Breastfeeding is a powerful and natural act, and one photographer is on a mission to celebrate the beauty and strength of breastfeeding mothers. Ivette Ivens, a photographer from Hinsdale, Illinois, has embarked on a captivating photo project titled “Breastfeeding Goddesses,” which has garnered immense admiration and appreciation.
For Ivette, a mother herself, breastfeeding moms are nothing short of goddesses. She defines a goddess as a female with supernatural powers, and in her eyes, every mother possesses these powers. The ability of a woman’s body to produce nourishment for her baby is, to Ivette, a superpower worthy of admiration.
Her project aims to showcase the incredible bond between breastfeeding mothers and their babies while challenging societal norms and stigma surrounding breastfeeding in public. Ivette’s powerful images capture the raw and emotional moments of breastfeeding, highlighting the profound connection between mother and child.
The project gained significant attention when Ivette shared her photos online, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response. Many individuals, both parents and non-parents alike, found inspiration in these images and reached out to express their support. Ivette’s project has even evolved into a book, which is now available for pre-order on her website.
In a world where breastfeeding mothers often face criticism and judgment, Ivette hopes that her photographs will encourage society to treat breastfeeding moms with the respect and appreciation they deserve. Her images are a testament to the strength, love, and beauty of motherhood.
Through her lens, Ivette captures mothers in various settings, from serene natural landscapes to the coziness of their homes. These photographs remind us that breastfeeding is a natural and nurturing act that should be celebrated, supported, and normalized.
As breastfeeding continues to be a topic of debate and discussion, Ivette Ivens’ “Breastfeeding Goddesses” project serves as a powerful reminder of the divine connection between mother and child. It is a celebration of motherhood’s beauty, strength, and the love shared between a mother and her baby.
At One With Nature
“This photo is of Ellen, my sweet friend from Hawaii,” says Ivette. “Our lifestyles are very similar: We both are passionate about vegan lifestyle, attachment parenting, and extended breastfeeding. Here she is breastfeeding with the mighty jungle in the background.”
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Ivette Ivens Photography
Juggling Baby & a Business
“This is one of my favorite images, and Jessica is such a rad mother!” says Ivette. “She’s running her own business from home and inspiring people to be healthy and get fit. We did this shot at her place, where she’s sitting on a toy box her dad made for her when she was a kid. I usually shoot outdoors, but that winter day was really freezing, so we decided to make the best of our available surroundings.”
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Ivette Ivens Photography
Paradise
“My friend Ellen took me to this hidden waterfall in Hawaii,” says Ivette. “We made epic nursing pictures. It was wonderful!”
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Ivette Ivens Photography
Font of Creativity
“This mom, Vaiva, is Lithuanian like me,” says Ivette. “She lives in Big Island, Hawaii, and flew to me when I was visiting Maui to be photographed on a lovely beach. She’s a great writer and has released two books already. Now that she’s a new mother, I wonder how will it reflect in her new work.”
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Ivette Ivens Photography
Into the Woods
“I photographed Alina while she was pregnant,” says Ivette. “It was such a blessing to see her baby girl a few months after. This photo was taken in Chicago in the forest. I love shooting in woods.”
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Ivette Ivens Photography
Welcome Home!
Ivette’s description of this tandem nursing mom is short and sweet: “Anytime. Anywhere.” That’s right — moms don’t even have to hit the fridge or a grocery store to feed their kids; it’s as simple as sitting on your porch. And according to one Facebook commentator, this “goddess” is following a long and storied tradition. “I saw this growing up — I was on a bus at the time,” he said. “All the people didn’t care. It was a natural thing to do. I was 10 at the time, now 73.”
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Ivette Ivens Photography
Reason to Celebrate
Since Ivette is Lithuanian, it makes sense she’d honor this country’s Mother’s Day celebration on May 3 — a week earlier than ours — by posting this shot on Facebook with the caption: “Happy Lithuanian Mother’s Day!”
More From The Stir: 12 Breathtaking Images of Babies Right In the Middle of Being Born (PHOTOS)
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Ivette Ivens Photography
A Loving Embace
Ivette posted this photo on Facebook with the caption: “Love opened up my eyes.” We’re not sure if those are her subject’s sentiments or her own, but they’re beautiful nonetheless.
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Ivette Ivens Photography
Fruits of Our Labors
“This mom is stunning, and such a sweetheart!” says Ivette — and many of her Facebook fans agree. One commentator gushed, “This is beautiful! We are so used to thin models flooding our FB feeds that we forget what a women’s true beauty is. Bravo for this mommy.”
