END THE BREASTFEEDING STIGMA
WHEN a Burleigh Waters photographer put a call out on social media for breastfeeding mums to take part in her new passion project, The Kindred Collection, the response was overwhelming.
Alannah Morton, a 27-yearold mum of two and local photographer, has always found breastfeeding images to be so powerful, but thought she would struggle to find women with the confidence to bare all and be vulnerable in front of the camera.
But her latest collection is proving women are becoming more comfortable in being themselves, stretch marks and all.
“In the last few months I have felt a shift in social media and have seen a lot more people sharing this kind of raw imagery,” she said.
“The Kindred Collection is all about empowering women through promoting a positive body image and normalising breast feeding by sharing raw and moving images of women with the world.
“The first project is a breastfeeding series, but I am working on a few other ideas at the moment including post-partum bodies, pregnancy, ageing, the list goes on.
“This is something that I am passionate about, having two young children myself and dealing with my body image issues since giving birth.’’
The former registered nurse, who is self-taught in photography, is standing behind the movement to normalise breastfeeding.
“It is about women’s rights to be able to breastfeed in public,” Ms Morton said.
“This is something that all women, breastfeeding or not, should care about.
“A mother can choose to breastfeed her baby in public or in private, but her choice shouldn’t be determined by the fact that she feels shamed.
“If we are going to support women’s rights, we should support all women’s rights.
“We’ve recently had a big win with Instagram and Facebook allowing images of women actively breastfeeding as well as images of stretch marks and post-mastectomy scars.”
Ms Morton said this was a step in the right direction and “wonderful for women”.
“Social media is such a huge part of young women’s lives and by these social media giants finally saying that these images are OK, hopefully it will help get our message across to people that breastfeeding is beautiful, it is natural and it is not something to be shamed for,” she said.
“IF WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT WOMEN’S RIGHTS, WE SHOULD SUPPORT ALL WOMEN’S RIGHTS ALANNAH MORTON