Victoria’s Secret Model Romee Strijd Breastfeeds Her Baby After Struggle With PCOS

After struggling with PCOS for years, Victoria’s Secret angel Romee Strijd has had her first child with husband Laurens van Leeuwen.

“Mint van Leeuwen ~ feeling so blessed to finally hold you in my arms 💕” she captioned her first-ever Instagram post with her daughter, a photo of her breastfeeding newborn Mint. “We are so in love with you!!”

Back in May, Strijd announced her pregnancy with photos of herself and her husband cradling her slightly-showing stomach.

“WE’RE HAVING A BABY 💗,” the caption happily announced, before launching into a description of her journey with PCOS. “2 years ago I got diagnosed with PCOS after not getting my period for 7 years. I was devastated because being a mom and starting a family with @laurensvleeuwen is my biggest dream.. I was so scared that I would never be able to because I got told it was harder to get babies in a natural way.. I started to research PCOS and came to the conclusion that mine was not the typical pcos.. Mine was because of my body being in fight or flight mode.. which means my body was under constant stress. I never felt mentally super stressed so it was hard te understand this, but my life consisted of travelling all the time (no biorhythm), working out every day, eating super clean (restricting foods). I think I pressured my body to much, and honestly every body is so different but I think my weight was not good for my body to function properly and couldn’t handle the constant traveling.”

She continued that she handled the hormonal disorder through self-care and a new, more family-centered lifestyle.

“I started to research natural healing for PCOS and came to the conclusion that I should do way less high intensity training, don’t restrict foods, be nice to myself, and take breaks when needed,” Strijd explained. “I also tried some natural supplements, acupuncture and we got a place back in the Netherlands as well, so we could spend more time with Family (since im such a family person). I’m so happy and grateful to say that I got my period back last november AND that WE’RE SOON A FAMILY OF THREE ❤ ❤❤❤ & to the women trying to conceive, believe in yourself and be nice for yourself and your body and don’t let those thoughts get to you to much 😚”

Since then, Strijd’s Instagram has been studded with photos of the model showing off her baby bump in belly-baring dresses, bikinis and lingerie, including a Vogue Netherlands cover she posed for.

“So grateful to be able to share the @nlvogue cover with my little one,” Strijd wrote on Instagram. “The Issue is entirely dedicated to motherhood and a true ode to all women – with or without kids”