Meg: Nursing Mother

Posted: July 7th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Breastfeeding Portraits, Children's Portraits | Tags: , , | 22 Comments »

I asked Meg to be one of my “nursing on film” models this summer; I had a hunch she’d be interested as I met her at the La Leche League conference in April where she was coordinating the exhibit hall. She met me at Westmoor Park, one of the treasures here in West Hartford, and she and her daughter nursed here, there and everywhere.

Connecticut Film Portraits of Babies and Children

Film Portraits in Connecticut

Tell me about your daughter.
The sweetest girl! She is everything I have been told about myself as a child, my mini-me. Boy, am I in trouble!

Less than half women are still breastfeeding at 6 months and the number drops under 20% at a year. Why did you decide to keep going? To what do you attribute your success when so many other women struggle with breastfeeding?
I didn’t really decide, its hard to believe she is 2 1/2, already. Not sure when that happened, LOL. I was determined, when things were rough I sought support from my doula, LLL, and my mom. It was so important to me that she was breastfed, that was my driving force. When she latched on and was suckling, in the early days, she was happy and at peace, it made the whole process worth it!

Why did you decide to become a La Leche League leader?
I attended LLL meeting with my mom as a young child. I thought about going to meetings and being a LLL Leader long before I ever had a child. I want every woman to be able to experience breastfeeding and know how important and wonderful it is!

What is the best part of motherhood?
Watching your child grow and learn, and become a little person. Everyday is something new. It’s amazing!

What do you think is the most challenging part?
The most challenging part, is having enough time and money! Having to be a working mother, I sometimes feel guilty but breastfeeding allows us to have a bonding time and spend time “just us”.

What does your daughter say and do that makes you melt?
WHOA! There is so much! When she says “I wube you” (I love you) that’s the best!

What makes you nuts?
The total defiance! When she doesn’t want to listen, she doesn’t…oh and probably when she response “NO WAY!” that could make me crazy!

What advice do you have from the trenches of motherhood?
Just go with it! Don’t worry about the right way/wrong way to mother. Just nurse and be happy! We are so stressed by everything, and the time line of mother-baby is so short and goes by so fast, don’t waste it being worried about everything! Take a deep breath and jump in!

Thanks, Meg!
Thank you so much, Stacie!

22 Comments on “Meg: Nursing Mother”

  1. 1 Lina said at 2:06 pm on July 9th, 2010:

    There is something so unexplainable special about nursing your child. Beautiful!

  2. 2 jennifer adams said at 3:00 pm on July 9th, 2010:

    these are absolutely beautiful, great tones!

  3. 3 Liz said at 3:05 pm on July 9th, 2010:

    These are so beautiful, especially the first one. I love your work.

  4. 4 Marla said at 3:41 pm on July 9th, 2010:

    What a wonderful feature, that first one is gorgeous.

  5. 5 Holly said at 4:26 pm on July 9th, 2010:

    Such a sweet moment you captured in that first one. I adore nursing portraits (as I am sitting here nursing my dd!).

  6. 6 Lori said at 5:33 pm on July 9th, 2010:

    Gorgeous, what a true, natural connection between mom & child.

  7. 7 Julie Wagoner said at 7:26 pm on July 9th, 2010:

    I always love nursing shots…such a special bond!

  8. 8 Tweets that mention Meg: Nursing Mother -- Topsy.com said at 7:35 pm on July 9th, 2010:

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by bitsofmyself.com. bitsofmyself.com said: RT @StacieTurner: New #breastfeeding blog post with pictures and interview: Meg, Nursing Mother: http://tinyurl.com/378zqak [...]

  9. 9 Beira said at 8:07 pm on July 9th, 2010:

    Gorgeous! I love how beautifully you captured their sweet bond.

  10. 10 Salina J said at 9:02 pm on July 9th, 2010:

    Beautiful! A wonderful time of life captured.

  11. 11 Jen Mahoney said at 12:10 am on July 10th, 2010:

    What a gorgeous, gorgeous post! Nursing is so lovely and connecting, I wish I had images of myself nursing any of my children!

  12. 12 Jennifer said at 12:11 am on July 10th, 2010:

    Such precious photographs! Nursing is such a bonding experience!

  13. 13 April said at 10:01 am on July 10th, 2010:

    This is such a special bond you’ve captured. It’s great that you’re highlighting someone so dedicated to breastfeeding!

  14. 14 courtney said at 9:30 pm on July 10th, 2010:

    so beautiful, Stacie! You really captured the bond in your compositions and tones…just lovely!

  15. 15 amy said at 1:35 am on July 11th, 2010:

    Just beautiful.. Love this capture…

  16. 16 mandy said at 6:14 pm on July 12th, 2010:

    Beautiful film work….wonderful and emotive.

  17. 17 Rhonda Stark said at 6:38 pm on July 12th, 2010:

    beautiful images .. love the tones and feel of film!

  18. 18 Stacie said at 7:11 pm on July 12th, 2010:

    Thank you!

  19. 19 Stacie said at 7:11 pm on July 12th, 2010:

    Thank you :)

  20. 20 vickie said at 7:26 pm on July 12th, 2010:

    These are just beautiful, Stacie.

  21. 21 Julie said at 9:05 pm on July 12th, 2010:

    Wonderful portraits! Especially the first one – the mood and expression and everything is just incredible!

  22. 22 Hulda Earll said at 7:51 pm on July 14th, 2010:

    Good job!