It is 26th December 2020 and I am giving my 1 year old daughter her very last breastfeed. My daughter is the youngest of four, and our first girl after having 3 boys! I managed to breastfeed all four of my children for varying lengths of time, the shortest being for 6 weeks and the longest being for 58 weeks (a little over a year).
A short time before my daughter's first birthday, her teeth started to come through. She was struggling with teething and would often bite me while feeding (ouch!) so I started to give her more bottles and she would use the teat as a teether after the milk had gone to soothe her gums. Slowly as the weeks passed she became less and less interested in wanting to breastfeed, she would either turn her nose up completely or only want a very short feed before wriggling to be put down and toddle off, I knew our breastfeeding journey was coming to an end. I'm not sure if she even wanted a feed from me over Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but on Boxing Day I thought I would offer her one after giving my camera to my partner so that he could capture some special pictures of us. That ended up being the last time she ever breastfed from me, I am SO glad we captured it, because I have come to realise I don't actually have any other 'proper' images of us feeding, only selfies on my phone! I am actually really sad that I don't have more, but we get so caught up in everyday life, the business of routine, chores, days out, other children, work... we often forget to capture the little moments or document the days to look back on.
This is what has inspired me to start doing monthly or two-monthly (we will see how it goes!) breastfeeding photoshoots. I would love for other mummies to have a beautiful image of them feeding their little one(s) so they have something to remember this amazing journey and be proud of their achievement.
Whilst doing these breastfeeding photoshoots, which will either take place at an outdoor location in and around York, or at my lovely cosy studio in Acomb, I hope that it will help to normalise public breastfeeding and break the stigma that is STILL attached. It is amazing to see how so many local businesses support public breastfeeding, I have seen notices in shop or cafe windows to advertise 'we are a breastfeeding friendly establishment, please come in', or clothing shops with a designated space or room for a mother to go and sit down in to feed their baby, complete with comfy chair or sofa! And yet, some mothers are still being told to go elsewhere to feed their baby, to cover up, and other remarks or unwanted opinions on the matter. I have formula-fed all of my children as babies as well as breastfed them, and I'm a firm believer in 'fed is best' and 'you do you'... however you choose to feed your baby is your business and no one else should ever question your decision. But public breastfeeding still receives some negative attention when it really should not.
Breastfeeding photoshoots at Little Yellow Boots Photography are free, and you also receive an image to download and treasure, you will not need to pay for anything unless you wish to purchase more images from the shoot. It might also be a good chance for you to meet other mums and make some new friends if we meet as a group and I take you aside individually for your photos. I will see how the first few months go and how best to do it!
If you are unsure of what to wear for your photos, I have a separate blog 'what to wear for your photoshoot' which you can have a read of, please click the button below;
-Please note, these breastfeeding photoshoots will not include any partners, husbands, parents or other children, only mothers and the baby or child they are feeding. The exception is for mothers who are tandem feeding and would like a photo with both children nursing at the same time (if this is you, you are a hero!) You can enquire about other photoshoots that will include partners, husbands, siblings etc by filling out the contact form or visiting the website.
-Please also note that these photoshoots are limited to one per person, I anticipate they will be quite popular and I may need to limit numbers so if you have already had a shoot please allow for other mothers to come along for theirs.
If you are interested in coming along to one, please use the contact form to register your interest and be given upcoming dates.
Nikki @ Little Yellow Boots Photography
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