The Many Journeys of Breastfeeding
Lauren Hartmann
"I didn't take many photos of my nursing journey and in retrospect I wish I had since it is one of my proudest accomplishments to date. This body has nursed two babies and fought like mad to do so. Breastfeeding may be natural, but it definitely didn't come naturally for me. I'm really happy with my journey though. I was able to nurse my daughter for 17 months and my son is still going strong at 14 months. The journey has been long and challenging and definitely left some scars (literally), but it was so worth it."
Read more about Lauren's journey here: Breastfeeding: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Krishann Briscoe
"As much as I inhaled, paused, savored and delighted in the sweetness of the baby stage, I knew photos would be the closest I'd get to reliving it all again, even for a moment. Still, I wish that I captured more of our moments; the ones we shared, like the way she gazed into my eyes as I nursed— tiny toes wiggling, the content smile that graced my face as I nourished and doted on my baby, aware that these moments were fleeting and that breastfeeding wasn't just something I did, but rather it had become something that I cherished."
Amy Wruble
"I nursed my first baby for 15 months, only stopping because I wanted to improve my chances of conceiving. And look what happened—I get to nurse another baby. I feel like the luckiest mama in the world."
Read more about Amy's journey: 10 Things No One Told Me About Breastfeeding
Chaunie Brusie
"I've nursed four kids, so I've been breastfeeding for over four years of my life now and I definitely have had a love/hate relationship with it the entire time. Breastfeeding, for me, has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, mentally, emotionally, and physically—but it's also given me some of the memories, just me, my baby, and the quiet of our rocking chair together, that I know will comfort me someday when I'm longing for a baby to fill my empty arms."
Read more about Chaunie's journey: Why Are We Tiptoeing Around Breastfeeding?
Chelsea Day
"Breastfeeding gets harder as they get older. Their desire to interact competes with the hungriness! My son will nurse a little, grab my hair, giggle at a stranger, eat, fall asleep for a second, eat, try to do a somersault, eat. It's like a 2-hour process and then it's time to start all over again."
Stacey Ann Gooden
"I'm still breastfeeding my son. The plan is to go cold turkey as I did with his sister once he turns two, but I don't see that happening. He has no plans on stopping anytime soon. Breastfeeding him is an entirely different experience. He is so rough! There have been times when I wanted to stop. He often tore and bit at my nipples to the point where I'd scream out in agony, but I kept going. I'm guessing weaning won't go over too well with him."
