Summer House’s Lindsay Hubbard on the Highs and Lows of Combo Feeding

Feeding a newborn can feel like a full-time job. Whether you’re a first-time parent or have done it before, nothing fully prepares you for the physical, emotional and mental toll of those early months. And while every feeding journey looks different, hearing real stories from other parents can help normalize the challenges—and triumphs.

The latest to open up? Summer House star Lindsay Hubbard. In a recent Instagram post, Hubbard shared her experience with combo feeding her daughter over the past three months, “not because fans asked,” she noted, but “out of respect for women on this journey! It’s an intense one!”

Before diving in, Hubbard made one thing clear: “No one way is right or wrong. If you came here to shame, keep it moving," she wrote, alongside photos documenting her journey. “I just finished pumping (I went a little over 3 months total), and I am simultaneously happy and sad to be done.”

“I’ve secretly cried to myself this past week thinking that I won’t be giving my milk to my daughter anymore. It comes with a lot of emotions. And for anyone who has experienced this feeling, I see you! But I’m excited to get my body and mind back, for me.”

Throughout her journey, Hubbard prioritized flexibility with combo feeding. “I combo-fed the entire time. It was extremely important to me to keep the pressure off of myself by supplementing with formula from day one," she explained. "It’s hard enough being pregnant for so long, then to learn how to become a parent, and take care of a newborn. It’s already so much! I didn’t even know if I could produce enough milk.”

She admitted she wasn’t sure she’d make it past a week. “I didn’t know if I could last more than a week” on her “insanely rigorous” routine—but she stuck with it and felt “proud” to have reached her goal.“For the first month, I would breastfeed a couple of times a day, which felt really special to bond with Gemma. And then pump every 3 hours to bottle feed, with the occasional formula bottle each day,” she wrote.

But after developing mastitis—a painful breast tissue inflammation—her supply dipped. “It was BRUTAL. After that, my milk supply dipped so I stopped breastfeeding and just focused on continuing to pump & bottle feed.” Even after that initial bout, she said she continued to “fight off” mastitis for two more months before completing her three-month journey.

“I have a main pump (The Spectra S1), a portable/wearable pump (Willow 360), and Turner rented me a pump (Medela) in case I liked it better. I had more everyday success with the spectra. And for formula, we use Bobbie (Gentle organic). Now that I’m done pumping, that’s our main milk supply. Our girl’s a formula girl now…until solid foods!”

Friends and fans filled the comments with appreciation for Hubbard’s honesty. “Girl, this post really hit home,” former Bravo star Stassi Schroeder wrote. “I cried the last time I nursed my son. And then I got Botox,” joked Below Deck’s Kate Chastain. “You’re a superstar and made it longer than me! CONGRATS ON YOUR BODY BEING YOURS AGAIN! I called it being in pumping prison. Thanks for sharing—people need this,” added Ex’s & Oh’s singer Elle King. “So much damn respect for all the moms,” chimed in Summer House costar Kyle Cooke.

Hubbard and her boyfriend, Turner Kufe, welcomed their daughter Gemma Britt Kufe on December 8. “She’s here!! Gemma Britt Kufe,” she wrote, sharing a sweet photo of the new parents holding their baby girl’s hands.

Gemma, a girl’s name of Latin origin, typically means “gem” or “jewel.” A popular name in England, the precious moniker has grown in popularity in the US since the 1980s, skyrocketing from outside the top 2,000 most popular names to now ranking in the top 150 for girls.

Fans and friends were thrilled to celebrate the new parents. “I’m so obsessed with her,” wrote Summer House alum Paige DeSorbo. “Congrats mom and dad and welcome to the world, baby Gemma Britt! I have a friend loading for you xoxo,” added Vanderpump Rules alum and expectant mom Kristen Doute. Other Bravo stars, from Amanda Batula to Ariana Madix, also sent their love.

Hubbard first announced her pregnancy on July 4. “Trigger Warning: This post contains more fireworks than the 4th of July! WE’RE PREGNANT,” she wrote. “I truly believe the universe has a bigger plan and this is it…My boyfriend and I are beyond excited to welcome our little #HubbCub this Holiday season 2024,” she added, not initially revealing Kufe’s name.

Last year, Hubbard opened up during the Summer House Season 8 reunion about dating a “wonderful man” and shared more with US Weekly about the couple’s relationship timeline. The two reconnected and began dating in January 2024 after an on-again, off-again relationship in 2020.

While her pregnancy came as a surprise, Hubbard said she’s thrilled to take on this new adventure with Kufe. “We have a very loving, caring, and healthy relationship. I finally feel like I met my match with him,” she said. “He’s just so excited to be a dad and proud to be having a child with me.”