Why This Mom Dressed Up Like Rosie the Riveter for a Breastfeeding Shoot
Like a lot of moms, a woman named Alex James from Lee's Summit, Missouri, was motivated to breastfeed her son but experienced some challenges along the way. "The price of formula is ridiculous, and I've heard all the advantages of breastfeeding," she explains to KMBC.com. "I was determined to do it. I wanted to prove that I could stick with something." Still, she was nervous about being judged, especially if she had to nurse in public.
When she met up with photographer Sarah Fowler to do a breastfeeding shoot, Fowler could relate to James's struggle. "When my daughter was 4 weeks old, my husband and I had our first date night and I found myself sitting on the bathroom floor of a nasty bathroom," Fowler said. "I was crying and trying to get her latched on and it wasn't working, and I thought, 'This is so stupid.'"
Together, the two created images inspired by J. Howard Miller's iconic "We Can Do It" poster, featuring Rosie the Riveter. James tells Cosmopolitan.com that the experience made her feel "bold and empowered."
"I loved the amount of confidence it gave me," James says. "I am hoping moms will see that you shouldn't have to hide when you feed your child, and you also shouldn't have to cover them up. Feeding your child is the most natural thing ever, but it's also the most bonding thing ever."
James also received supportive feedback when she shared the image as her profile picture on Facebook. "I would just get love back and forth," James shares with KMBC. "People were like, 'Oh my gosh, you have such confidence.'"
Here are some of the gorgeous shots Fowler took of James.
Follow Maressa on Twitter.
