Laura Henshaw, the co-founder of the wellness app Kic, recently found herself in the spotlight after responding to criticism for breastfeeding her son, Atlas, during a podcast recording. The episode, which aired on April 13, featured Henshaw and her husband, Dalton Henshaw, discussing various postpartum questions while she tended to her infant, who was born in December.
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In sharing a snippet of the moment on Instagram, Laura expressed her excitement about the experience: “Atlas’s little head 😭❤️ On today’s pod, Dalt joined Laura to answer all of your postpartum Q’s – as always we wanted to be as honest and open with you all as possible.” The video, capturing her as a new mother managing the challenges of parenthood, aimed to foster openness about the realities of postpartum life.
However, not all feedback was positive. Laura encountered critical comments aimed at her decision to breastfeed on camera. One commenter provocatively suggested that if a male host were to be equally inappropriate, their actions wouldn’t be accepted. This prompted Laura to tackle the issue head-on in an Instagram Story post that has since expired. She shared a snapshot of herself breastfeeding on a plane, asserting, “I’m not ‘brave,’ I’m just doing my best and feeding my child. I’m learning so many things in our world are not really designed for mothers.”
The new mother, who is approximately four months postpartum, expressed her frustration with the negative narrative surrounding her breastfeeding, calling it perplexing and indicative of broader societal issues. She acknowledged that she was “too tired to go into why these comments on a video of my breastfeeding is so so very wrong”.
In the comments section accompanying her video, Laura also received an outpouring of support. Notable among the messages was one from Bloom Lactation, a consultancy service that championed her openness, stating, “We need more women like you, Laura, who are willing to show up authentically on public platforms. Visibility matters.” Their words reinforced the positive impact of Laura’s decision to share such intimate moments with her audience.
The couple, Laura and Dalton, welcomed Atlas with joy, sharing their emotional journey through social media. In an earlier post announcing their son’s arrival, they wrote, “Our whole world, baby Atlas,” accompanied by a heart emoji, capturing the essence of new parenthood.
Prior to Atlas’s birth, Laura had candidly discussed her choice to undergo an elective caesarean. In a previous podcast episode, she shared her feelings about the stigma often associated with this delivery method. “I don’t have a specific medical reason that means I can’t have a vaginal birth, and to be honest, there isn’t a bone in my body that wants to have one. Despite that, I grappled with some of the shame I felt around not wanting to go through labour,” she said at the time.
In addition to her new responsibilities as a mother, Laura has recently stepped down from her role as CEO of Kic. She co-founded the brand with fellow entrepreneur Steph Claire Smith, and after five years of leadership, announced her departure in a heartfelt LinkedIn post. Expressing gratitude to her team and the support she received along the way, she noted, “We wouldn’t be here without you,” recognising the collective effort that built the brand.
Laura Henshaw’s journey reflects the complexities of modern motherhood, encapsulating both joy and challenges. Her experiences highlight the need for greater understanding and acceptance of mothers in public realms, especially regarding choices surrounding breastfeeding and childbirth. By sharing her story, Laura hopes to pave the way for open conversations about the struggles and triumphs of motherhood and raise awareness that nurtures a more supportive environment for all women.