Photographer snaps women breastfeeding in public to end stigma

A photographer who still breastfeeds her five-year-old daughter is aiming to break the stigma of nursing in public by capturing tender moments between mums and their babies.

Emma Shardlow Hudson, from Grimsby in Lincolnshire, says her images celebrate happy mums snuggled up with their little ones.

The 29-year-old, who breastfeeds her daughter Alex, five, and son Ollie, two, says she’s proud of her collection of images, adding: ‘The fact that these women can nurture their own children is incredible.’

Emma Shardlow Hudson, from Grimsby in Lincolnshire, who breastfeeds her daughter Alex, five, and son Ollie, two (pictured together), says she’s proud of her collection of images

Her photos show one mother cradling her tiny baby (Lily and Eli, pictured) who is dressed in a sweet grey baby suit as she tenderly feeds him while sitting by a seafront

Her photos show one mother cradling her tiny baby (Lily and Eli, pictured) who is dressed in a sweet grey baby suit as she tenderly feeds him while sitting by a seafront

Her photos show one mother cradling her tiny baby who is dressed in a sweet grey baby suit as she tenderly feeds him while sitting by a seafront.

Another image shows a mother sharing a giggle with her daughter as she cradles and tandem feeds her two young children. 

Emma, who believes her breastmilk benefits her daughter’s immune system, says she often get positive reactions to her breastfeeding in public, but added it’s the less frequent negative ones that stick with her – with some even saying ‘urgh’ to her.

Her images captures all aspects of breastfeeding from young babies to older children, breastfeeding groups and mums who feed more than one child at the same time.

Emma said: ‘It’s something I really enjoy photographing.

Her images captures all aspects of breastfeeding from young babies to older children, breastfeeding groups and mums who feed more than one child at the same time. Pictured Alex and Bella, left, and Lilly and Eli, right

Her images captures all aspects of breastfeeding from young babies to older children, breastfeeding groups and mums who feed more than one child at the same time. Pictured Alex and Bella, left, and Lilly and Eli, right

Emma said: 'Some mums take breastfeeding selfies which is great, but you don't get the angle to really see the way the baby is responding to it.' Pictured, Lily and Eli

Emma said: ‘Some mums take breastfeeding selfies which is great, but you don’t get the angle to really see the way the baby is responding to it.’ Pictured, Lily and Eli

What is natural term breastfeeding?

Natural term breastfeeding, also called full-term breastfeeding, is the practice of nursing until the child chooses to wean from the breast.

Breast milk adapts as a baby grows to meet their changing needs. 

Benefits include:  

  • protecting your baby from infections and diseases   
  • building a strong emotional bond between you and your baby
  • health benefits  for the mother  

Giving nothing but breast milk is recommended for about the first six months (26 weeks) of your baby’s life.

After that, giving your baby breast milk alongside family foods for as long as you and your baby want will help them grow and develop healthily. 

Source: NHS Choices 

‘It’s impossible to put into words what it’s like to breastfeed your child – it’s amazing.

‘It’s a completely selfless thing to do, but it can be really hard. It’s really beautiful to be able to feed your baby yourself.

‘For most mums it’s just part of our daily lives, but breastfeeding wasn’t really something that I’ve ever seen photographed.

‘Some mums take breastfeeding selfies which is great, but you don’t get the angle to really see the way the baby is responding to it.

‘As a photographer, I can get right up close and capture the way the baby is looking at their mum, or looking over her shoulder to see their dad.

‘When the mums see the photos, they tend to get quite emotional and think it’s lovely that they have this record.’

Emma claims she was one of the first photographers to take formal breastfeeding photographs in the UK and, three years on, says they have never received a negative comment.

Emma claims she was one of the first photographers to take formal breastfeeding photographs in the UK. Pictured Violet, Alison and Henry feeding in a park

Emma claims she was one of the first photographers to take formal breastfeeding photographs in the UK. Pictured Violet, Alison and Henry feeding in a park

Emma was inspired to take snaps of women breastfeeding when she and a friend hosted an event as part of the Global Big Latch On to support nursing mums. Pictured Amy and Oliver

Emma was inspired to take snaps of women breastfeeding when she and a friend hosted an event as part of the Global Big Latch On to support nursing mums. Pictured Amy and Oliver

Emma, who runs Hudson and Rose Photography, said: ‘The contrast is strange. I’ve had maybe two or three negative comments while I’ve actually been breastfeeding in public.

‘But I haven’t had any negative comments about my photos – everyone thinks they’re great.’

She was inspired to take snaps of women breastfeeding when she and a friend hosted an event as part of the Global Big Latch On to support nursing mums.

After meeting women with different breastfeeding strengths, problems and concerns, she captured photographs from the day.

But Emma was shocked when she realised many mums didn’t have any pictures of themselves nursing their babies – and decided to start taking formal images herself.

Emma (pictured with her two children and her husband Stuart), who believes her breastmilk benefits her daughter's immune system, says she often get positive reactions to her breastfeeding in public, but added it's the less frequent negative ones that stick with her - with some even saying 'urgh' to her

Emma (pictured with her two children and her husband Stuart), who believes her breastmilk benefits her daughter’s immune system, says she often get positive reactions to her breastfeeding in public, but added it’s the less frequent negative ones that stick with her – with some even saying ‘urgh’ to her

Emma, pictured feeding her two children, said: 'The amount of mums I have spoken to who feel guilty about not breastfeeding their child is crazy. They say they stopped because they didn't get the support they needed'

Emma, pictured feeding her two children, said: ‘The amount of mums I have spoken to who feel guilty about not breastfeeding their child is crazy. They say they stopped because they didn’t get the support they needed’

Emma said: ‘Breastfeeding is such a huge part of your life for a while but so many women don’t really think to document it.

‘I started because a friend and I were hosting the event in our area and I offered to photograph the mums.

‘The idea of the project is to get numerous people in the same room breastfeeding, and because there’s so much support there it’s great for people who haven’t fed before or have been struggling.

‘The amount of mums I have spoken to who feel guilty about not breastfeeding their child is crazy. They say they stopped because they didn’t get the support they needed.

‘For me, it was nice to be able to photograph a group of mothers nurturing their children altogether.

‘I loved the photographs I got and decided to continue.’

There are more than 75,000 breastfeeding selfies – or ‘brelfies’ – posted on Instagram including famous snaps from Blake Lively, Hilaria Baldwin, Alyssa Milano and Jaime King. 



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