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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Breastfeeding - a sexual thing?

28 replies

harman · 06/03/2004 13:34

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OP posts:
sb34 · 06/03/2004 13:42

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marthamoo · 06/03/2004 13:42

I started a thread about this a while back after reading about a woman who said she had to stop breast-feeding because she kept having orgasms. I just couldn't get my head around it but several people posted and said they had heard of this too. Seems to be more of a physical response to stimuli than any kind of sexual response.
I'll see if I can find the thread.

marthamoo · 06/03/2004 13:45

Nope, can't find it, sorry!

suzywong · 06/03/2004 14:45

Sensual but not sexual

charlieplus3 · 06/03/2004 15:26

Opposite im afraid. Now dont like dh to touch them as they are feeding items. Dont see them in a sexual way at all. Im sure i will once i fully stop feeding though

ks · 06/03/2004 17:00

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Browbeaten · 06/03/2004 17:23

Charlieplus3, exactly the same for me when I was breastfeeding.

hercules · 06/03/2004 17:31

Couldnt have done it if felt this way. They're a no go area for dh until bf stopped.

kiwicath · 06/03/2004 17:40

It really is the weirdest thing. Before starting to breast feed, I would have slapped anyone who dared gaze at my boobs (except the hubby) as, then, they were very much sexual things. The day I started breastfeeding something inside my head switched and now they are simply these incredible life giving .... things. I don't really mind who sees me feed and feel there is no sexual tension from either parties. My husband often asks me "how does it feel" which stumps me a bit as yes, I have a physical sensation when our little one is feeding but I think the psychological feeling of nourishing your baby etc etc far outweighs it. Not really explaining myself very well, not sure that I can - it's all a bit magical if you ask me (10 weeks into feeding now, wouldn't have said that at week 2 !!!! Once I stop feeding, I'm sure my boobs will miraculously turn back into their little sexual selves again

deeno · 06/03/2004 18:58

I just think of them as breastfeeding items, nothing sexual at all. Just the most wonderful, emotional, connection with your baby. Breasts are now a total turn off when it comes to anything sexual (not that we ever seem to have time to do anything remotely sexual with a nearly 9 wk old baby !!!), especially when my dp was messing with them and they started leaking milk everywhere - uuurrgghhh. Like Kiwicath I'm sure once breastfeeding stops they will return to them sexy selves again (hope so!) .

zebra · 06/03/2004 19:36

Answer to your last question, Harman: absolutely.
But not for me... I decided that breasts were multi-purpose, like lots of bits of our bodies. Babies usually enter the world through the vagina, and we bleed through there too, but that does not make giving birth or having periods in the slightest bit sexual experiences (IMHO).

Demented · 06/03/2004 22:12

Not in the least bit sexual, although a no-go area for DH for about the first four months or so but then like Zebra quite happy for them to have a dual purpose.

dinosaur · 06/03/2004 22:16

Not sexual at all for me, and in fact I don't think I've ever recommenced thinking of my breasts as sexual things even though I stopped feeding DS2 yonks ago - I don't really like DH touching them now!

Levanna · 06/03/2004 23:54

I never ever ever considered breastfeeding in a sexual light, or had any remotely sexual feelings whilst feeding my DD. It's certainly an amazing experience, I've never felt anything like the feeling of knowing my body was nourishing my little one. But sexual? No.
I feel that it's maybe more a case of society seeing breasts as predominantly sexual 'objects' that leaves some women feeling that they are? For example, growing up I'm sure the first 1000 or so referances I heard made about breasts were of a sexual nature - from playground upwards. (Rather than referances to them as baby feeding equipment ) It's so ingrained in our society that ladies bodies are sexual, rather than the amazing baby making/carrying/feeding people that we are. (As well, of course as our other many many talents )

Ghosty · 07/03/2004 08:16

Definitely NOT sexual but the most amazing experience .... you know, when I look down at my dd when she is feeding I feel the most incredible feelings ... I feel every worry drifting away and I feel as light as a feather ... I feel like superwoman ... so proud of myself ... I feel like I can take on the world ... and when she is weighed and I see that she is putting on weight it is such a buzz that it is all down to me and what I am giving her ...
Anyway ... lots of feelings but NOTHING sexual about it .... and they are definitely out of bounds for poor DH at the moment too .......

twiglett · 07/03/2004 09:54

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2under2 · 07/03/2004 09:55

not sexual - I have very sensitive nipples when they're used in a sexual way (where's the blushing smiley?) but when feeding a baby I get just as little sensations as I would from the baby sucking on my finger or whatever. It's very sensual though and the closeness is wonderful.
I think if I had sexual stirrings whilst bf I'd be horrified and also inclined to stop?!

2under2 · 07/03/2004 09:56

I wondered that too, twiglett. Sounds like a bit of a sick male fantasy to me...

skerriesmum · 07/03/2004 09:57

Nooooo! I agree with most here that it's a nice cuddly feeling, and it's very satisfying to make food with your body! but certainly not sexual. I read the LaLeche Womanly Art of Breastfeeding book and recall a similar comment...

Original poster
harman · 07/03/2004 10:07

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zebra · 07/03/2004 11:24

Sorry If I'm boring you, because I've said this before... but DH loves the effect that breastfeeding has on my chest. Comes home from work, surveys the ample expanse and says to the baby "Doing a good job there, son!" So DH sure doesn't see a conflict in purposes

kiwicath · 07/03/2004 20:11

In a second hand book shop, I found a pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding book written back in the early eighties. They mentioned in it that some women not only find breastfeeding sexual but also childbirth!! - something to do with the baby moving down the birth canal and over the G spot. They said some women even experience an orgasam!!! I was pregnant at the time I read it and figured this childbirth thing mightn't be that bad after all .... just wondering, could I sue the publishers of that book or has the statute run out

prettycandles · 07/03/2004 20:41

There is definitely something sexual for me about the sensations of making milk and of feeding in the early weeks, and it does rather feel like there is a 'link'. I suppose that's partly the uterus contracting back. But I certainly couldn't bear dh touching them at that time, because they're so sensitive. Unfortunately the sexual sensation soon fades away, and within a couple of months my boobs just loose all sexuality for me.

Tortington · 08/03/2004 00:08

yes harman that is how it was for me. my sex life is so important to me i was petrified of losing it by using my breasts to feed. it was one amongst many reasons - but a reason all the same

mears · 08/03/2004 00:10

I had a friend whose DH was turned on by lactating breasts of which he partook IYKWIM?
Not my cup of tea but sexual all the same.