Renowned photographer Felicia Saunders, hailing from the United States, has curated a captivating series of portraits that beautifully depict the intimate act of mothers nourishing their babies through various methods, be it breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or even employing specialized devices like feeding tubes. In these powerful images, Saunders reminds us that regardless of the chosen method, the unbreakable bond between mother and child remains steadfast. Each frame in this collection strives to encapsulate the profound emotional connection through the tender gazes and warm smiles exchanged between mother and child.
It is worth noting that all the subjects featured in Saunders' series are close friends of the talented photographer. The project has received resounding acclaim, amassing a staggering 3,841 likes and 5,637 shares, signifying its profound impact on viewers.
Below, we present a glimpse of Felicia Saunders' awe-inspiring photo series, showcasing the heartwarming moments of mothers nurturing their little ones.
In the photo, the mother who is bottle feeding her daughter is Mykel Cooper. Her baby was born prematurely. She initially breastfed her, but then had to use a bottle. Her old motto, “Breasts are the best” made her feel like a failure. “It gave me a positive attitude that we are all mothers and that sometimes we don’t feel like we’ve done our best. As a community, we should support each other and support each other with words of comfort when we are in trouble. No one next to another mother will feel the same emotion you feel towards your baby, and it is something we can share.”
Courtney Espejo is Isaac’s mom, dressed in ocher, breastfeeding and recognizes its value, but she knows it’s not the only way.
The third mother posed with her 19-month-old son, who was fed through a tube.
“My son was born extremely premature”. For nine months, he received donated milk, now he is fed with a tube. “The tube allows him to receive all the food he wants. He can’t take anything out of his mouth yet.”
“I know that not all mothers have the opportunity to breastfeed their babies in the traditional way, but they don’t have to feel guilty about it.”
As a mother who does not have enough milk to breastfeed her two children, Felicia Saunders understands more than anyone the sadness of mothers who have to feed their babies formula. Her experience has left her with a valuable lesson, “what’s best for my baby isn’t best for the next family.”
Through this series of photos, she wants people to stop judging or putting pressure on mothers who cannot breastfeed directly. No matter how they feed their children, they are still very beautiful and strong. The most important thing is that each child is raised with the love of parents and family.
