Fathers who breastfeed!?

[cerulean]

I was researching Unassisted Childbirth, when I came across this page. Wow! Males not only can produce milk and breastfeed, they sometimes do. This was definitely news to me. I found it a tad strange and disturbing at first, but really it's quite awesome.

http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/...s/milkmen.html

I remember wondering one time, when I was a teenager, why males even had nipples. Apparently there is a reason

Yay males!

[lovingmommyhood]

Men do not have nipples for breastfeeding. Just because it's possible to do something doesn't mean it should be done.

[MamaWindmill]

Run! Run away from this topic! Trust me! :

[lovingmommyhood]

Good idea!

[sothisislove]

Should something happen to me and there wasn't another woman to bf my ds, I'd love my husband to be able to.

[Genesis]

Originally Posted by lovingmommyhood

Men do not have nipples for breastfeeding. Just because it's possible to do something doesn't mean it should be done.

:

Originally Posted by MamaWindmill

Run! Run away from this topic! Trust me! :

[editmom]

I hope you are joking because if men(and apparently they can) nourish their children from their own bodies, then why not/ Maybe moms would feel supported and equal in this task of child rearing and children would have oppurtunities to have close relationships with both parents.

[greenfish]

I'm also curious about the automatic rejection of this topic? "Run away" because it is skanky to you? "Run away" because conflict will happen? "Run away" because MDC will shut it down?

I'm also curious about the automatic "just because they can doesn't mean they should" thought...it wasn't so long ago that folks thought that just because women could do x they shouldn't because it's unladylike/men wouldn't like them/it would hurt their fragile uteruses...that makes me skittish of any automatic argument about which sex should or should not do ANYTHING, even something seemingly biologically determined. Heck, if we'd stuck with some people's ideas of biologically determined I'd never have gotten a Computer Science degree, been able to marry my same-sex partner, gone to seminary, or become a minister...

So...if you're opinionated enough to give us a one liner, how about spelling out where your views come from?

[lovingmommyhood]

Originally Posted by greenfish

I'm also curious about the automatic rejection of this topic? "Run away" because it is skanky to you? "Run away" because conflict will happen? "Run away" because MDC will shut it down?

I'm also curious about the automatic "just because they can doesn't mean they should" thought...it wasn't so long ago that folks thought that just because women could do x they shouldn't because it's unladylike/men wouldn't like them/it would hurt their fragile uteruses...that makes me skittish of any automatic argument about which sex should or should not do ANYTHING, even something seemingly biologically determined. Heck, if we'd stuck with some people's ideas of biologically determined I'd never have gotten a Computer Science degree, been able to marry my same-sex partner, gone to seminary, or become a minister...

So...if you're opinionated enough to give us a one liner, how about spelling out where your views come from?

It's not a "one-liner" it's my opinion. Just because it can be summed up in one sentence doesn't make it a one liner. Wikipedia defines a one liner as this: "A one-liner is a joke that is delivered in a single line".

I can't speak for her but I believe mamawindmill saw this reaction to my comment coming a mile away and that is why she said run.

I believe MDC has very different opinions about "male-breastfeeding" () it's not a taboo to disagree with it. It's interesting that nobody that's for it was responding to this in the four days it's been up to say "hoo-rah" yet I come on and say I disagree and suddenly people are interested.

[sleepingbeauty]

havn't been on in a month or so so I just saw this topic...

I think this is an awsome idea. It's so cool that a man can step in and keep feeding his kids naturally if need be. And how many families are without women? Don't their kids deserve to drink "mama" milk too?

Sure it's "weird" but I'm totally for this one!


oh.... and by the way...

"hoo-rah"

[llamalluv]

Originally Posted by lovingmommyhood

It's interesting that nobody that's for it was responding to this in the four days it's been up to say "hoo-rah" yet I come on and say I disagree and suddenly people are interested.

There was a discussion about this over on the lactivism board. Opinons seemed to be pretty evenly divided between "awesome" and "skeevy"

[JaneSmith1010]

I've posted about this several times and have gotten a bunch of disgusted responses. I was surprised by this as I would love if my husband could breastfeed and I think it is a wonder of nature actually. It would give him a small taste, also, of what it is like to be a mother in that way. My brother...who was raised by three strong minded females...is the only guy I know who has agreed to breastfeed if neccessary.

[Datura]

Well, its not terribly surprising given that all fetuses start out anatomically female, then through a series of hormonal shifts in utero and during puberty develop male characteristics.

I think that its wonderful that in times of great need, *every* member of our species has the potential to adapt and provide for our infants.

I think people dislike thinking about the very fine lines that exist between the sexes, or more nebulously, the "genders" and their associations within our social millieu. Thus the "skeeviness" of such discussions. Which is sad, because such issues do need to be explored.

[thismama]

Originally Posted by MamaWindmill

Run! Run away from this topic! Trust me! :

We've hashed this out before. I was right in the thick of it. It was ugly.

Originally Posted by lovingmommyhood

Men do not have nipples for breastfeeding. Just because it's possible to do something doesn't mean it should be done.

In a nutshell, :

[BinahYeteirah]

I've heard of this before, although I must have missed the past drama over it here.

I've been trying to convince my dh to lactate for a couple years now. He's not going for it, lol. I wouldn't necessarily want him to do it all the time, but wouldn't it be great for those moments when Mommy just needs some time alone! Those if-this-baby-doesn't-go-to-sleep-in-the-next-five minutes-I've-been-nursing-her-for-two-hours-already-my-head-will-explode moments.

[loriforeman]

i would have felt a bit sad to share...but still would have enjoyed not being the sole provider of milk for my kids.

being able to sleep through just one feeding...

i don't really get into gender roles, i'd be all for a man nourishing his kiddo with boob-juice.

[hadassah]

I don't understand why this has to be a "gender issue".........To me this just proves that we are fearfully and wonderfully made....

[MamaLuvsHerBabies]

Sorry, but that's just weird. There are some things only women should do...ever.

[ericswifey27]

I don't know if I want to share that privelege with men. But it's kind of cool... file me somewhere in between awesome and skeevy....

[ReikiMommy07]

Originally Posted by sothisislove

Should something happen to me and there wasn't another woman to bf my ds, I'd love my husband to be able to.

: And what's more, he would!

Yes, it is a bit off-putting.. But really, if the choice were between animal/plant milk or Daddy's milk for my babe, I'd pick Daddy any day.