I breastfed my son for 16th months. Coincidentally, I also have 16 tattoos (watch out, world; I’m apparently more likely to be a “deviant” now, according to science?!). Do I have a tattoo of breastfeeding, though? Nope. And clearly, I’m missing out.

Related story Jenna Dewan Shares Candid Breastfeeding Photos With Baby Rhiannon: ‘One Week of Bliss’

Moms everywhere are hopping on the breastfeeding-tattoo train, largely to commemorate this epic and life-giving thing our bodies are, amazingly, able to do. And, you know, because having an image of breastfeeding on your body forever is just a little prettier than an image of, say, childbirth.

We rounded up the most gorgeous breastfeeding tattoos out there, courtesy of Instagram. And in case you’re wondering whether you can get a tattoo if you’re breastfeeding: you can! (Just not, like, literally while you’re breastfeeding. Don’t bring your baby into the tattoo shop. Please.)

Related story Jenna Dewan Shares Candid Breastfeeding Photos With Baby Rhiannon: ‘One Week of Bliss’

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzc44ZmA8YQ/

When you breastfeed for four whole years, you absolutely get a tattoo to celebrate.

Bonding with your tattoo artist over motherhood is an unexpected perk of this particular type of tat.

Women: growing and feeding our children while the weight of the world rests delicately on our shoulders. I stopped nursing Dev a week shy of her turning three, and I can easily say those three years were the hardest yet most rewarding experiences I will ever get. Not only was I able to grow her in my body, but I was able to sustain her life for years Earthside and create a bond that I cannot imagine not having. It also allowed me the most growth because it became very clear that my life, my body, wasn’t mine anymore. Many days were awful awful awful and I hated breastfeeding and did not like my child, but I’d tell myself it’d be worth it in the end. All the hours of pumping through nursing school and work, the endless nights of feedings, the constant touching (uh, that didn’t stop with weaning!) and did I mention the touching? Seven months after stopping and I can already say it was worth it! The years we had were so short and the benefits we both received will last a lifetime. This isn’t just a post to encourage mothers to breastfed (there are a million reasons why one can’t/won’t and it’s not my business) but it is a post to encourage those that do breastfeed to consider breastfeeding into toddlerhood. It’s hard, it’s great, it’s worth it and if you want to do it, YOU CAN. Make it work like the badass mother that you are. Fuck what society says about it being inappropriate. You do you, boo. Huge thank you to @tanintattoos from @mirrorgalleryflagstaff for merging two amazing pieces of art by @betty.ratbag. Easily my favorite tattoo and it makes me feel so empowered every time I look at it. #tattoo #tattooedmom #breastfed #breastfeeding #breastfedtoddler #weightoftheworld #breastfeedingtattoo #empoweringwomen #empowered #nursingschool #pumpingmom #breastmilk #liquidgold #fucksociety

A post shared by Steffani Rideau (@steffuhni) on Sep 5, 2018 at 1:56pm PDT

Steffani Rideau makes a case for breastfeeding into toddlerhood (she nursed until her daughter was three) in this Instagram post, but with a caveat we can all appreciate: “You do you, boo.” She also writes that her breastfeeding tattoo makes her feel empowered every day. Now that’s a reason to get ink.

Umm, a breastfeeding tattoo that comes with homemade vegan cookies? Can you hook us up with this artist, Audrey?

Queer tattoo artist Carrie Metz Caporusso shared this gorgeous breastfeeding piece — and totally booked up her tattooing slots. Get it, Carrie.

This photo of beautiful Alisha cuddling her daughter while sporting a tattoo of her breastfeeding and cuddling her daughter is meta in the best possible way.

Babywearing with a breastfeeding tattoo = full Mom Mode at its finest.

Crystal Rose Tattoos pulled off this lovely surrealist breastfeeding sketch with major skill.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqsjOrnnP8s/

You can only barely see the breastfeeding mermaid in this beautiful shot, but she’s there sending mom-power DGAF vibes; because, as Instagrammer Delanie writes, “MERMAIDS don’t lose sleep over the opinion of shrimp.” Amen.

Okay, so this last one is not a tattoo of the act of breastfeeding per se, but this milk bottle notated with the number 13 honors a year-plus of breastfeeding that this mother (and her body) will never forget.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjgRvf1HtwK/

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