These Photos Give a Powerful Middle Finger to "Rude" and "Catty" Breastfeeding-Shamers

If you've breastfed in public before, you've likely witnessed a handful of common (and all equally unsolicited) reactions from random passersby. There's the classic wide-eyed look of contempt, but sometimes there are verbal comments of disapproval, from "Why don't you cover up?" to "Can't you just go to the bathroom?"

To represent and subsequently banish these unsolicited remarks, photographer Nicki Kaylor gathered nine breastfeeding mamas for a photo series titled Latched For Love. The Tennessee-based photographer captured the moms feeding their children while simultaneously holding up a whiteboard with a saying they've either been told or heard about breastfeeding — and the results are incredibly powerful.

When she shared the photos on her Facebook, Nicki added her own words of wisdom about why "the judgement and awkward stares" need to end now. "Nurturing your child from your body is something SO special," she wrote in her Facebook post. "It's not as easy as everyone thinks. It takes a lot of determination . . . breastfeeding is PURE. Breastfeeding is BEAUTIFUL. Breastfeeding is NATURAL."

"If you see a mother nursing her child in public, please do not approach her with rude words," she continued. "Smile and continue on your way or tell her how AWESOME she is!" We couldn't possibly agree more with that.

Read on to take a look at Nicki's beautiful pictures of the nine proudly breastfeeding mamas in all their glory.