31 Days of Breastfeeding Selfies

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and mom.me is celebrating by sharing a different selfie every day of a nursing mom—no matter how long or short their journey was. These women all share the common bond of doing their best to feed their babies whether by breast, by pumping or by bottle. No matter the route, we're all in this together and we honor all moms who work so tirelessly to give their child the ultimate gift of love.

"I have breastfed each of my daughters. The first for 7 months, the second for 20 months, and my 15-month-old and I are still going strong. The crazy thing about breastfeeding is that you think you are giving your child a gift. You think it's good for them. But what I didn't expect is what this journey has given me. Breastfeeding has been one of the best things in my life. It has given me strength. It has helped me with postpartum depression. It has given me a confidence I never had before. I am so grateful to be a breastfeeding mom."

Read more about Lacy's journey here: 8 Reasons I'm Not Weaning My 14-Month-Old Any Time Soon

"I didn't take many photos of my nursing journey and in retrospect I wish I had since it is one of my proudest accomplishments to date. This body has nursed two babies and fought like mad to do so. Breastfeeding may be natural, but it definitely didn't come naturally for me. I'm really happy with my journey though. I was able to nurse my daughter for 17 months and my son is still going strong at 14 months. The journey has been long and challenging and definitely left some scars (literally), but it was so worth it."

Read more about Lauren's journey here: Breastfeeding: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

"As much as I inhaled, paused, savored and delighted in the sweetness of the baby stage, I knew photos would be the closest I'd get to reliving it all again, even for a moment. Still, I wish that I captured more of our moments; the ones we shared, like the way she gazed into my eyes as I nursed— tiny toes wiggling, the content smile that graced my face as I nourished and doted on my baby, aware that these moments were fleeting and that breastfeeding wasn't just something I did, but rather it had become something that I cherished."

"I nursed my first baby for 15 months, only stopping because I wanted to improve my chances of conceiving. And look what happened—I get to nurse another baby. I feel like the luckiest mama in the world."

Read more about Amy's journey: 10 Things No One Told Me About Breastfeeding

"I've nursed four kids, so I've been breastfeeding for over four years of my life now and I definitely have had a love/hate relationship with it the entire time. Breastfeeding, for me, has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, mentally, emotionally, and physically—but it's also given me some of the memories, just me, my baby, and the quiet of our rocking chair together, that I know will comfort me someday when I'm longing for a baby to fill my empty arms."

Read more about Chaunie's journey: Why Are We Tiptoeing Around Breastfeeding?

"Breastfeeding gets harder as they get older. Their desire to interact competes with the hungriness! My son will nurse a little, grab my hair, giggle at a stranger, eat, fall asleep for a second, eat, try to do a somersault, eat. It's like a 2-hour process and then it's time to start all over again."

"I'm still breastfeeding my son. The plan is to go cold turkey as I did with his sister once he turns two, but I don't see that happening. He has no plans on stopping anytime soon. Breastfeeding him is an entirely different experience. He is so rough! There have been times when I wanted to stop. He often tore and bit at my nipples to the point where I'd scream out in agony, but I kept going. I'm guessing weaning won't go over too well with him."

"One of the hardest parts of breastfeeding was when I was nursing my newborn, while also trying to include my 18-month-old. Juggling two little ones while one of them has your breast in his mouth was not something I was prepared for. I'm glad I did it, but I wish there was more joy, freedom and acceptance for all mothers' choices around breastfeeding."

Read more about Christie's journey: That Last Bag of Breast Milk? I'll Never Let It Go

"I used to think that a child old enough to ask for milk was too old to breastfeed. Now, I'm nursing my 23-month-old and I can't imagine my life without the bond we enjoy through nursing. What a gift, to both of us!"

Read more about Sarah's journey: I Hope You Kid Sees Me Breastfeed Mine

"I opted out of breastfeeding altogether. It was a choice that I made based on a few factors happening in my life at the time. To the credit of hospital nurses, I was coerced into pumping colostrum. That lasted for exactly 8 days and then I shut everything down by choice, moving to formula feeding exclusively. Looking back, I'm satisfied and still confident with the choice I made—no regrets. I'm also happy I pumped for that short time, as it was fascinating to see how a new mother's body works and what it's capable of producing, but then I was just over the physicality of it and moved on."

"Breastfeeding my second child has been completely different than breastfeeding my first. I thought once I had things figured out on my end it would always be the same, but no, every child is different—a brand new relationship, a brand new bond. This month my son and I celebrate three years of nursing, weaning is around the corner for us, so right now I cherish every close moment and conversation we have about 'mama milk.'"

"After struggling to breastfeed my first son I was so pleasantly surprised by my second breastfeeding experience. It was wonderful to have it actually feel natural and work out so well for both of us. This picture was snapped during a particularly snuggly session and I will treasure this moment forever and always."

Read more about Carla's journey: Dear Mom Who Tried to Breastfeed But Couldn't

"Nursing my first was such hard work. I had clogs and sore nipples. I eventually quit after three months to pump, but I was working and that was awful too. I quit pumping at nine months and felt so guilty. With my second, I was determined to make nursing work, I got mastitis and I remember sobbing to my husband that I'd do anything rather than pump again. I nursed him for 11 months. For me, it was never easy. And I'm so happy it's done. I tell my friends, do what you need to do, not what you feel like you should do."

"I had chronic undersupply with my little guy Otto but I was determined that he would be exclusively breast fed up until six months old. I put in many hours on the pump during his entire first year—as did a small group of generous milk-donor mamas—and surpassed that goal. Otto will turn two in September and is still going strong, though he obviously (thankfully) also eats food now, too."

Read more about Taylor's journey: 10 Reasons I Love Breastfeeding My Toddler

"People can roll their eyes, but I stand firm on this statement—breastfeeding is a holy thing. From the hours of blissful silence that I spent nursing my daughter, me reading peacefully while she drifted in and out of sleep, to the absolute madness of nursing my 16-month-old boys, with milk spurting all over the place and at least one of us ending up with a minor injury of some sort. After two miscarriages and a couple years of infertility , nursing my children has been healing and beautiful… not always easy, often messy, but truly, truly such a gift."

Read more about Em's journey: Why I Donate My Breast Milk

"I breastfed my baby for almost his whole first year of life. It was really tough at first, but I knew if it was at all possible that it was important to me. Some days, to be honest, I hated it. Some days, I felt like a milk machine, and not much more. But the bond we formed, the closeness and those sweet still moments of just him and me, those are what I will cherish forever. Now that he has weaned himself, I find myself missing these precious times, and almost wishing for them back."

Read more about Katie's journey: The Most Ridiculous Things I've Heard While Breastfeeding

"Breastfeeding didn't come naturally to me and my son Hugo, but after lots of power pumping and sticking to it, he finally latched on. We've been traveling and nursing all over Colorado ever since."

Read more about Jennifer's journey here: How to Pick the Perfect Bottle to Prevent Nipple Confusion

"I never thought I'd breastfeed longer than a year, but I ended up nursing both of my children beyond two years old. It wasn't always easy and I would do it all over again."

"I can't tell if she was still nursing in this picture or if she'd fallen asleep, but my shirt is up so I'm guessing she was nursing, though it's hard to tell. For a few months there, it feels like your shirt is ALWAYS up."

Read more about Robyn's journey: How to Breastfeed in Public Like a Boss

"After many nights in tears and seeing three different lactation consultants I was about ready to give up. Then I met one who gave me some advice. Se said, 'It just might not work for you, and that's OK.' That very night all of the sudden Roan latched on in a different way I hadn't felt before. It didn't hurt. Breastfeeding became a glorious empowering event I never wanted to end."

"Breastfeeding ended up being harder than I expected, but I'm so glad that I powered through. The time passed so quickly that I never took any photos of me feeding her. I wish I had!"

"Breastfeeding while traveling for five weeks in Europe with my infant and toddler was convenient, but also something I had to figure out on the fly. Thankfully I'd breastfeed my oldest, so I knew how to do it in public (trust me, I was a clumsy breastfeeder at best the first go around). I discreetly covered up, but was never given a sideways glance or annoyed look by anyone in Italy, Switzerland or England. Thank goodness too. I didn't have any room left for bottles in my suitcase even if I wanted to use them."

Read more about Keryn's journey: I No Longer Feel Like a Breastfeeding Failure

"I just started breastfeeding last week and it was so painful I wanted to give up immediately. I'm in week two and with the help of a postpartum doula it still hurts but slightly less as my nipples toughen up and I think I'm gonna make it! While pregnant I went to a breastfeeding class and they kept saying, 'It doesn't hurt if you're doing it right.' Well I'm doing it right and his latch is perfect but it still hurts at the beginning until your nipples get calloused."

"I had no idea how challenging breastfeeding would be. In terms of pain, it was worse than my epidural-free vaginal birth. The first few days were a blur of engorged boobs, nipple sores, lanolin and warm compresses. I called for reinforcements. Our lactation consultant doled out tips on helping baby latch, hand expression and nursing in the reclining position. She also looked me straight in the eye and said 'This is going well, believe it or not.'

Eventually, my body proved her right. My milk came in, the sores subsided and baby and I settled into our (insane) round-the-clock feeding routine. I felt battered, but also elated. And I share this story to any woman who asks about my experience, because I wish someone would have told me that breastfeeding isn't always smiles and coos and cuddles, especially in the beginning."

"I have no pictures of me breastfeeding. Which is shocking because I did it everywhere and anywhere. For a year with the first and 2.5 with the second. He just wouldn't give it up. And I loved it. I never needed any props, just my breasts and the boys and we were off and running. I feel so lucky to have been able to do it with ease. It was one of the greatest joys of my life. Not sure all the health hype is true though, if you can't do it. Because the one who breastfed the longest has athsma. Go figure. But it was a beautiful time in my life."

"I had a rough time breastfeeding/pumping for my oldest daughter after medical complications didn't allow me to nurse her at birth and she didn't figure out how to latch till she was 6 weeks old. Supply issues plagued me. With my second daughter I wanted to go longer than the 7 months of nursing/pumping/supplementing I did with her older sister. I made it to 13 months nursing/pumping for her. And that meant my weekday 5:30am pumping sessions before I left for work were a must. At least it gave me time to wake up before my long morning commute. I was sad when she decided she was done nursing, though thrilled for no more pumping. Breastfeeding is a big ball of mixed emotions."

Read more about Tracy's journey: 9 Things I'll Miss About Nursing

"I breastfed all six of my babies but I have no photos to prove it. No beautiful images of me in a silk kimono, with my hair cascading lightly over my shoulder, looking into my baby's eyes as they nurse from my plump breast. Nada. None. However, what I do have are two photos of me breastfeeding my newborn. I look like a truck hit me, my hair is a nest, I have five-pound bags under my eyes and my poor nipples could body double for a National Geographic documentary. I'd much rather look at the face of my adorable daughter, the last baby I breastfed nearly eight years ago."

"We have hundreds of pictures of our daughter as a baby. Even though I spent so much of the first year of her life nursing her, however, there is not one image of that for me to cherish. The thing is, I had no idea how much I would miss breastfeeding. Those early days were so hard. It was one of the most challenging things I have ever done. It often left me in tears, and I came close to quitting many times. And yet it was also the most serene, intense and gratifying activity I have ever engaged in. It was a special time, and I can't get it back. I'm not sure I fully appreciated it until it was over."

Read more about Elizabeth's journey: What I Wish I'd Done When My Child Was a Baby

"I exclusively breastfed my son for a year and felt a secret smugness because I was a milk machine. But it was a double-edged sword because I wasn't able to pump because it made me overproduce, which meant nursing exclusively. When I had my daughter, I had terrible PPD. On Day 2, I decided not to breastfeed her any longer. I needed to know someone else could take care of her while I got myself better and the thought of nursing her and not being able to pump made my anxiety worse. It was the best decision I ever made. People always tell you to do what's right for your kids. I think you have to do what's right for yourself. Moms never let their babies suffer, but they do let themselves suffer. Every Mom has to make the right choice for herself about breastfeeding. Her baby will be fine no matter what."

Read more about Meredith's journey: 9 Reasons It Sucks to Be a Pumping Mom

"Breastfeeding my first child didn't always look like this. We had latch issues. I was plagued with plugged ducts. I often felt like a failure. But when it worked, it felt natural and beautiful and this photo captures that for me."

"After a number of losses, I have been super blessed to breastfeed my first biological child. It's so much more emotional and fulfilling than I ever imagined it could be. At 21 months, we are in no rush to end our breastfeeding journey together, I am cherishing these quiet moments while they last."