This photographer clicked moms breastfeeding in public and the sight is...

There’s nothing more rawly beautiful than a mother breastfeeding her child in the wilderness of nature. Shilpa Nair, founder of Lensdoula, who likes to capture motherhood, has shot the following spellbinding photographs and we are falling short of words. She believes, "this work of art will allow people to view breastfeeding mothers in a different light." This World Breastfeeding Week, let’s celebrate mothers who are trying their best to normalize public breastfeeding, because breastfeeding is only natural and what else?

MANSI ASHTA: “My breastfeeding journey began in January, 2014 and is still on. It started with my son and continues now with my daughter and my son too but he has almost self-weaned. I'm a tandem nursing mother of a 4.5-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl and my journey has been a roller coaster ride. Breastfeeding for me was always about my child's need and that's what kept me going for so long… A child will not drink the milk forever. They self-wean. We just need to trust the child and the process.”

NEHA CHOPRA: “Breastfeeding for me is normal, natural and instinctual. It fulfills two functions - nourishment and nurturing. The initial year or two is about nourishment because it provides nutrition, and after that breastfeeding enters a nurturing phase - it is calming for moms and soothing for babies.”

RITHIKA RAMESH: “I realised we are no different from any other species when it comes to the love we have for our children and that just because we can, we should not be taking away this right to love and nurture from any other being. And that is why I am proud and fortunate to be a vegan, breastfeeding mother.”

SEEMA GUPTA MANCHANDA: “Labour is the easy part because it ends in a few hours, but breastfeeding is the real deal.” Breastfeeding isn’t easy. You can never practice breastfeeding until you actually have the baby in your arms, crying and asking to be nursed. I have learned to feed everywhere and my nursing cover is my superman’s cape. We went on a trek and at baby’s call, I fed her in the fields. We went for a boat ride and at baby’s call, I fed her on the boat. I fed her in restaurants, cars, rickshaws, trains and not exaggerating, I even fed her on an elephant once! Also, feeding through breasts has some super emotional benefits for the baby. It gives a sense of security to my baby because she can smell me, hear my heartbeat and experience all that she had in her nine months in my womb. It is her home. The more she feeds, the more I lactate. It is also an excellent way to lose postpartum weight."

GREESHMA RAMACHANDRAIAH: “He was exclusively breastfed until he was six months old. He’s fifteen months today and is in no hurry to stop. Breastfeeding has succoured us in some myriad inexplicable ways. I modestly encourage all new mothers to give it a shot before deciding against and persist one more time before tiring out.”

MRIGAKSHI GODSE PARANJPE: “The first experience of breastfeeding my baby was under the guidance of an overzealous amateur nurse who prodded and squeezed my breasts so hard it hurt. I was anxious and overwhelmed and she kept asking me how I felt while constantly repositioning my baby and honestly it wasn’t good. I was upset at my first failed attempt but determined to get it right for my baby. I asked my mom to assist me while we were alone and she laid him on my tummy. We both watched as he hungrily crawled up to my breast and he latched on just perfectly. It was the most surreal experience and the foundation of a beautiful bond that I now share with him. The memory of him looking up at me while feeding as he stroked my skin with his tiny hands is the one I will never forget.

Whether to breastfeed or formula feed is each mother’s independent decision. Exclusive breastfeeding is hard. Bad latches, sore nipples, endless sleepless nights where your partner can’t help much but I was darn stubborn about doing the best for my baby and I did. I exclusively breastfed Dhruv for six months and I mean with no pumps and bottles. It was tough but empowering as a mother to watch him grow on it.”