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Lactation support conference in Ireland - the quiet part out loud

537 replies

ArabellaScott · 25/08/2026 11:16

https://genspect.org/where-does-male-lactation-fit-in-breastfeeding-support-networks/

'This year’s program lists a lactation consultant called Jacob Engelsman speaking on “communicating inclusively: creating gender-affirming clinical spaces for families” and “lactation support for gender-diverse families”.'

'Jacob Engelsman is a Certified Lactation Consultant based in the US. He describes himself as an infant care specialist, speaker, and writer. He is the author of a recently published book, Lactation for the Rest of Us: A Guide for Queer and Trans Parents and Helpers, and specialises in inducing lactation in non-gestational parents (parents who haven’t given birth). “Lactation is for anyone” Jacob tells us in this podcast interview.
Engelsman’s interest and expertise is not limited to lactation for the purpose of feeding an infant. One of his previous presentations was “Inducing Lactation for Kinksters” and according to his CV he has been giving various talks including on lactation at Frolicon, an adult lifestyle and fetish convention held annually in Atlanta, Georgia with substantial programming around kink, BDSM, sexuality, polyamory, LGBTQ+ relationships and alternative sexual/family cultures.
He is not a nurse, midwife, doctor, or healthcare professional (nor does he claim to be). He is not a parent or someone with personal experience of breastfeeding. He got his certification five years ago and prior to that worked in the food service industry.'
...
'Why would a man want to lactate? In Engelsman’s own words:
“There are several reasons a person may choose to lactate regardless of whether they can gestate a child…a non-gestational parent might choose to induce lactation as a way to feel emotionally closer to the baby, assert their own feelings of parenthood, gender euphoria, or just for the unique experience of it.” (p.49)
Writing specifically about “cis” men, that is men who identify as men, he says:
“As to the question of why they would want to, it seems reasonable to believe that cis men want to lactate for the same reasons as anyone else. Which is to say, usually to feed and bond with their baby and to a lesser extent for curiosity, fun, or sexual gratification.” (p.152)'

Where Does Male Lactation Fit in Breastfeeding Support Networks? — Genspect

The Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI) will host its annual conference this coming October in Galway. Promotional posts on social media feature a lactation consultant, Jacob Engelsman, who promotes some practices that many people fi...

https://genspect.org/where-does-male-lactation-fit-in-breastfeeding-support-networks/

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TheKeatingFive · 31/08/2026 20:38

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 31/08/2026 20:07

I can't help but notice that the usual community disruptors are swerving this thread.

Funny that

Examsareoverwoohoo · 31/08/2026 20:39

ArabellaScott · 31/08/2026 10:28

The HSE response indicates that so long as a paedophile doesn't talk about his work helping men to access babies for sexual gratification, they support him lecturing women.

As far as I can see yes - it's actively promoting paedophila and we need to name it as such. This is PIE all over again. In fact it's worse.

Examsareoverwoohoo · 31/08/2026 20:52

ArabellaScott · 31/08/2026 11:13

'We've accidentally booked a paedo enabler, this suggests our safeguarding processes need to be looked at'

I am available for PR consultancy, btw.

Perfect. I hope you enjoy your new job, you are desperately needed.

I personally found that breastfeeding completely killed any libido I had for my husband, DH was very pissed off, but he put up with it because he wanted the best for our baby and he's not a dickhead. It made me feel so fiercely protective of my baby.

Biologically it makes sense - when you're feeding an infant it's very demanding on your body and ideally you won't get pregnant at the same time - exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to suppress fertility but if the women I spent time with when my babies were little were representative, I don't think it's uncommon for women to not want to have sex at all when breastfeeding (also, generally, if you get up multiple times in the night, you're exhausted).

Paedophiles are manipulators. People gullible enough to fall for it should lose their jobs if their jobs are anything to do with babies. Safeguarding 101. And 'inclusion' can fuck off if it means harming babies. Safeguarding is often inherently exclusive - paedophiles are excluded.

This man has openly advocated for paedophilia and child sexual abuse, why he's not being arrested I don't know.

AncientBallerina · 31/08/2026 23:24

Cailin66 · 29/08/2026 07:44

Until this thread I was unaware of breast milk being couried etc. My firstborn was in the neonatal unit for 10 days, the nurse knew I wished to breastfeed, so she fed my baby from a cup instead of a bottle until I managed to get there from my hospital room the next morning. From the babies I saw there I learnt that breast milk was liquid gold and the marvellous nurses were really grateful that I donated mine to help those babies thrive.

There was no watching me, there was a special room for me to be with my baby (and husband).

I’m really outraged that something so special, so important for women and babies is now something equated with sexual deviants in men. Will these men with sexual perversion ever leave us women anything which is pure and beautiful. The senior consultant, a wonderfully talented man, demonstrated my baby the day we left to a junior doctor and emphasised the importance of breastfeeding. There was nothing wrong with my baby, they were concerned about low birthweight, so it was nothing to me to donate my breast milk to the hard working dedicated nurses doing everything to help the poor mites i saw in the neonatal unit.

Show quote history

This is how I feel too. Why do these men have to destroy everything beautiful and unique about being a woman and a mother. I was perved on once by some awful bloke in Pizza Express while breastfeeding my baby. WTF is wrong with them.

FanOfGailDines · 01/09/2026 07:57

Everyone: look up the email of any journalist in Ireland who should be covering this in the media. Those journalists who focus on women's stories or should be or are talking about family things or education or medical stories in the press. And say, have you seen this story? Here is a story that should be covered (from whatever perspective they choose) but it should be covered in the Irish press because it is a story in the public interest!

I've just done that but many messages make a difference! Great that Jasmin Sussex was also included in interview above.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/this-isnt-about-same-sex-relationships-jasmine-sussex/video/8662664a94f78179ad4a72fb8d9d7c20

borntobequiet · 01/09/2026 08:15

Genesis1v27 · 31/08/2026 17:14

Reem Alsalem was on the Hard Shoulder programme on Newstalk (an Irish radio station) earlier to talk about this and other issues. I haven't listened to it yet.

https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-the-hard-shoulder/un-special-rapporteur-reem-alsalem-on-alci-controversy

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0dIqne3O3W6HWNaYoLN22r

Edited

Thanks for that very interesting interview. RA was very clear and explicit.

AncientBallerina · 01/09/2026 09:47

She brought it all right back to the welfare of the child which is all that should matter. ‘Nourishing an illusion’ indeed. Like all of the rest of it.

Original poster
ArabellaScott · 01/09/2026 11:20

'Last night, Dr Alice Hodkinson from BiologyinMedicine appeared on GB News and pointed out that if male lactation involves sexual gratification, it constitutes child abuse.'

No shit! How have we got to the point where men can say openly, publish a book, even, clearly saying that they are using babies for sexual gratification, and yet be lauded and booked as an 'expert' in childcare?

GB News (@GBNEWS) on X

‘They cannot breastfeed and it is taking the baby away from the mother.’ Co-founder of Biology in Medicine Dr Alice Hodkinson is in despair at a ‘male lactation expert’ attending a women’s conference and discussing how men can lactate.

https://x.com/GBNEWS/status/2094157775567720677?s=20

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INeedAPensieve · 01/09/2026 11:41

ArabellaScott · 01/09/2026 11:20

'Last night, Dr Alice Hodkinson from BiologyinMedicine appeared on GB News and pointed out that if male lactation involves sexual gratification, it constitutes child abuse.'

No shit! How have we got to the point where men can say openly, publish a book, even, clearly saying that they are using babies for sexual gratification, and yet be lauded and booked as an 'expert' in childcare?

It actually beggars belief that anyone signed off on this. Mind you, we have our Scottish government funding that "queer milk" charity with images depicting men "feeding" babies so these paedophile enablers walk among us...

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 01/09/2026 11:41

When did perverts start to be called "kinksters"?

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 01/09/2026 11:53

I stopped listening to Newstalk a long time ago, I find they are very good at swerving the stories that don't suit the governments' narrative. So I am surprised and impressed that they covered this story at all! I'm also glad it was Ciara Kelly who covered it, Shane Coleman would never have let that woman speak the way Ciara did. She might not have condemned or condoned anything expressly, but I think by allowing an expert to make the points and not 'challenge' in any way, she might have shown us that she's at least a little bit critical of this gender nonsense. Hopefully! She is a woman, with medical training. But as we know that hasn't stopped other female doctors being traitors to their sex.

Cailin66 · 01/09/2026 12:03

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 01/09/2026 11:41

When did perverts start to be called "kinksters"?

Actually that’s a very good point. But in all honesty, when I think kinks, I think pervert. This whole notion of a man putting a baby to his nipple is abhorrent. Deliberately and constantly deleting the word woman is disgustingly. Changing breastfeeding to chest feeding, breastfeeding to lactating. It’s like perverts sat down and set about changing something wholly fully female. Worst of all are the handmaidens in the ALCI who never raised a stink about it.

When I checked the link to the list of Irish women professionals last weekend, now deleted, it was a list of sensible Irish women. What cowards some are. Ironically, quite by chance, but Ireland is shall, I know one woman on there as I went to school with them.

One of my children has started a job in London, the initial email from a female had their pronouns in the signature (she/her) . It’s 2026, when will this end. Why do woman go along with this. Why are they so cowardly. All we are doing is pandering to male perverts.

Cailin66 · 01/09/2026 12:05

INeedAPensieve · 01/09/2026 11:41

It actually beggars belief that anyone signed off on this. Mind you, we have our Scottish government funding that "queer milk" charity with images depicting men "feeding" babies so these paedophile enablers walk among us...

Show quote history

Link please. Thanks in advance.

AncientBallerina · 01/09/2026 12:12

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 01/09/2026 11:53

I stopped listening to Newstalk a long time ago, I find they are very good at swerving the stories that don't suit the governments' narrative. So I am surprised and impressed that they covered this story at all! I'm also glad it was Ciara Kelly who covered it, Shane Coleman would never have let that woman speak the way Ciara did. She might not have condemned or condoned anything expressly, but I think by allowing an expert to make the points and not 'challenge' in any way, she might have shown us that she's at least a little bit critical of this gender nonsense. Hopefully! She is a woman, with medical training. But as we know that hasn't stopped other female doctors being traitors to their sex.

I know what you mean - a lot of the Newstalk men are very so called ‘progressive’ but Ciara is a lot more ‘conservative’. I thought her questions were very cleverly put and for once a woman was allowed to speak the truth from start to finish. I hope this will be a wake up call for Ireland and will give other women the confidence to speak up in what is a very intimidating environment at the moment.

MarieDeGournay · 01/09/2026 12:14

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 01/09/2026 11:53

I stopped listening to Newstalk a long time ago, I find they are very good at swerving the stories that don't suit the governments' narrative. So I am surprised and impressed that they covered this story at all! I'm also glad it was Ciara Kelly who covered it, Shane Coleman would never have let that woman speak the way Ciara did. She might not have condemned or condoned anything expressly, but I think by allowing an expert to make the points and not 'challenge' in any way, she might have shown us that she's at least a little bit critical of this gender nonsense. Hopefully! She is a woman, with medical training. But as we know that hasn't stopped other female doctors being traitors to their sex.

I dislike Newstalk for different reasons, I've never noticed it being particularly pro-government, I just find it irritatingly 'boyzone' - they go on and on and on about sport, and usually English soccer at that.
They've made efforts to have more women presenters etc - Claire Byrne was a major win for them - but even she has to drone on and on about life after Pep and things like that🙄

But it has a wide audience, and this interview in which Reem Alsalem spoke with such clarity and simplicity: breastfeeding is about the baby, will have done a lot of good.

Thank you for the link to the excellent Stella O'Malley article, Cailin66.
Stella used to be a regular on 'parenting advice' slots on the radio, but I never hear her now.... I wonder why😒

And it was good to see a nod to Catherine Monaghan and Wicklow Women4Women, I know nothing about them except that they seem to be doing excellent work keeping the sex-realist flag [do we have a flag? everybody else has..] flying in Ireland.

Thank you Catherine and WW4W and the other Irishwomen - keep her lit!

Cailin66 · 01/09/2026 12:19

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 01/09/2026 11:53

I stopped listening to Newstalk a long time ago, I find they are very good at swerving the stories that don't suit the governments' narrative. So I am surprised and impressed that they covered this story at all! I'm also glad it was Ciara Kelly who covered it, Shane Coleman would never have let that woman speak the way Ciara did. She might not have condemned or condoned anything expressly, but I think by allowing an expert to make the points and not 'challenge' in any way, she might have shown us that she's at least a little bit critical of this gender nonsense. Hopefully! She is a woman, with medical training. But as we know that hasn't stopped other female doctors being traitors to their sex.

Ciara Kelly has been consistently great.

https://www.independent.ie/comment/opinion/ciara-kelly-those-in-charge-need-to-follow-the-uk-and-pull-the-plug-now-on-harmful-puberty-blockers-for-under-18s/a/132069246.html

She’s a mother of 4, a doctor, has a column, is LGB, pro women.

Newstalk is private, the national broadcaster, RTE (= BBC) are cowards, NEVER discuss trans properly, nada about the Galway conference. And nothing from the two main Irish newspapers,(Indo + Times)

Cailin66 · 01/09/2026 12:25

Maire - Claire Byrne originally started on Newstalk, she used to be fantastic, so RTE the state broadcaster poached her, they groomed her, made her monotone, dull, boring, thank goodness she’s back at Newstalk.

RTE are afraid of their own shadow, afraid of the government pulling the financial plus. They taje the best and groom them into a hive mind. Frequently witnessed with Brendan O’Connor who sticks to “the script” - never deviate into anything exciting or in any way controversial. The “Tommy Fleming” controversy’s NEVER mentioned or discussed how Flemings wife might feel, when he cane out as gay. That’s because RTE is DIE Lo la.

TheKeatingFive · 01/09/2026 12:37

Ciara is great. She also questioned the narrative on Covid a lot more than other broadcasters.

Cailin66 · 01/09/2026 14:14

The news has hit the Connaught Tribune (West of Ireland newspaper)

Breastfeeding conference at Galway hotel cancelled over 'kink' speaker

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 01/09/2026 14:23

Cailin66 · 01/09/2026 14:14

The news has hit the Connaught Tribune (West of Ireland newspaper)

Breastfeeding conference at Galway hotel cancelled over 'kink' speaker

Well done they! AND they made it clear it was the hotel which quite rightly pulled the plug, so that the organisers had no leg to stand on if they claim "health and safety" for any other reason.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 01/09/2026 14:28

Cailin66 · 01/09/2026 14:14

The news has hit the Connaught Tribune (West of Ireland newspaper)

Breastfeeding conference at Galway hotel cancelled over 'kink' speaker

Good to see that the chest feeding fetish / kink / male sexual arousal is clearly centred as a safeguarding risk to babies. Depressing that anyone in the world argues otherwise.

Original poster
ArabellaScott · 01/09/2026 14:29

nicepotoftea · 01/09/2026 13:51

https://x.com/stellaomalley3/status/2094682394456375575

For anyone whose blood pressure is a bit low today.

I understand that women are pissed off because it's bad advice re breastfeeding (inaccurate, apart from anything else).

My view is that he is deliberately setting women up to mistrust each other, saying that mothers are 'lying', and casting doubt and aspersions on women's testimony.

I think it's quite obvious why a man with sexual interest in children would do this.

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