men breastfeeding?

[Kat_shoshin]

Anyone else see this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXp_...eature=related

if my DH wasn't such a hairy ape - I would suggest this!

[Twinklefae]

Wow Kat that was fast! It's been flagged as "inappropriate" :

[momma2libby]

I watched it. Was this for real??? Is there any studies about this, etc?

[nevaehsmommy]

I read in La leche about a man nursing one of his twin daughters after the one refused to bottle feed and the mom died. Out of sheer frustration he put the baby to his nipple and she latched, some where along the way he made milk.

On a side note, I know a guy who had breastmilk after taking a med for depression.

[nyxx]

Originally Posted by momma2libby

Was this for real??? Is there any studies about this, etc?

i found this video some months ago here:
http://www.switch.tv/videos/39
so you can still watch it even if youtube removes it (like the sesame street breastfeeding videos).

a friend of mine contacted fiona giles, and she gave us some background information about the movie. this is what she wrote us:

The short film was made as a documentary-drama by two film students from the Australian Television Film and Radio School. I had recently written a book called Fresh Milk: The Secret LIfe of Breasts, published in Australia and US in 2003. The book collects stories, told as monologues, about the experience of breastfeeding in western culture (as opposed to being a how-to manual or polemic) and includes essays based on a qualitative questionnaire that I sent out as well as my research. One of those stories is called "A sense of yes," about a man who allows his daughter to suckle on his breast when the mother is absent. He doesn't lactate, but establishes a frequent dry nursing arrangement with her.

The producers of MIlk Men were keen to test the interest in and capacity for male lactation and invited me to be interviewed for their project. It went on to win an award at a comedy festival, and the director Peter Templeman has gone on to make a film, Savior, currently shortlisted for the Oscar nominations this year (I assume in the short film category). [...]

I am currently doing some research on induced lactation together with a ph.d student of mine who is working in this area, together with the idea of lactation as spectacle. I have several published articles in the area of breastfeeding and sexuality, from a cultural studies perspective; and in 2004 organised a conference on cultural studies and breastfeeding at Sydney University.

I currently teach writing in the Department of Media and Communications at Sydney University. [...]

if you want to write her, here's her email address:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/...ff&id=fiogiles

and this is her book:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0743211472/

hope this satisfies your curiosity. :

[Lucilla]

To be honest, I think it's wrong, in a lot of ways. Breastfeeding is for mamas, not papas. I think it is incredibly unnatural. JMO.

[bluezephyr]

Hmm. I go for all sorts of unnatural things...if it feels right to the people involved and doesn't hurt anyone else--then "wrong" isn't a label I'd ever apply. But then...I'll probably bf our child, even though my partner will be the biomom. So, perhaps my definitions of natural are already skewed.

[boadhagh]

A woman in my parenting group had a chance of having multiples; when she asked the dr. about breastfeeding 3+ babies, he said, "We can just shoot your hubby up with some hormones to make him lactate." And I've also heard very anecdotal stories of old men, whose testorone levels have dropped, being able to "lactate" at least a little bit. Don't know how much faith I have in these accounts, but, in theory, men have all the right equipment, it's just never been "fueled."

[Annie37]

Originally Posted by Lucilla

To be honest, I think it's wrong, in a lot of ways. Breastfeeding is for mamas, not papas. I think it is incredibly unnatural. JMO.

:

[harmonymama]

I don't think it is unnatural. There is a tribe in New Zealand I believe where men commonly put babies to their nipples when mom is not available, kind of like a pacifier. And I believe some of them do lactate. Its all all natural equipment, human touch, human skin, parent to child, no preservatives, chemicals, or batteries, so why not?

[llamalluv]

Originally Posted by Lucilla

To be honest, I think it's wrong, in a lot of ways. Breastfeeding is for mamas, not papas. I think it is incredibly unnatural. JMO.

Um....how can it be un-natural if it happens NATURALLY, without artificial hormones and such? :

[mija y mijo]

This is disturbing.

[llamalluv]

Quite frankly, I'm shocked at some of the attitudes displayed here. Are these some of the same women that rail about being told by American society to "cover up" because "now that we have formula, you only breastfeed for sexual pleasure"?

[yarngoddess]

I once read that in tribes in africa the "lesser" men, that were older, lame, or unable to hunt would stay with the women and many lactated for the babies. I don't have an opinion regarding male breastfeeding, I just wish nursing for WOMEN was more acceptable. Once we are able to nurse in peace, then our Dear Men can give it a try. LOL

[Genesis]

Originally Posted by Lucilla

To be honest, I think it's wrong, in a lot of ways. Breastfeeding is for mamas, not papas.

I agree.

[sharon71]

Originally Posted by llamalluv

Quite frankly, I'm shocked at some of the attitudes displayed here. Are these some of the same women that rail about being told by American society to "cover up" because "now that we have formula, you only breastfeed for sexual pleasure"?

I agree some of these comments are the same ones applied to breastfeeding mothers that most of us get upset about.
"It's gross,that's sick,that's unnatural,that's incest,etc".

[happyhippiemama]

I think bf'in papas are great!!

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by llamalluv

Quite frankly, I'm shocked at some of the attitudes displayed here. Are these some of the same women that rail about being told by American society to "cover up" because "now that we have formula, you only breastfeed for sexual pleasure"?

Seriously!

Exactly what part of this is unnatural? Exactly what makes it wrong?
Inquiring minds want to know!

[Equuskia]

Gosh I wish my dh could bf. That way he can put her to sleep while I get some much needed rest for my preggy self

[IndyNanny]

My sister just had a baby. Her poor nipples are so sore! I wish her DH could be a pacifier for their daughter. How many dads feel like they are missing out on such a special bond because of their inability to nurse? My DD would never take a bottle, as a result her dad never got to feed her until she ate solid foods. That's just not the same.