Almost a year ago, Karina O'Neill the Family Photographer, who is also a Breastfeeding Volunteer at Worcester Royal, told me of her dream to photograph breastfeeding mothers and babies. Her idea was to photograph a group of mums and babies in a beautiful natural setting and to highlight the beauty, connection and naturalness of breastfeeding.
Fast forward to a couple of months ago and Karina decided she really wanted to get going with this idea, and it made me think of how pro breastfeeding the women who work at Croome Court are, (I found this out last summer when I taught Kids yoga at Croome National Trust, and also supported one of these women in my yoga classes when she'd had a baby). ~It seemed like a perfect setting for a stunning photoshoot and so I connected Karina to the staff at Croome Court and the ball got rolling with a date planned, mums found that wanted to participate and lots of excitement from all involved!! We wanted the photoshoot to take place in time for Breastfeeding Awareness Week 1-7 August 2024.
The theme of this years Breastfeeding Awareness week is "Breastfeeding for all". Many women and babies go through real challenges in the early weeks of breastfeeding, and with an unfortunate lack of support, information and resources available, many decide not to continue with breastfeeding. For some women this is an empowering decision based on knowing what is best for themselves and for their babies, mentally and phycially. For others, ending or not getting started with breastfeeding can lead to complex feelings of grief, regret, guilt, amongst many other emotions.
So the theme of "Breastfeeding for all" is a brilliant one, as all mothers deserve support to feed their babies however they choose. With the correct knowledge and support available to make informed decisions about breastfeeding. I'd like to add Breastfeeding for all "who want it" as not everyone does and that deserves to be a respected decision too.
The photoshoot was a real celebration of breastfeeding. A time to share our stories, laugh, cry, be heard and share in the pride, joy and achievement we felt after many of us overcame huge challenges to breastfeed.
My role was to lead a sharing circle where we talked about "what breastfeeding means to us". It was moving hearing the stories. I then led us through a guided meditation, connecting to the heartspace as we feed our babies from the breast, the heart centre, so its a physical expression of love coming through in the form of milk "liquid love".
Some women feel a societal pressure not to breastfeed or are even shamed by the act of breastfeeding their babies. We wanted to highlight how natural and maternally loving breastfeeding is, as well as being healing for both mums and babies. One mum even expressed how breastfeeding had "saved her when she didn't want to be here anymore" after suffering with postnatal depression. Others talked of the determination and struggle they went through to establish a comfortable feeding pattern with their babies.
The aim of the photoshoot was to celebrate these women, hopefully sending a message out to the local community that Worcestershire is a breastfeeding friendly place.
Here are some of the photos that will be shared with the local community, the NHS, Croome Court plus other breastfeeding organisations and charities, to celebrate and raise awareness of breastfeeding. My hope is these images give mothers a sense of inspiration and pride, and also that mothers new to breastfeeding feel more confident and comfortable on their journeys.
Thank you to Croome Court for hosting us and for continuing to be. a welcoming space for mothers to visit with their children.
Thank you to Vanda for the behind the scenes photography.
Thank you to Becky Davenport, Feeding Together Worcestershire for the Breastfeeding support and to Aimee of Worcester Mums Coffee Club for extra help, encouragment and support on the day.
Congratulations to Karina O'Neill for bringing a dream to life - thank you for sharing this wonderful spark of imagination and inspiration with us - we felt your passion for supporting mothers. No wonder you're now a breastfeeding volunteer at Worcester Royal as well as a photographer!
Feel free to share your breastfeeding stories in the comments.
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