Photo session with your favorite bridesmaids is truly a memorable time for any bride. The situation was slightly different with Rachael Downs, a 28-year-old nurse, who encouraged her matron-of-honor, Allison Hepler, to pump during bridesmaid pictures — and now one of the shots is going viral.
In the picture, which was taken in 2019 but just started circulating the social media, Hepler is seen hooked up to her electric breast pump. Instead of holding a white bouquet like the other women, Hepler clutches her pump’s white motor.
It gets really tough for breastfeeding moms who have to continue to pump regardless of the situation or location. In Hepler’s case, she was pumping while the groomsmen were getting their pictures taken. It so happened that their photoshoot ended earlier than expected, and therefore the ladies had to jump in the frame.
“The groomsmen finished their pictures early so I went to get Allison and she was like, ‘I just need to finish pumping,’” Downs recalled. That’s when Downs and her photographer, Amber Fletcher, asked Hepler if she wanted to pose with her pump. Hepler thought that was a great idea.
“We never thought it would blow up the way it did,” Downs said. “But I’m glad it did.”
The picture has over 2,000 comments pouring in on Facebook.
“Best. Damn. Thing. On. The Internet. Kudos to you, that amazing bride/friend (not a selfish bone in her body), and this momma who said, ‘I can be a good mom, and good friend, AND take care of my needs simultaneously,” wrote one person.
Added another, “I love this. Support for the bride by being present and support for the bridesmaid by not making a fuss over having her pump. I wish I had friends like these.”
