re in luck! A few portrayals of moms breastfeeding and pumping have made their way to the screen, showing snippets of mom life in more accurate detail.

Let's dive into some of our favorite shows that are normalizing this beautiful, sometimes challenging, but always rewarding journey we're on together.

From YouTube to TikTok and Instagram, we live in a time where you can easily search, access, and curate any of your social media feeds to show content that closely mirrors your own pregnancy and postpartum experiences. And while the same can't be said of popular streaming services (yet), we have seen an increase in breastfeeding mothers represented on TV shows in recent years.

Here are a few of our favorite shows and moments highlighting moms who breastfeed and pump—and where to find them!

This Canadian comedy is a goldmine of relatable motherhood moments, especially regarding breastfeeding and pumping. The show's opening scene features the main characters in a mommy-and-me group, with one mom casually breastfeeding. Talk about starting strong!

The pumping scenes with PR executive Kate Foster (Catherine Reitman) really hit home. We see her pumping in a grimy utility closet at work and pumping in her car between meetings. Unfortunately, many of us have been there. The show perfectly captures the reality of trying to balance work and breastfeeding, showcasing both the humor and the challenges associated with being a mama.

Workin’ Moms provides a wonderful criticism of the challenges real mamas face. Thank goodness for the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act of 2019, which aims to give mamas a private place to pump at work in the U.S.

This Australian show is all about the early days of motherhood and doesn't shy away from the realities of breastfeeding. The main character, Audrey, struggles with breastfeeding her newborn, dealing with everything from painful latching to worrying about her milk supply.

What's great about The Letdown is how it portrays the emotional rollercoaster of breastfeeding. It shows that while breastfeeding can be a beautiful bonding experience, it can also be frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes just plain hard. And that's totally normal and okay!

Moms new to breastfeeding or struggling can benefit from working with a lactation consultant and attending lactation classes, which are great resources to help moms navigate issues with latching, nipple pain or soreness, clogged milk ducts, and more. They can even introduce moms to different breastfeeding positions to provide a more comfortable breastfeeding experience.

While this telenovela-inspired show is full of dramatic twists and turns, it also gives us some wonderfully normal breastfeeding moments. Jane is often seen nursing her son, Mateo, in a variety of settings—at home, in restaurants, and even while working on her novel.

Throughout the series, Jane uses a breast pump and shows the challenges of adjusting to motherhood, including worrying about milk production. Of course, she also experiences the joys of motherhood and breastfeeding, often breastfeeding her little one in the background or while having important conversations unrelated to breastfeeding with her mom, grandma, and love interests. And that's what's refreshing about Jane the Virgin: the show portrays breastfeeding as just another part of daily life. It's not always the focus of the scene, but it's there, happening in the background, just like in real life.

This show earns major points for its portrayal of adoptive breastfeeding. In one episode, Lena induces lactation to breastfeed her adopted baby. It's a beautiful representation of the fact that breastfeeding is about nutrition and bonding, too.

The Fosters reminds us that every breastfeeding journey is unique, and there's no one "right" way to feed and bond with your baby. The Fosters challenges our ideas of breastfeeding norms, and as Lena shows us, it's possible to induce lactation without pregnancy.

That’s right, even everyone’s favorite educational program and cast of colorful characters shed some light on breastfeeding. In a famous clip from 1976, Buffy Sainte-Marie breastfed her son Cody on Sesame Street. In the 57-second clip, Big Bird asks Buffy what she’s doing. The singer-songwriter casually lets Big Bird know she’s breastfeeding, explaining the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding in a simple, approachable manner. She even touches on the importance of bonding, saying breastfeeding lets her hug her son. 

This was crucial during a decade when breastfeeding rates were low. Just 12 years later, the scene was repeated by Sonia Manzano as Maria, sharing this natural process with a new audience.

We love this older clip for providing an early representation of breastfeeding on TV to an audience that typically doesn’t receive this kind of information: kids. This clip not only offered parents an opportunity to discuss breastfeeding with their older children, it may have helped other adults realize that breastfeeding is normal and should be talked about!

Seeing the normalization of different breastfeeding environments on popular TV shows is more than entertaining—it's empowering! And while these shows aren't perfect, they're working toward better representations of breastfeeding and pumping in the media.

From talking about breast milk to showing an electric breast pump in action to navigating breastfeeding as a single mother, nursing moms are having a moment on our screens, taking cues from real-life moms to form more accurate and diverse representations of breastfeeding. And we know that these scenes translate off-screen. In fact, recent studies show both moms and non-caregivers were more accepting of breastfeeding in public after seeing images and scenes of breastfeeding in the media.

When partners, family members, and friends see breastfeeding and pumping normalized on screen, it can lead to better support systems in real life. This increased understanding can translate into more accommodating workplaces, more patient partners, and a society that's generally more accepting of breastfeeding in public spaces.

Just like in-person or online breastfeeding support groups and communities, these shows are helping to break down stigmas and create a more supportive environment for breastfeeding moms and their little ones, helping nursing moms feel at ease while reaching their breastfeeding goals. They're showing the world that breastfeeding and pumping are normal, natural parts of motherhood—whether you're doing it in the privacy of your home, in a workplace pumping room, or yes, even in that less-than-ideal utility closet (though we hope you have a better spot, mama)!

We'd love to hear from you! What are your favorite movies or TV shows that portray breastfeeding or pumping? Have you seen a scene that made you feel particularly understood or represented? What breastfeeding norms and mom experiences do you wish to see more of? Share your thoughts with us in The Pumping Room, a Facebook group for moms and their support partners.

Remember, whether or not your breastfeeding journey looks like a TV show, you're doing an amazing job. And if you need any support along the way—from finding the right breast pump through your insurance to connecting with a lactation consultant—we're here to help. At Aeroflow Breastpumps, we believe every mom deserves a standing ovation for her starring role in her own breastfeeding journey.