Oh My Goodness… Where to start!!! I am in LOVE with these photos and mesmerized at how beautiful these Gorgeous Mamma’s and their Babies are!
A few weeks ago I decided to do a personal project about breastfeeding as it is something very near and dear to my heart. I have 4 children and have breastfeed all of them to different points in their lives, my 1st child with great difficulty in the beginning I nursed him until 9 months, my second child also with great difficulty in the beginning because of him needing surgery at birth nursed until 22 months, my 3rd child easily nursed until 15 months (after having to stop because of a medication I was on) was disappointed but life goes on and then my final last and 4th baby is now currently 15 months and still lovingly nursing many times a day and night. Since our baby girl is most likely going to be our last child and I have always wanted to do something like this, I figured it was now or never and so my vision has come to life. Breastfeeding has always been very important to me and wasn’t even something I considered or didn’t consider when I was pregnant with my first child. It was just a given that I was going to breastfeed him and although I did have many issues especially with him being my first child and not knowing what I was doing, I sought help from local public health nurses as well as at a breastfeeding clinic. I just knew that it wasn’t an option for me to stop even though it was tough! Thankfully with lots of love and support and help, I got through those first few rough months.
Breastfeeding has been one of the most rewarding, beneficial, loving and special things I have done with my children and I will never forget those special moments and bonding that happened during this time. Even getting up in the middle of the night to feed a baby was never something that bothered me. I have never been one for feeling ashamed or scared about breastfeeding in public as I am a pretty open and easy going person. However I do know that as a whole, there are still people in our society that think there is something wrong with breastfeeding and that women should not do it out in public. Breastfeeding is nourishing and gives life to our children, it is something that is natural and normal and should not be looked down upon or shamed in any way. Part of my reason for wanting to do this photo shoot was to bring awareness to the world, and show people these beautiful breastfeeding goddesses and to promote the normalization of breastfeeding. We as women should not feel bad for having to feed our children or feel as if we need to hide away in washrooms or rooms to do something that is so natural. I really do feel that if someone has a problem with it and does not like it, then they really need to just carry on, ignore it or mind their own business. Each and every woman should have the right to breastfeed their child when and where they need to and whenever their baby needs to eat, it is a human right!
Now for the woman, the amazing strong women that joined me in this venture. Amongst us we had stay-at-home moms, moms on maternity leave, self employed moms, working moms, and even a few doula moms! Mom’s of all walks of life! These Mom’s are all amazing in their own way; beautiful and definitely Super Mamas! One cool thing about this group of women is that there are 4 of us with 4 children, now if this isn’t amazing, I don’t know what is!!! You will never guess the 4 with 4 children!
This day was so much fun, it started out with getting hair done and then getting make up done by some beautiful local make up artists Lucero Proudlock and Sarika Mehta. They made all of the ladies feel amazing and beautiful (not that we weren’t already) but a little make up never hurt anyone! Then we had Lori Harahap, owner of Purple Lotus Designs here in Airdrie AB that made and designed all of the flower crowns (absolutely beautiful). Of course don’t forget the super talented professional photographer, Rafael Codio who set up, photographed and edited these beautiful photos, myself Charlene whose vision it was for this shoot along with the planning and organizing and then our good friend Camilo Gonzalez who filmed the whole thing! Video to come in the future!
I want to thank everyone from the absolutely bottom of my heart that participated in this project and helped my visions become reality! Especially to my husband, Rafael Codio, an amazing super talented photographer and father to 4, who has always been super supportive of everything from natural child birth, midwifery, breastfeeding, co-sleeping and every other crazy vision and idea that I have ever had. Together we make an amazing team and have created a life where dreams become reality!
#wbw2016 #worldbreastfeedingweek2016 #normalizebreastfeeding #breastmilkisgold #professionalphotographers #husbandandwifephotographyteam http://www.codiophotography.com
