Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Simmons.
Vanessa A. Simmons is the founder of the Normalize Breastfeeding movement. The concept of “normalizing breastfeeding” has been around since the ’70s among breastfeeding support groups like La Leche League. In 2014, Simmons felt compelled to organize the #normalizebreastfeeding movement on Facebook while she was nursing her youngest child. She simultaneously created the #normalizebfing hashtag to help followers sift through hundreds of thousands of tagged social media posts that were helping to push for awareness worldwide! She aimed to promote this worldwide goal to make breastfeeding the norm. She has been a breastfeeding advocate since she became a mother in 2007 after struggling to breastfeed her first child, suffering from postpartum depression/psychosis, and even after she was forced to wean and formula feed because of the harsh medications she was prescribed. Vanessa is a first generation Ghanaian-American woman. She has always offered help to any breastfeeding mom who needed it and requested assistance. She is now formally trained in lactation as a Certificated Lactation Educator Counselor and is a Professional Photographer at Candid Perspective Photography. She aims to create imagery that promotes the normalcy of infant feeding. Her focus is to capture diverse variations of normal breastfeeding. Vanessa Simmons has taken a stand against black breastfeeding rates by exclusively breastfeeding her youngest son for 14 months. She breastfed him for three years because she refused to just be another statistic. She has been featured for her viral blog posts and photographs on media outlets worldwide. Simmons currently lives in San Diego with her husband and three children who were all breastfed for a minimum of 6 months.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This project, although popular, presented challenges in finding subjects who actually wanted to be photographed while breastfeeding. It was a very slow process starting out. To be able to stay true to our mission, I was forced to tour the US for two years to capture very diverse stories that show how breastfeeding is normal, should be supported, and is just right for your baby at any age. Conveying this message through imagery is incredibly impactful on those exposed to it. It asks them to question what they think is normal when they are presented with our historical and biological norm. This is the foundation of why humans have survived. Moving away from this normal form of infant feeding could prove fatal to future societies. Skin to skin, eye contact, and comfort from a child’s own mother are things that every infant and mother deserve to experience. Moms, in turn, should never be discriminated against for feeding in public as it serves many purposes to keep baby warm, fed, and comforted. Would you rather see a breastfeeding baby or hear a screaming baby losing its patience?
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Normalize Breastfeeding – what should we know?
Normalizing breastfeeding is a movement that started as a photography project to document diversity. Imagery is the foundation for the stories that build on the experiences that women face when they have not been exposed to breastfeeding growing up and when families don’t have the support they need to reach their individual feeding goal. Traveling around the U.S. gave me the opportunity to meet many families who were all dealing with the same issues. San Diego Mayor, Kevin Faulconer, has graciously supported the annual proclamation for the International Day to Normalize Breastfeeding since 2014. This year, the Assemblywoman Michael Solages will submit a resolution in the state of NY at the state level. This is unprecedented and we are excited to be celebrating worldwide in June!
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
Women are well-positioned for online success, in 2019. Some of the platforms to convey our messaging in a powerful way are YouTube, Instagram, and Podcasts. If you use your authentic voice, it’s much easier to build yourself up as an online brand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://normalizebreastfeeding.org
- Email: normalizebreastfeeding@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/normalizebreastfeedingofficial
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/normalizebfing
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/normalizebfing
- Other: http://instagram.com/normalizebfing
Image Credit:
Vanessa Simmons/ NormalizeBreastfeeding.org
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