To think this Guardian article really doesn't help breastfeeding

[Swannykazoo]

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/sep/24/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-vaginas
So - for a start, vaginas and breastfeeding are not the same thing. HTH Guardian.
There's such a lot of snippy commenting that anyone feeding past an arbitrary age that "its weird" and "you're doing it for you, not the baby/toddler" that suggesting its a secret erotic thing has really annoyed me.
I can honestly hold my hand up to say I've never found anything less erotic than breastfeeding. Lots of lovely oxytocin, yes. Wanting to get down and dirty. No. In fact, total libido preventer for at least a year. Now a nice article labelling me as a perv. I'm very very cross but am I being unreasonable about it?

[GladAllOver]

Do what you feel is best for you and your baby.
Sod the comments in the paper - it's just one person's opinion.

[rhiaaaaaaaannon]

Yanbu. I don't understand why some people think it's perv to bf a toddler but not a baby. If you were getting kicks from it then you'd get just as much as a thrill from a baby I would think. Bleurgh too weird to think about.

It can be cruel to suddenly stop if the child isn't ready too. Poor thing has been lovingly fed and grown a very real attachment to the noob and then all of a sudden it's cut off from their first birthday?

Do what suits you and your baby best I say.

[WhooooAmI24601]

This is why I never read articles on breastfeeding any more. It just makes me cross that someone has an opening to voice a rational, informed opinion and simply uses it to make women feel shitty about their choices.

When you go to Uni nobody asks how long you were breastfed, when you toilet trained, when you got dry through the night, because none of these things matter. Yet when children are young our lives seem to revolve around them, rushing them to do the next thing. Why does it matter how other people choose to parent? So long as DCs are safe, loved and nurtured nothing else should be questioned.

[TronaldDump]

YANBU - is that the one where one of the women mentioned got a vibrator out to use while BF her baby as she was 'so turned on'? It's so right on it's ridiculous, like the idea of orgasmic birth; yeah, I'm sure it's possible but most women just experience a shitload of pain. Among most people I know breastfeeding generally suppresses the libido - but I guess that's not worth mentioning...

[TronaldDump]

Most pertinent quote of the article: Neither of us has ever breastfed

[Swannykazoo]

Aye! - Tronald The most half assed bit of the article - no mention of the general experience of most people. I suspect it was all drafted down the pub after a bottle of savvy blanc.
I am definitely in the natural term breastfeeding camp, though like to style it can't really be bothered to change something that seems to be working but am fully expecting to have extended breastfeeding used against me so this has probably annoyed me more than usual.

[Swannykazoo]

Good spot Tronald I'm sure the authors will look back and laugh when they are in those early days where there's blood and tears and let down etc etc (though like anyone I wish them an easy time etc etc)

[rogueantimatter]

It's so right on it's ridiculous Yes.

Why else include a paragraph about mtf transgender vaginas? Given the level of ignorance about vaginas why use a precious section on an atypical vagina? To be 'right on'.

Oh and between them, the authors have 58 years of experience. Big whoopdy whoo.

YANBU.

[TronaldDump]

Don't let it bother you Swanny - it's just sensationalist and a bit silly. A shame because an actual open and honest conversation about the female anatomy would be useful, but this isn't that!

[rogueantimatter]

One of the many things bf has in its favour is its effect on commonly delaying the next pregnancy.

What a silly article.

Well done to you for bf-ing. I felt like I deserved a medal for bf-ing my two for 13 months each, not stupid remarks from ill-informed columnists.

[ollieplimsoles]

Oh yawn, yet another ill informed article on breastfeeding by someone who knows nothing about it.

I don't read them anymore.

[TronaldDump]

Yes rogue - 58 years of experience = we are both under 30.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

when I BF my second it hurt so much to start with that I punched the wall to distract from the pain



that women that said she wanted to have a wank when BF? boak. nowt as queer as folk

[CaptainWarbeck]

Ugh this annoyed me too. Just gives fuel to the fire of all those people who think breastfeeding is weird. Do a normal article about the mindnumbingly mundane experience of breastfeeding and I'd read it like a shot!

Eg breastfed multiple times during the night, hardly woke up but very uncomfortable having to lie on my side the whole time. Baby seems surgically attached to the boob because of teething. I wish I could a) have both hands free b) not have to sit down and feed when I'm in the middle of making dinner c) not have to wap out the boob in front of FIL, shouldn't be an issue, still feels weird. OTOH I love the connection, I love being able to soothe him and I quite like that it makes me take breaks to sit down. The End. Nowt weird about vibrators in there.

[lavenderpekins]

Stupid annoying article! Yanbu! You're right - very unhelpful especially to any first time mothers!

The guardian has irritated me quite a lot lately..

[butterfliesandzebras]

Right near the start of the article the author asserts she pees out of her vagina, which shows you the level of quality research done.

[Swannykazoo]

She does not? Oh FFS. I had managed not to notice that bit. I may have to start writing a "10 corrections about your stupid article" article. Or buy myself enough gin to foregt instead

[Yorkieheaven]

Amazed anyone reads newspapers now anyway. All full of kids spouting shit to sell copy. They sound pathetically stupid and ignorant even for the Guardian.

Go away and gone back when you mature a bit dears.

[JinkxMonsoon]

I don't really think a passing reference to a single 1999 study on breastfeeding and sexual arousal is going to hinder the cause, personally.

[Humidseptember]

There was also a bizzare comment by the awful Giles Cohren in The Times Saturday a few weeks back - trying to liken balls to breasts saying if women had balls we would be fighting for the right to get them out in public etc.

[Humidseptember]

Anyway Guardian is a lost cause just like the party it supports.

[JinkxMonsoon]

Right near the start of the article the author asserts she pees out of her vagina, which shows you the level of quality research done.

Read it again. It says "female genetalia" and also mentions that two thirds of women don't know the difference between vagina and vulva.

[megletthesecond]

Yanbu. I read that last night and thought that the guardian were really scraping the bottom of the barrell . I never found bf in the least erotic. I was more concerned about latch, whether I could reach my tea and where the TV remote was.

[Swannykazoo]

Oh yes meglet. If Brendan Cole (from strictly) had appeared in those early days, stripped off and said "what you like me to do for you? " I'd have just asked him to refill my water glass and pass the remote. And plug the laptop in.

[Swannykazoo]

Can you recommend a better Saturday paper Humid? Genuinely interested. Sat Herald too central Scotland centric, Telegraph and Times - oh no too right wing, Indy not really Indy enough. looking for a bit of news, interesting features, travel, books etc. Minimal "buy this expensive car/watch/handbag/makeup/blouse" shite. A real paper is my treat on a Sat and you can't set a fire with scrumbled up e-copy either....