Any other women grossed out by breastfeeding?

[Nonameslefttochose]

As in subject, I’m wondering if any other women are absolutely grossed out by breastfeeding? I’m very maternal, I love children (mine and everyone else’s!) I value children and family as the most important “things” in life. Yet the idea of breastfeeding makes me cringe. A baby sucking on a breast like some kind of animal :) despite of this I did try with my first son and lasted 4 days. My second baby is due next week and I’m going to try again even for the first few days as of course I know it’s so beneficial etc. I’m just wondering if anyone else out there have similar feelings with regards to BF?

I had a friend in university who used to respond to male lechery by covering her breasts with her hands and shouting, "they're for the babies". A good point well made.

Breasts are a secondary sexual characteristic but a primary mode of feeding. Without them, no mammals. No humans.

I definitely had the odd moment of finding it all very weird - the thought that I was there, producing the milk for DS, and it was all just happening? I’d just look down sometimes and just be like ‘blimey, this is actually happening?!’

However all in all it was a very positive thing for me and much less faff (in my opinion at least) than formula would have been. Thought I never got the hang of feeding while walking, not in 10 months!

I don't feel the same as you at all. It's one of the most natural things in the world.

However, you aren't alone in your feelings. I have known two women who have said similar things to me about breastfeeding. Each to their own. Don't breastfeed if you don't want to.

I think that's a terrible point of view OP. What are breasts
for, for goodness sake?

What astounds me is the comments stating 'they do see their boobs that way' what??? They are there to feed your baby. WOW.

I am more disgusted by giving babies artificial milk with things they shouldn't be exposed to so early on and milk from another animals teet.

Yes I am grossed out by the thought of it. Never even tried it with my two. My boobs are for sexual pleasure in the bedroom not for a baby to suck on in afraid!!

I don’t feel it’s gross and do find your wording quite immature but it wasn’t for me, I had no desire to do it at all. So I didn’t, and feel good about that decision.

@Beachbabe1

Yes I am grossed out by the thought of it. Never even tried it with my two. My boobs are for sexual pleasure in the bedroom not for a baby to suck on in afraid!!

My hands are for typing so I can't tie shoelaces.

@Nonameslefttochose

As in subject, I’m wondering if any other women are absolutely grossed out by breastfeeding? I’m very maternal, I love children (mine and everyone else’s!) I value children and family as the most important “things” in life. Yet the idea of breastfeeding makes me cringe. A baby sucking on a breast like some kind of animal :) despite of this I did try with my first son and lasted 4 days. My second baby is due next week and I’m going to try again even for the first few days as of course I know it’s so beneficial etc. I’m just wondering if anyone else out there have similar feelings with regards to BF?

I totally understand where you're coming from!! Really gives me the ick too!! I can't even work out why!

Well done on daring to voice your opinion on what could be viewed as negative by the breastfeeding mafia.

I’m from a family that didn’t BF. My Mum was embarrassed by it when I started BF my first. Didn’t want me doing it in public, would ask my dad to leave the room etc…

My Aunt went even further and asked me to bring a bottle when I went to her house!

I was touched when a few months into BF DC2 my Mum said to me that she had changed her mind and was really proud of me and if she had her time again she would definitely try and do it.

I think one of the reasons I did BF even though it didn’t seem normal to my family is that I was older so perhaps more confident to make different decisions, I didn’t live close to them so they weren’t overbearing and also (& this isn’t goady, it’s fact) I am very well educated and they are not.

I am not saying people who don’t BF are not well educated (that is actually not my experience, I have lots of very well educated friends who didn’t - although they all tried, none decided not to from the start) but there are many studies that suggest a link between higher educational status and higher breastfeeding rates.

Nope, not grossed out at all.

@Mymapuddlington

I think it’s because breasts have become sexualised and skewed people’s perceptions of what they’re for

For me I have the opposite, haven't let my dp touch my breasts for 15months, they are just for breastfeeding until we are done.

I feel the same as you OP and I was only discussing this with my therapist the other day as I was curious about why I feel such visceral disgust at the idea of me breastfeeding a baby. (I don’t have or want kids but I’ve thought about it).

Other people breastfeeding I have no issue with - it’s entirely about the idea of me doing it. It’s not a ‘point of view’, I didn’t choose to feel that way, it’s just an instinctive, visceral feeling of ‘yuck’ if I imagine myself doing it. I actually find the idea quite degrading, like it would reduce me to some kind of dairy cow and take away my autonomy.

I wasn’t raised in a prudish household and nor do I think my breasts are only sexual. In fact I believe bodies are NOT inherently sexual so I’ve no idea why I feel that way. It might not be correct or logical but I understand what OP means.

I found it repulsive but I think previous trauma played a part. Also let down triggered feelings of utter despair, would sit there sobbing whilst feeding. Other women breastfeeding absolutely fine, it was just doing it myself that was problematic. Forced myself until around the 16 week mark but loathed every single second.

@Beachbabe1

Yes I am grossed out by the thought of it. Never even tried it with my two. My boobs are for sexual pleasure in the bedroom not for a baby to suck on in afraid!!

Which one act do you save your brain for?

Even better. On Kellymom half way down the page under hormones they have some suggestions for why it might be something that comes up. If anyone is interested:

kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/breastfeeding-nursing-aversion-agitation-baa/

Breasts have been sexualised before time began and for most women they are sexualised long before the start breastfeeding

I really don’t get this faux lets pretend breasts being sexualised is a new thing and mine never have been.

Absolutely with you OP, down to the ELCS too. All part and part of my tokophobia I think. I think it is all about the lack of control and bodily autonomy for me. I expressed instead - I could control when and where I did, ensure I was comfortable and intend to do so again with my second.

I thought it was rather meh. I know it's 'natural' and the thought of doing it was fine but I don't get why it's meant to be enjoyable or help you bond. I did it for 3.5 years and never liked it, although I did get to 'boring chore' rather than outright loathing after a few months. Regret doing it though.

My exMiL once said that breastfeeding 'wasn't natural'. There's not really a lot you say to oddness like that. It's on a par with believing in literal transubstantiation of the host.

And no, breastfeeding doesn't gross me out.

@Cyw2018

OP I find it hard to understand your point of view when you are happy to be pregnant twice, you know "like an animal". Having a separate being growing inside you and parasitically living off your body for 9 months is fine, but then feeding it from that same body after the birth is "gross"?!

I don't think it's exactly a choice to feel like this. I hated it too. I just felt constantly gross for the three Ish days I did it. I don't think other people doing it is gross it just made me have an internal feeling of ugh.

So did giving birth but I didn't have a choice regarding that bit.

Why do people feel the need to be so nasty about the way someone personally feels?

I bf both my children which was hard to start with but felt totally natural once we had got the hang if it and much more convenient in the long run.

It sometimes seems a bit weird thinking about it now they're older, I can't imagine wanting to put a baby on my boob now bit I wanted to give it a go and it worked out, especially as it turned out one was allergic to dairy.

Now that Ive seen the affects and done some research, dairy in formula is designed for baby cows to grow (into big animals!) and is not always a good thing for our babies, human milk has everything for human babies to be healthy including the required bacteria. I thinks its a bit weird to give our babies milk for baby cows but if you can't bf then formula is the next best thing as it does the job (but we're not allowed to say this if we're pro bf).

I don't care either way. I had a reduction so pumped and it worked for me.

My friend had this similar hang up and she had been sexually abused as a kid. I'm from the school of you do you bo, so I don't agree with shaming the op for having feelings. My friend got shamed a fair amount for not wanting to and never shared the reason with those people. It's the internet we won't Eve know someone's full story or why someone's feeling the way they do, let's just not be dicks to each other ok ?

Because when you share those feelings they are going to cause a stir.

Only toddlers and people with dementia feel the need to share every feeling they have.

A filter between brain and mouth (or brain and keyboard) is a fairly basic skill.

@Magicalwoodlands

Because when you share those feelings they are going to cause a stir.

Only toddlers and people with dementia feel the need to share every feeling they have.

A filter between brain and mouth (or brain and keyboard) is a fairly basic skill.

You absolutely should be able to share your feelings about YOUR OWN BODY.

You don't have to read it you know.