Breastfeeding is often portrayed as a serene and natural experience, but beneath the surface lies lots of struggles and frustrating moments.

My journey started over a decade ago. I still remember the first time my daughter tried to latch. I just moved from the water pool where I gave birth to the bed and this tiny girl was put on my chest. She avidly grabbed my boob and straight away a stingy pain moved from my chest to my whole body. After that moment, it was a daily struggle for the first few weeks. I tried all the possible things everyone suggested, from the correct baby position to cabbage leaves and silver cups to alleviate the sore on my nipples. Nothing was working and I found myself with engorged breasts, cracked and bleeding nipples, nipple thrush and a baby who was losing weight and constantly crying for food.

I was dreading the feeding. I was crying when I could hear my baby crying for food. And in between I was worrying about the next feed, so there was so little joy for that baby that I wanted so bad.

It wasn’t just about the excruciating pain. It was so much more. It was about the lack of help and support I experienced and the sense of failure and loneliness. That feeling of guilt because I wasn’t enough as a mum, that I couldn’t provide nourishment for my daughter.

It was a rollercoaster ride for my body and, most importantly, my mental health.

As a maternity and newborn photographer in London, I meet lots of new families and with lots of the mums we talk about breastfeeding. I realised that in a decade not much changed.

So I recently started a personal project to normalise breastfeeding. I want to share stories so we can talk more about it.

Yes, BF is hard and painful but for many women is one of their biggest achievements.

Yes, it’s okay if you pump or switch to a bottle because you feel it is too challenging for you.

Yes, it creates an incredible bond with your baby and you’re loving it!

Yes, it’s okay to feed an older baby. No one else can make you feel bad or guilty if your child still needs that connection.

And of course, it’s okay to feed in public. You are nursing your baby and if other people feel uncomfortable is their problem. Why are they even looking at you in the first place?

There are so many reasons why I wanted to start this project and photograph for free women who are willing to share their stories. I want to create more awareness and normalise breastfeeding in every way.

Here are some powerful photos I created, inspired by their experience.

For more about this project please read the post below

More info: photographybyvalentina.com

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