By The Green Parent
13th October 2022
Ann Owen always knew she was going to breastfeed and always knew that she wanted her children to decide when the journey would end.
“I don’t think I anticipated that I would still on the odd occasion be nursing my daughter at age five. As someone who has felt quite alone in nursing an “older” child I decided to reach out to other mamas who were also nursing beyond infancy and to those who were allowing their children to decide when to stop. And so my project Milk was born.
Through this project I have connected with so many inspiring and incredible mothers who, through sharing their stories with me, have empowered me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. At the beginning of this project I felt worried about putting myself out there, but now I feel proud of our journey. It is my hope that it can help others on a similar path, in the same way.
I feel it is important to honour and celebrate our journeys truthfully. By sharing our stories through words and images we empower ourselves and others. Natural Term Breastfeeding is something I am incredibly passionate about and wish to help normalise through my work”.
Ann is a home educating mama to two little wildlings; a five year old girl named Phoenix and a two year old boy named Forrest. Her work as a photographer makes her soul sing. “Capturing moments of love and connection between a mother and her family brings me such joy.”
Adeola Sheehy is an Irish/Nigerian Londoner now living in the New Forest, with her four home-educated children. Orion who made her a mama 14 years ago, Thea, 12, who rekindled her creativity, Gabe, nine, who brings sunshine everywhere he goes, and little Ayla, three. Writing from the crossroads of race, womanhood, and creativity, you can find her work at adeolasheehy.com and follow her on Instagram @adeola_moonsong
“I look down at her curls brushing my skin as her eyelids get heavier and heavier. I am filled with gratitude that we still share these moments before her dreams claim her each night. Breastfeeding Ayla to sleep is a bittersweet joy. After 14 years and four children, my journey is coming to an end as my youngest fast approaches her fourth birthday. Long gone are the cluster feeds and choosing my clothes based on accessibility. We have reached the stage of nighttime reconnection and solace on challenging days. The more independent she becomes, the less she reaches for the ‘boob’, safe in the knowledge that the choice is hers.
We have had our moments and the journey hasn’t always been easy. There have been times when breastfeeding aversion was so strong I felt under siege, unable to escape the clutching hands. There have been many nights where I felt broken by exhaustion, but then her eyes would turn to mine and the connection loop from my heart to hers would strengthen once more. Feeding not just her body but the depth of trust that is her foundation, and I would ride the stormy waves until calm returned once more.
This is not the only way to nourish a child, but it is our way for now. For me, it has been a practice in slowing down, of being still, and of surrendering that I have learned so much from. I have never weaned a child, I don’t honestly think I know how. That is for her to choose in her own time, and until then as her fingers play with my clothes and she sighs in contentment, I will continue to pause in gratitude for the gift that my body is offering us both.
ADVICE TO MAMAS
The most important thing I have learned is that feeding aversion is real and completely normal. There are days when you’ll be all touched out and feel like you’ve had enough, but just as we know that the days are long and the years are short, the nights are even longer. Yet all too quickly they sleep through the night, and boob is just for storytime, and in a blink, that sweet moment that only you share with your child is just a memory you hold dear. Listen to your own needs and always do what you can to meet them, and remember that these moments are a gift to your child right now, but also to you and the beautiful memories you are creating for your future self.
“The most important thing I have learned is that feeding aversion is real and completely normal”
RESOURCES
VISIT annowenfoto.com
READ Breastfeeding Made Simple - Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers
EXPLORE Resources for Natural term Breastfeeding abm.me.uk
