Breastfeeding

[Purple Banana]

If you're a guy, chances are you have or you're gonna see a breasts. If you're a woman, YOU HAVE breasts.

I really don't see why some people get into a big fuss about it.

Good point, Napolitana, for the double standard of pro-breastfeeding and anti-breastfeeding in public stance.

Do you know in NYC, it is legal for a woman to go topless in public?

[40oz]

Great thread, Purple B!!

And one of the things no one ever warned me about was the fact that it would add an awkward element to my sex life. Mamas-to-be, if you've never been a Grafenberg-squirting kind of girl when you crest your sexual peak, you'll be a twin-squirting kind of girl when you do during the breastfeeding months/years. Unless you've just nursed yourself dry before hitting the sack--in which case you're unlikely to be aroused enough to want sex--hope you have a husband who regards that as wildly funny and arousing.

wow i learned something new/icky today.

[birdgirl73]

Yeah, it was definitely something I regarded as icky, too. And slightly sticky as well since breast milk is so sweet. And who wants to have sex while wearing a bra with big ole nursing pads in there to protect from being drenched?

My husband was a lot more at ease with that than I was, but he's probably more comfortable in general with physiological processes of any kind, men's or women's. One of the drawbacks to nursing is that it temporarily relieves most women of their desire to have sex, and that's not easy on husbands, who're having to get used to sharing her with a baby anyway. I've read the lack of desire at that time is because of the hormones involved and also because there's so much physical bonding with the baby that there's simply less desire for it with anyone else during that phase.

I wish we'd gotten more mamas to chime in on this thread. Purple Banana, let's keep bumping it, and if all else fails and you want me to, I can move it into the parenting sub-forum and see if we get more input there instead.

[Breukelen advocaat]

Do you know in NYC, it is legal for a woman to go topless in public?

It may be legal, but I've only seen it once once, a few months ago, when a deranged women exposed herself on a bus in Brooklyn. She also verbally abused passengers.

I remember when I was a kid, there was a report on the radio that a guy was arrested in Manhattan that was running around naked. When the cops caught him, he said "You can't see me. I'm the Invisible Man!" My father said, "Where he's going, he'll be invisible for a long time". Some things from childhood you never forget.

[birdgirl73]

Why's public toplessness legal in NYC? Is it because of breast feeding or because of stripper bars or something?

[TX Girl]

I bf my daughter for a long time. It was the greatest/hardest/wonderfulest thing. It took 3 semi miserable weeks to get established but after that it was utterly :wtf: fantastic. no bottles, just find a quiet spot anywhere if you are out, not having to get out of bed at night.

People are so weird. Or should I say North Americans? Its a boob get over it and let women tend to babies as they have been tended to since the dawn of man. I wonder if any European moms are around, you know its a non issue most places there

[Bree1978]

I did both, bottle-fed one, breast-fed the other. I liked bottle feeding for soooo many reasons but loved bfing even more! Yes the bond is wonderful, it is nutritionally superior, is almost free except that Medela breast pump, and -excuse my brazenness- made coitus stellar for me ! I felt sexy and in no way disgusted. I guess everyone percieves things differently. BTW...I continued to produce milk long after weaning, but only letdown during copulation....lol.
So I guess I see both sides of the coin...but not about bfing in public, I've always thought that should be a woman's right....I also believe it should be discreet, but also not bullied into feeding in the car or public bathroom. I DID bf in public, I believe only twice. It was necessary and unavoidable.

Having said all that I would never go out and promote (in my mind PUSH because that is how I have felt, regardless how the subject was broached) bfing past except speaking with my friends/family. That is on the stipulation that subject was topical....This post of mine was pretty risque, and I couldn't think of talking about it past "Oh, you breastfeed, want to, or are considering? I can help"....


One more thing I wanted to add....

Purple Banna said In addition to a slow rise of formula using moms

Where did that information come from? I was just curious...

Good Thread...


:jointsmile: Bree

[Purple Banana]

I'm sorry, I should have clarified- the head of the lactation dept. and I were casually discussing it, and she showed me the records for breastfeeding visits in the hospital over 5 years (visits are based on whether or not a mom breastfeeds- just an informative session, and whatever method the mom chooses is charted on her chart), and it's gone down about 30% in 5 years. I don't know how accurately that portrays the US or any other regional figures, but again, I should have clarified

[napolitana869]

How long are you supposed to breast feed? My mom did it for 6 months for me, but then you hear about women who do it until thier kids are 2 or 3 years old. How long is normal?

[Storm Crow]

I was breast fed for one week, when my Mom gave up because I bit her! I nursed both of my kids for 2 years. It wasn't easy! The last 6 months or so were mostly "comfort nursing", when my child was hurt or bummed out for some reason. In some cultures, nursing for 5 years isn't that unusual. Babies should be nursed for at least 6 months. It helps their immune system and prevents allergies. Mama Nature knows best and formulas don't make it! Mine didn't get solid food until they started trying to grab it from me. - Granny:hippy: