Photo: Nao Gillet nurses her infant while her toddler plays a puzzle (Suzie Blake, “This is what breastfeeding looks like.”)
In response to the recent beautiful (and perhaps photo-shopped) pictures of actresses, supermodels and other celebrities breastfeeding their babies, photographer Suzie Blake has produced a real-life glimpse into what breastfeeding moms (and their families) really look like.
Milk leaks. Stained shirts. Exhausted expressions on their faces. Toddlers on potty seats next to her. This is what my breastfeeding experiences looked like.
When my third son was born, I considered myself a professional at nursing (in public or in private) – but I’ve never looked like Gisele Bunchen looked when she was nursing her daughter while having her nails manicured, hair styled, and make up applied. I frequently had a two-year-old fighting for my attention, a dog trying to lick the baby’s face, or some wrestling pre-schooler trying out a new gymnastics move one room away.
I commend Melbourne native Suzie Blake in her quest to find the realities of breastfeeding. Yes, we nursing moms know that breastfeeding is beautiful, but she’s reminding us that breastfeeding is beautiful even when it doesn’t look pretty.
She will be visiting the United Kingdom this month to photograph other moms for this project. More information can be found on her Facebook page, Facebook.com/BoobieShoots.
