Artist Joy Hwang, never imagined that she would have trouble breastfeeding. She was always under the impression that breastfeeding would come naturally to her. Instead, it was just the opposite and a huge struggle.

She faced supply issues and had tried numerous methods to produce milk that would be enough for her baby like nursing, eating cookies, drinking tea, taking pills, pumping every three hours and so on. She says she would often fall asleep on the chair while pump-sleeping. It was an exhausting process for her. Joy says, “I remember times when my baby and I both cried all night because I couldn’t produce enough milk. I wanted to breastfeed because I wanted to give my baby the most natural food designed just for her from my own body. Then I found out my milk was set back from traumatic birth, and I was starving her. I was so grateful that formula was there for my baby, and it had my back.

Soon, Joy started producing enough supply and currently she continues nursing her 18-month old daughter. She says, “I’m not excited to admit that my connection to my daughter did not happen in an instant when she was born. I remember meeting her for the first time and feeling as if we were on an awkward first date, rather than destined soul mates as many mothers and media have described.”

For Joy Hwang her drawing and her sketchbook is her to-go place in times of adventures and transition. So it was only natural for her to translate her motherhood experience into sketches and sharing them on social media. Joy under the account “Mom is Drawing” posts her drawing on Facebook and Instagram. One of the many topics that she has shared is breastfeeding and the drawings stand out from the rest. Here are the breastfeeding sketches that she shared:

Joy says she found herself again via these drawings. She says, “I felt as if I had lost my identity in all shapes and forms. That's when I started drawing to find myself again, and to find my community/tribe."

And this one was for the end of her breastfeeding series:

Her artwork is definitely an inspiration to hundreds of moms out there who have issues with breastfeeding.

All images from https://www.instagram.com/momisdrawing/