So, are you a member of the Militant Breastfeeding Cult?

[LucyJu]

Answer the following questions. Apparently, a score of 1 or above qualifies you for membership...

1. Do you nurse your babies past one year of age?

1. Do you share your bed with your nursing baby?

1. Do you believe that mothers and fathers have different roles to play in raising children?

1. Do you believe that nature provided women with breasts in order to feed their babies?

1. Do you associate with other women who breastfeed their children or even-gasp!-attend La Leche League meetings? (award youself a bonus point for attendance at LLL meetings or other bf support groups)

1. Do you follow the WHO guidelines of breastfeeding a baby exclusively for six months before introducing supplements or solids? (Presumably the WHO is part of the cult.)

1. Do you believe that there are not only physical differences between men and women, but psychological and emotional differences as well?

1. Do you believe that motherhood is a noble calling and that mothers and babies belong together? Do you-gasp!-think that babies are better off if their mothers are home with them rather than pursuing careers?

10. Do you make your baby's food from wholesome, nourishing ingredients and avoid processed foods or additives?

11. Do you avoid dummies and bottles?

Membership categories divided as follows:

3 Bronze membership
4 - 7 Silver
9 - 10 Gold
12 Platimum

I give myself a 9 out of 11 which, I reckon, entitles me to Gold membership of the Cult. Any platinum members out there?

I read all the threads on extended b/feeding and I can honestly say I've never come across a post by anybody denying that breasts can give sexual pleasure.

What extended b/feeders deny is that they get sexual pleasure from b/feeding.

Even though I must admit that long-term b/feeding has had the effect on me that I don't see my breasts as something sexual at all anymore. I hope I will do again once I stop b/feeding and being pregnant all the bleeding time! (six years now of continuously b/feeding and/or being pregnant)

Poor dh is not allowed to touch them, especially not the nipples!

It was a bit naff, but the sentiment behind it was nice i thought.
lou
x

emkana, b'feeding is not waht I said, but Im not getting into that one again. My own experiences with my children formed my views, and other people have clearly had different experiences with their children, and will never believe anything different.

eh?

So what were your experiences with your children?

7 1/2 and proud of it!

strange how defensive bottle feeders get really, most of us who bf don't feel the need to justify it or defend it yet they do.... must be an indication of something

my theory before and after having dd was always 'try it and see how far you get' i got to 1 year and gave up as i was preg again and didn't want there to be a fight when baby came! hoping dd won't remember they were hers first or things could get nasty!

by the way, i laughed at louii's joke, should i just leave now?

louii - that was a lovely article. Thank you for sharing it!

NB
there is a difference between your breasts being suckled by your child
and being sucked by someone to whom you are sexually attracted
like the difference between being kissed by your mother and your lover
geddit?

Quite harpsi.
Yes louii,it was nice,I've seen it before and I know it has really comforted people who weren't (for whatever reason) able to bfeed for as long as they envisaged.

btw I think many extended breastfeeders would agree that ey get pleasure from feeding
it's not a bloody chore, anyway, otherwise I wouldn't have doing it for three years

i was very sad when i stopped, and quite cross that dd wasn't more upset . i never found it sexual, which is why i'm able to laugh at the ridiculousness(sp?) of that joke but it was far more enjoyable than i'd ever anticipated.

i think i read that piece or something similar before i had dd and it did give me confidance that even if things didn't go as well as i hoped at least i'd given my baby a good start

It's a sensual experience,granted.
That aint the same as sexual though.

I find it extraordinary that peoplesneeringly suggest there's a sexual pleasure in breastfeeding a baby.

Do we have sexual pleasure washing babies bums? Of course not. Do we get a sexual kick when the baby hugs us? Of course not. It's a baby. We know the difference between a sexual partner and a baby.

That's not to deny that my breasts are sexy for me and dh WHEN they are not being used for their primary function that is.

I found the joke inconguous and unwomanly.

I found the joke incongruous and unwomanly.

Doubly so.

yes, sensual. delightful, even. but not sexual. we all take sensual pleasure in physical contact with our children?
there was a poster on one of these threads who once suggested that those women who can take pleasure in bf are perhaps closer to/more comfortable with their primitive origins
I think there is something in that, myself
sorry, slightly OT

I think that breastfeeding should be pleasurable. Natures reward and all that. Ho hum.

Many societies do not think that breasts are primarily sexual.
That's why women in very traditional societies (think Africa, Amazonian or Indonesian jungles) run around topless but with their bottoms covered up. Bottoms are sexual/dirty, but boobs are no more exciting than toes.
I can do a lot of things to excite my man with my hands... toes... tongue; this does not make my hands /toes/tongue primarily sex organs.

Oooer zebra! Well said.

PMSL, until I realised I have gold membership

Although DS is now in his own bed and had beans on toast for lunch last week. Eek, I'm slipping to silver.............

I must be unusual then in that I get absolutely no pleasure whatsoever from BF. It's uncomfortable, tiring and I can't wait to stop. I regard my 18 months as a supreme effort that has benefited DS enormously, has health benefits for me but that's it.

Am bfeeding as I mn. Don't mn as I have sex. That's the diff for me

i'm w/highlander, especially as now dd2 has this habit of pinching the HELL out of my norks. 6 months, here we come! she is on ebm as well, b/c i have to go back to work next month.

what if the bread is homemade and the beans are organic? :o

oh dear, shop-bought bread and Heinz beans.