Confronting society's stigma: Photographer captures the natural beauty of breastfeeding as she attempts to break the taboo around nursing babies in public
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An honest collection of photographs has sought to break the taboo that persists about breastfeeding in public.
Photographer Stacie Turner's series 'Breastfeeding In Real Life' shows scores of new mothers, not in billowy clothing on a mountaintop, but in the real world, when they're often nursing one child on a park bench or at a mall while 'trying to fish crackers out of a diaper bag for another kid' in an old T-shirt with spit up on it.
A strong advocate for breastfeeding, the Connecticut-based mother of 7-year-old twins began taking pictures of other nursing moms five years ago in a 'conscious attempt to normalize' the act.
An honest collection of photographs has sought to break the taboo that persists about breastfeeding in public
The resulting series transforms the everyday into something empowering.
She explains in an interview with the Huffington Post that her favorite picture is one self-titled by its subject: 'Half Naked and Covered in Children.'
'My dear friend Heidi [was] sitting on the ground in the park with one kid pulled off the nipple looking around, a second flailing in full tantrum mode on her lap and a third looking on,' she told the website.
'I think it's so representative of the chaos of being out with multiple small children and trying to keep everyone reasonably contained.'
Turner is currently working on a series of images of children on the autism spectrum.
Photographer Stacie Turner's series 'Breastfeeding In Real Life' shows scores of new mothers, not in billowy clothing on a mountaintop, but in the real world
She sought to capture moms when they're often nursing one child on a park bench or at a mall while 'trying to fish crackers out of a diaper bag for another kid' in an old T-shirt with spit up on it
A strong advocate for breastfeeding, the Connecticut-based mother of 7-year-old twins began taking pictures of other nursing moms five years ago
Her pictures are a 'conscious attempt to normalize breastfeeding'
The resulting series of black and white pictures, however, transforms the everyday into something empowering
'Breastfeeding In Real Life' sees Turner take breastfeeding back to basics
The photographer is herself a mother of 7-year-old twins who she breastfed until the age of three
The honest images of moms and their babies confront the irrational fear many people still have about breastfeeding in public
Turner's shots were posed and idealized but represent real moms
Her series is an effort to eliminate social and cultural barriers for all moms, she explains
While empowering, she represented the woman in a realistic way, often tired or juggling multiple children
This image, self-titled by its subject 'Half Naked and Covered in Children, is Turner's favorite
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people are way to judgemental either way, you get moaned at for having your breasts out in public but you get moaned at for bottle feeding...
I take it you all sit in a private room to eat dinner where nobody can see then? Or if you need a drink while you're out and about you wait to get home? Or just know absolutely zero about the most natural thing we do as mothers and the best thing you can do for your baby. Get over yourselves, don't stare if you're that offended by a woman feeding her child. If people are going to get so worked up about breastfeeding I suggest you research the companies making formula and the crap they're putting into it. :-)
I think babies, BABIES should be breastfeed if the Mum can but in appropriate places and times and not I repeat NOT A CHILD THAT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD CLEARLY CHEW STEAK! I'm referring to the first picture that grosses me out. Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing for both Mum and baby. From a woman who doesn't want kids and lives in the UK.
There is nothing beautiful about breast feeding, it's just functional. I don't understand the fuss about it. Personally I wouldn't get mine out to feed my child in public, but I don't care if somebody else does. Why is this such an issue? It's just mothers feeding their babies, not beautiful, not ugly! But it would turn my stomach to see a mother breast feeding a 3-year-old in public (as in the 1st pic). That's going to lead to some serious separation issues!!
I love these. For those saying 'do it in public but do it modestly' how often have you seen a woman with her breast fully exposed? Because I have seen a lot of mothers breastfeeding in public and not one had their breast on show.
If you must breast feed in public, you won't mind if I have a good look, I have always liked breasts, so we could both be catered for.
The bone of contention for me is not whether women choose to breastfeed in public or not, I couldn't give two hoots as I'm usually totally unaware anyway as most women are discreet and don't want to show anything anyway, but the way these articles are thrust at us turning it into even more of a issue than it already is. Don't forget too there are also a very small minority who go out of their way to be blatant and make others purposely uncomfortable (and yes I have experienced this!)
Lets face facts, If you dont like it, you're either a bloke, childless, or someone who couldn't do it or couldn't be bothered doing it.
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NickC, Queensland, 13 minutes ago
Breastfeed in public all you want but keep in mind that the diaper table in an aircraft toilet is there for changing your kid's full nappy, and don't change it on the seat in the cabin like the inconsiderate parents in front of me on a Pacific flight last week.