![\"black](\"https:\/\/photographybyvalentina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/breastfeeding-project-576x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhile there is strong evidence to support the numerous benefits of breastfeeding, it is essential to keep in mind that every family and situation is unique. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision to breastfeed (or not) should ultimately be left up to the mother without feeling guilty or ashamed.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nRelated article: 15+ Food best to Avoid when Breastfeeding (And What to Eat Instead)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen I was pregnant with my daughter, 11 years ago, I planned to breastfeed. I thought it was the most natural and convenient thing to do. I mean, why not? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, no one really told me that it would have been hard. Physically and emotionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My mum had 3 kids and we were all bottle-fed. She said she didn’t have much milk. This was over 40 years ago, in Italy. I never asked much really. And because she never did, she never talked about it or had advice for me during pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only information I had at the time, was the little that was shared in the antenatal classes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I truly believed it was natural. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I had a wonderful water birth, with no kind of painkillers. (And I remember that was a big topic in the antenatal classes.) A truly beautiful experience that proved how strong a female body is. I was in the pool for a few hours, I relaxed and felt comfortable. Then, of course, I had a couple of hours of contractions, at 8 pm there she was. My beautiful baby. I picked her up from underwater and laid her on my chest. After 9 months of feeling her inside me, I think this is the most rewarding feeling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was shortly after that I was transferred to a bed to release the placenta. Well, that was basically another birth (and another story . . . )! And at that moment I felt the pressure of feeding my baby. I remember hearing a midwife saying you have to latch quickly. Okay, I thought no problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She laid her on my boob and right at that moment I felt so much pain! “Right, my nipples are not used to this. This is probably normal”, I thought. But I didn’t have much support or guidance, to be honest. We tried a bit, wasn’t really working and at midnight we were in bed. In the morning, a lactation consultant came to me with a woollen boob and a doll to show me how to do it, and how to position the baby. We were struggling and my nipples were kind of cracked already. In the afternoon I was sent home and latching was still an issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nI was happy to be at home, in my own space but I felt helpless.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAmy was a little baby, under 3 kg. And she lost a bit too much in the first 10 days. At that time I was so in pain. I remember crying before every feed. My nipples were in such bad shape, cracked and bleeding. My boobs were enormous and started to be engorged. But according to the midwife\/health visitor, it was all normal. The latching was now fine, I just had to get used to it. But every hour and a half she was crying for food, and I was crying for pain. It was continuous and my nipple never had time to “recover”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In that first week, I tried it all. Lanolin cream, cabbage leaves, nipple shields, silver cups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked for help but couldn’t find any. I felt like crap, useless. The health visitors treated me as if I was in postpartum depression. But I was simply in pain. Physically, as the pain while feeding was excruciating. And mentally, because I wasn’t able to provide the right nourishment for my daughter. I felt guilty. I felt like a failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I went to see a midwife as part of the routine checks and she noticed Amy was losing weight and asked me “Do you mind doing a top-up?” Of course! I was waiting for some sort of guidance. As a first-time mum, you have no idea what you’re doing, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, I developed nipple thrush, that’s why my nipples were cracked and I could feel that stinging pain. And the breast engorgement was starting mastitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anyway, I went back home, fed Amy, not without tears and then offered the top-up bottle, that my husband run off to buy. She took it all and then slept for longer. Poor thing, she was hungry! And I couldn’t give her enough food. My pain, frustration and tension were probably holding it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the top-up, I started pumping as well and that really relieved my nipples over time. I pumped for 6 months but it was a lot of work. She was taking just bottles eventually and the thought of the pain I had, stopped me to try breastfeeding again. So I was pumping, feeding bottle, sterilising and I felt no break. It was a non-stop cycle. It was better in the evening when my husband was at home and could give her the bottle but I was always pumping. And using a manual one!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So the journey wasn’t easy but managed to find a sort of balance. After 6 months, I got fed up and switched to just formula. Things got so much easier at that point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nAs a newborn photographer, I see lots of families and talk about breastfeeding.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nI thought in 10 years things changed. I thought there was more information and more awareness. But when I speak with my clients I hear the same story. Breastfeeding is hard! No one really prepares you. At the same time, you feel the pressure that you have to do it and feel like a failure when it’s not working. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know this story too well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s why I decided to start what I called the Breastfeeding project. The idea is to find at least 20 mums who are willing to share their stories: the journey, the struggles, the joy and the success! It will be a personal project that will go on throughout the year I believe. I will photograph breastfeeding mums for free in exchange for their stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea is to normalise breastfeeding for what it is. Yes, it’s bloody hard but it also creates a beautiful bond between mother and baby. It’s rewarding and practical. It has many taboos and breastfeeding in public is one of them. Feeding a toddler or older baby is another one. I want to touch on all these topics and narrate them with photos and hopefully create a little diary, a book of stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The breastfeeding project started already last month with an Instagram post<\/a> and the response I have to say blew me away. I was scared no one would be willing to be part of it. But I found positive feedback and more encouragement on the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe Breastfeeding Project <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nHere are some of the photos I shot already with different topics and themes. I will share these stories another time, for now, I just wanted to show a little preview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related article: 15+ Food best to Avoid when Breastfeeding (And What to Eat Instead)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I was pregnant with my daughter, 11 years ago, I planned to breastfeed. I thought it was the most natural and convenient thing to do. I mean, why not? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, no one really told me that it would have been hard. Physically and emotionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My mum had 3 kids and we were all bottle-fed. She said she didn’t have much milk. This was over 40 years ago, in Italy. I never asked much really. And because she never did, she never talked about it or had advice for me during pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only information I had at the time, was the little that was shared in the antenatal classes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I had a wonderful water birth, with no kind of painkillers. (And I remember that was a big topic in the antenatal classes.) A truly beautiful experience that proved how strong a female body is. I was in the pool for a few hours, I relaxed and felt comfortable. Then, of course, I had a couple of hours of contractions, at 8 pm there she was. My beautiful baby. I picked her up from underwater and laid her on my chest. After 9 months of feeling her inside me, I think this is the most rewarding feeling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was shortly after that I was transferred to a bed to release the placenta. Well, that was basically another birth (and another story . . . )! And at that moment I felt the pressure of feeding my baby. I remember hearing a midwife saying you have to latch quickly. Okay, I thought no problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She laid her on my boob and right at that moment I felt so much pain! “Right, my nipples are not used to this. This is probably normal”, I thought. But I didn’t have much support or guidance, to be honest. We tried a bit, wasn’t really working and at midnight we were in bed. In the morning, a lactation consultant came to me with a woollen boob and a doll to show me how to do it, and how to position the baby. We were struggling and my nipples were kind of cracked already. In the afternoon I was sent home and latching was still an issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Amy was a little baby, under 3 kg. And she lost a bit too much in the first 10 days. At that time I was so in pain. I remember crying before every feed. My nipples were in such bad shape, cracked and bleeding. My boobs were enormous and started to be engorged. But according to the midwife\/health visitor, it was all normal. The latching was now fine, I just had to get used to it. But every hour and a half she was crying for food, and I was crying for pain. It was continuous and my nipple never had time to “recover”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In that first week, I tried it all. Lanolin cream, cabbage leaves, nipple shields, silver cups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I looked for help but couldn’t find any. I felt like crap, useless. The health visitors treated me as if I was in postpartum depression. But I was simply in pain. Physically, as the pain while feeding was excruciating. And mentally, because I wasn’t able to provide the right nourishment for my daughter. I felt guilty. I felt like a failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then I went to see a midwife as part of the routine checks and she noticed Amy was losing weight and asked me “Do you mind doing a top-up?” Of course! I was waiting for some sort of guidance. As a first-time mum, you have no idea what you’re doing, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, I developed nipple thrush, that’s why my nipples were cracked and I could feel that stinging pain. And the breast engorgement was starting mastitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyway, I went back home, fed Amy, not without tears and then offered the top-up bottle, that my husband run off to buy. She took it all and then slept for longer. Poor thing, she was hungry! And I couldn’t give her enough food. My pain, frustration and tension were probably holding it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the top-up, I started pumping as well and that really relieved my nipples over time. I pumped for 6 months but it was a lot of work. She was taking just bottles eventually and the thought of the pain I had, stopped me to try breastfeeding again. So I was pumping, feeding bottle, sterilising and I felt no break. It was a non-stop cycle. It was better in the evening when my husband was at home and could give her the bottle but I was always pumping. And using a manual one!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n So the journey wasn’t easy but managed to find a sort of balance. After 6 months, I got fed up and switched to just formula. Things got so much easier at that point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I thought in 10 years things changed. I thought there was more information and more awareness. But when I speak with my clients I hear the same story. Breastfeeding is hard! No one really prepares you. At the same time, you feel the pressure that you have to do it and feel like a failure when it’s not working. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I know this story too well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s why I decided to start what I called the Breastfeeding project. The idea is to find at least 20 mums who are willing to share their stories: the journey, the struggles, the joy and the success! It will be a personal project that will go on throughout the year I believe. I will photograph breastfeeding mums for free in exchange for their stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea is to normalise breastfeeding for what it is. Yes, it’s bloody hard but it also creates a beautiful bond between mother and baby. It’s rewarding and practical. It has many taboos and breastfeeding in public is one of them. Feeding a toddler or older baby is another one. I want to touch on all these topics and narrate them with photos and hopefully create a little diary, a book of stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The breastfeeding project started already last month with an Instagram post<\/a> and the response I have to say blew me away. I was scared no one would be willing to be part of it. But I found positive feedback and more encouragement on the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some of the photos I shot already with different topics and themes. I will share these stories another time, for now, I just wanted to show a little preview.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI truly believed it was natural. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I was happy to be at home, in my own space but I felt helpless.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As a newborn photographer, I see lots of families and talk about breastfeeding.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Breastfeeding Project <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n![\"black](\"https:\/\/photographybyvalentina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/breastfeeding-project-576x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n![\"Support](\"https:\/\/photographybyvalentina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Pinterest-pin-5-576x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n![\"mum](\"https:\/\/photographybyvalentina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/bf-project-576x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n![\"mum](\"https:\/\/photographybyvalentina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/breastfeeding-project1-576x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n![\"black](\"https:\/\/photographybyvalentina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/london-photographer-576x1024.jpg\")
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