Over the past few years, one parenting topic has stirred up tons of controversy on social media: breastfeeding — specifically, extended breastfeeding, or breastfeeding children beyond their infant years.
But in an effort to do away with the stigma against extended breastfeeding, photographer Natalie McCain has created a series entitled "The Honest Body Project" — and already, it's causing quite a stir.
The mission of this special project? To exhibit proud, confident moms and normalize the many different parenting values around the globe.
As McCain told LittleThings, "I nursed both of my children as toddlers, and felt so much judgment from others for doing so. I want to help show how natural, beautiful, and normal it really is."
But "The Honest Body Project" isn't just about extended breastfeeding. It also strives to bring truth and light to all female body types — and to demonstrate just how beautiful every shape, size, and age is.
Below are a few of the stories told by these brave women. What did you think of the photographs and stories of these incredible women? Let us know in the comments below!
“It bothers me to hear people say, 'When they can ask for it, they don’t need it anymore.' Children ask for nourishment from the second they enter this world. A newborn asks by crying, sucking their lips, and putting their hands in their mouth. An older baby might ask by tapping your chest or signing. And now my toddler asks by yelling, 'MILKIES,' and pulling at my shirt! They ask from day one. They’ve just learned different and more evolved ways as they get older.”
"The question that bothers me the most with full term nursing is, 'When are you going to stop?' Why do I have to stop? Do we have to have a date in mind? My child feels comforted, she is smart, confident, and independent so nursing isn’t holding her back in any way! She loves to nurse, she loves to be close to me. Let’s face it, all these cute little faces are going to be teenagers one day and want nothing to do with their parents."
“Never knock extended nursing until you try it! It’s not what you may think. It is just a natural progression that is led by my children. My older boys know that they were all nursed and they don’t bat an eye or wonder why I am still nursing their brothers. Why can’t adults understand this and just keep their comments to themselves?"
“Full-term nursing is linked to reduced rates of breast and ovarian cancer, is a source of emotional support, fosters independence, is an immune booster, and is the perfect make up of calories for your growing toddler. It is typical and the norm in most countries and I’m hoping that with time and education, like this segment of 'The Honest Body Project,' the citizens of the United States will see that extended breastfeeding is 'normal,' and should be accepted instead of frowned upon.”
"My oldest son was also the first great grandchild. His Great Gran passed away before his first birthday. The family was at Hospice House in Malabar, just sitting around spending time together. I was by her bed with my son, he was getting fussy and she told me to go ahead and nurse him. She asked me to stay there and she just held my hand and watched. She didn’t nurse her babies, but was glad I was nursing mine. She told me how precious she thought it was. That was our last evening together talking; the bond of nursing connected more than mother and child that night.”
“My initial goal for nursing was to just get over the first two weeks, which I’ve heard is the biggest hurdle, and to go from there. As our nursing journey has progressed I then set some milestones, like six months and one year. Once my son reached a year it dawned on me…why do I have these 'goals' for how long I feed and nourish my child? We are almost three years into this breastfeeding journey. I never once had the thought of 'I’m going to stop nursing at such and such age.' Self-weaning is what is working for us. When my son feels he is done is when we are done.”
“Will they ever stop? Yes, yes they will. As my daughter approaches five years old, I have even asked myself this question but I know that her breastfeeding journey will end. It will end exactly when it should for us. Every breastfeeding relationship is different and unique. Research and trust your heart, you will find what is right for you and your child and it will be amazing.”
“My second child weaned herself. It was quite a shock too. I was eight months pregnant and looking very much forward to tandem nursing. We were cuddled up where I was reading her a book and nursing her before her nap. She unlatched and sat up abruptly. She looked at me and said 'I don’t like it anymore.' Like that, she was done."
“Having an older child I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain what breastfeeding was. I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable but I wanted this experience to be as natural and easy for both of us as possible. I am so thankful that he not once questioned anything about breastfeeding in a negative way, and he’s so supportive even at eight years old.”
“My children find comfort and peacefulness with nursing. When they are scared or anxious or tired they seek me for comfort. It’s not extended nursing to me, it is just nursing. Our journey just hasn’t ended yet and they still need me for that. One day it will end, but I am not going to interfere with the natural process of that."
You can learn more about "The Honest Body Project" by watching the video below.
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