Uh.... - Page 2

[Rainbow]

I was thinking the evolved thing to- maybe there was a time in the human race where we needed one who could go and kill dinner with their bear hands, and one who could gently nurture a child. As we change and evolve as a human race we're moving to a place where both men and women can be providers or nurturers.

I admit, it is so new it is hard to wrap my mind around- but also very intriguing and thought provoking!

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Oh, I wasn't implying that anyone that thought this was radical was "prude" or uncomfortable with BFing other children. I said what I said because in a culture where BFing other people's children is accepted, father nursing would be needed in very few circumstances.

DC suckled from my no longer lactating mother when she was being cared for by my mom. I don't see this as a far stretch from suckling off the father, which I would have loved to see. DH thought the idea was strange so I didn't push the issue but I would have loved if they could have bonded in that way. And, hey, if he produced milk --- fantastic!

[loving-my-babies]

does anyone have any literature on mean lactating? I am a "proof" person, and it has always seemed odd to me, the idea of men lactating. anyone? I am interested in learning more. thanks!

[ShadowMom]

loving-my-babies - I would suggest looking at documentation on transsexuals. I had a human sexuality class where the book had information on how a man who was "converted" to a woman would physically be able to breastfeed. In fact, it was a test question.

(warning - catty comment ahead!) - The up side to men nursing would be - if MEN nursed, you can bet there would be NURSING ROOMS EVERYWHERE, and you could do it in public, anywhere, anytime!!! And, there would be all kinds of legislation supporting a person's right to pump at work and such.

Ok, cattiness over.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

L-M-B, There are lots of links in the origional article!

[loving-my-babies]

ok, here are my 2 cents.. well, I don't like the idea of men lactating. I do not think it's natural (and I know some of you will say it is) but here's the thing... (and I'm open to discussion, if you wanna!) we don't have to DO anything in order to have milk in our breasts. It's a natural consecuence of giving birth. Men may BE ABLE to lactate, but it doesn't just happen, it's like adoptive nursing, it doesn't just happen. you have to make it happen (different though, because I am ALL FOR adoptive mamas nursing their babes, I admire every woman who does it)
I don't see why men and women need to be constantly fighting for the same spot. I feel we are different, let's love our differences. Men are not meant to lactate, IMO, or after birth, their breasts would be dripping milk naturally. without pumping. without trying. I think it's a feminism issue, somewhat. Because I noticed a lot of mamas (in the "what is feminism?" thread) wanted men and women to do exactly the same things. I don't agree with that. I like the fact that we are the LUCKY ONES to be able to nurse. why would you want to give more to men, when they are "lucky enough" as some of you say, because they come first in society. to me, nursing is a blessing that my dh cannot experience. and I am fine with that. he does many other things that I don't do, and we are also fine with that.

Just my opinion...

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I can’t think of any examples off the top of my head that I feel compare to males lactating but I know there are some. Lots of animals are capable of doing things outside of their normal function when faced with a survival threat. IMO, this is far more natural than some other modern things surrounding pregnancy, birth and feeding of children. It’s certainly not that I expect that it will become common, I just think it’s cool and, yes, natural. I feel like it’s one of those freaky survival things and I love that about living things…the absolute will to survive.

The interesting fact that this is possible only becomes a feminist issue when someone chooses to make it one. For me, this isn’t a feminist issue…it’s a human issue. I don’t wish for us to be the100% the same although, I do feel we are overwhelmingly more similar than we are different and this is just another example of that.

[TigerTail]

my dh in the context of the rough wrestling stuff he does with the guys, smooshes them into his hairy chest; they love it, lol. they think it's pretty silly.

lmb, i wouldn't worry about it, i have doubts it is going to become the latest thing (like we don't have enough trouble getting *women* to do it, lol.)

this has been around for years... THIS is the news story *i* have been astounded by:http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm...s.strangecrime

!!!!!!! reminds me of 'the lady or the tiger'.

suse

[dawndup]

It seems very natural. Both men and women are born with breast tissue, but most men don't use theirs because they don't automatically fill with milk after the birth of a child. It can be a backup survival mechanism just like that fellow from Sri Lanka proved. Good for him! If my DH wanted to nurse, I would be shocked, and then I'd giggle, and then I'd think "hey why not?"

But I doubt that men nursing is much of a threat to the mother-child relationship, as one of the PP's said... it's already too hard to get moms to nurse!

[Evergreen]

I've been trying to get dh to induce lactation for over a year, just mainly as an experiment. I think he may be one of the 25 percent who can, because one time when we were play-wrestling years ago I grabbed his nipple and squished something out.

He refuses though

But could you imagine having a conversation with a formula feeder who says, "Well, I like bottle feeding because my husband can do the night feedings" and answering, "Well, my husband just induced lactation, so we take turns too." BAWHAHAHAH

[jadegirl553]

Originally Posted by KristiMetz

The up side to men nursing would be - if MEN nursed, you can bet there would be NURSING ROOMS EVERYWHERE, and you could do it in public, anywhere, anytime!!! And, there would be all kinds of legislation supporting a person's right to pump at work and such.

Ain't that the truth! Funny, tho. :LOL

[pln]

Originally Posted by Gr8flmom

But could you imagine having a conversation with a formula feeder who says, "Well, I like bottle feeding because my husband can do the night feedings" and answering, "Well, my husband just induced lactation, so we take turns too." BAWHAHAHAH

Oh you have me rolling. Next time someone says this to me I'm going to be sorely tempted to say this back.

THis is an interesting idea. I would be a little worried about taking away the mother-baby nursing connection during the 4th trimester, but after that, why not? Our world would be a lot less troubled if more of the mothering hormones were bubbling up in men AND women. But again, I'd hate for a new mama to have problems solidifying her milk supply by experimenting with this during the first 3 months, and maybe even later.

Dh even told me how much he wished that he could have had the 9-month bonding time with ds like I did--and he was sincere! Not sure how he'd feel about lactation but the sentiment was sweet. We often underestimate men--they can be wonderfully caring and nurturing (as much as any mother) when they are allowed to be and (sometimes) taught to be.

Please post updates if they do more studies (or if anybody's dh actually succeeds).

[hunnybumm]

Originally Posted by Gr8flmom

But could you imagine having a conversation with a formula feeder who says, "Well, I like bottle feeding because my husband can do the night feedings" and answering, "Well, my husband just induced lactation, so we take turns too." BAWHAHAHAH

: : :
Oh, I would love to see their face when you used that one!

I totaly think that it is a really cool concept. My DH would never go for it. But if two gay man want to have a baby, that would be so awesome that one of them could BF (or both ). I don't really see a need for it, but I agree with the idea of it being a back up survival mechanism.

For those who claim male lactation is "unnatural," I would have to ask: how natural is canned formula from Nestle' or pacifiers made from petrolium byproducts? If milk production in men were truly unnatural, it wouldn't exist. The fact that it does, leads me to believe that perhaps male lactation is simply nature's back-up system. In any case, it's an interesting phenomenon.

Even if you don't think it is natural you have to agree with this statement.

I on the other hand wouldn't want another mother nursing my child. Even my own, it just wouldn't feel right to me. If someone else thinks that works for them, thats cool for them.

Now that article about the teacher... that is just plain creapy. She wouldn't even say why she did it. But geeze why the heck is she trying to get these teenagers to suck her breasts? That is so child abuse and I hope she was put away.