A same-sex couple from Australia who recently had a baby conceived via a sperm donor have been photographed both breastfeeding their four-week-old daughter in a bid to raise awareness of LGBT families.
Claire Eden-McIlroy, 29, and Steph Eden-McIlroy, 26, asked birth photographer Lacey Barratt to capture the precious moments on camera. Barratt shared the images on instagram.
Claire gave birth to their daughter LJ, while Steph decided she also wished to breastfeed, once she found out it was an option. Steph took the took the herb fenugreek - which is said to stimulate prolactin. Steph was also advised by their midwife to take a hormone that triggers breast milk production and use a hospital-grade pump to stimulate her breasts on regular occasions throughout the pregnancy.
'It’s totally natural and comfortable and something we do every day in our house and we wanted to raise awareness of same sex couples,' Claire, who gave birth to LJ in January, told Daily Mail Australia.
'Even without carrying a child you can still nourish and feed your child from your body,' Claire explained.
Can we talk about how NORMAL this should be? Having a desire to share the responsibility with your partner is normal and POSSIBLE,' she wrote.
'Ladies, did you know, that you DO NOT have to be the birth mother in order to breastfeed? Adoptive parents, surrogacy parents, you can breastfeed your baby!'
View images here
Read more about induced lacation, or read more info on same-sex parenting options at www.prideangel.com