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?

@Getyourarseofffthequattro how?

I didn't have feelings either way, I just got in with it (struggled for the first week) mainly because I am lazy and it was cheaper and less faff than using bottles. But I didn't feel it was a beautiful or 'special' experience and the ultra militant breast feeding brigade always irritated me. I personally never b/f in public or in front of anyone else other than my DH ... I just preferred not to and the lifestyle I had at the time made that relatively easy .. also my DS was happy to fed to a 'routine' - never had to 'cluster feed' so it was quite simple.

@Veryverycalmnow if it feels gross to them then why are they not allowed to express it? Pro breast feeders are allowed to tell the world how beautiful and brilliant they find the experience. This is simply another point of view.

@Veryverycalmnow

You might be experiencing some odd pregnancy hormones. It might feel natural to feed and comfort your baby when they are lying on your chest. It might be worth getting used to the idea of putting their needs first. I wasn't exactly keen on the idea of sleep deprivation but it's one of those things.

That's really nasty.

[quote RussianSpy101]@Getyourarseofffthequattro how?[/quote]
Because you're insinuating that a) younger mother's are more likely to feel this way - based on? And that it's age related when it's not. You're basically saying op is immature and age is the only thing that could "cause" this when clearly it's not. Very rude.

I have no opinion either way - I don’t quite feel the same way as you’ve said in your opening post!

I was willing to give it a go first time struggled felt uncomfortable, I felt very self conscious. It was like my daughter didn’t have a clue either! So I moved onto bottles everyone happy. Second time around it just clicked baby just go on with it. She was an easy feeder - shocked myself with how comfortable I was feeding in public or around people. It helped that she wasn’t a fussy long feeder she just gone with it so never really felt like I was ‘exposed ‘ long enough to care. The first few weeks where tough but worth it once we got into a rhythm. A lot easier than bottle feeding! But at around 10 months I began to feel like a walking dummy - feeding had changed so I switched to bottles.
You should be free to do what you want and comfortable with!

Ah this is so sad that women feel like this. Just shows how much they have internalised the idea that breasts are for men and men’s pleasure. I’m guessing for a lot of these women the idea of looking sexy or having ‘sexy/attractive/perky etc breasts’ isn’t as repulsive. How sad.

@mowglika

Ah this is so sad that women feel like this. Just shows how much they have internalised the idea that breasts are for men and men’s pleasure. I’m guessing for a lot of these women the idea of looking sexy or having ‘sexy/attractive/perky etc breasts’ isn’t as repulsive. How sad.

Perhaps you could stop telling us why we feel this way?

This is nothing to do with I find it gross, actually.

[quote gailplattshairbrush]@Veryverycalmnow if it feels gross to them then why are they not allowed to express it? Pro breast feeders are allowed to tell the world how beautiful and brilliant they find the experience. This is simply another point of view. [/quote]
Ok, so I feel gross about feeding a baby formula and it gives me the ick.

@RussianSpy101

This is bizarre. Are you really young OP? The only times I’ve come across this attitude is from very young mothers; 15,16,17.

Oh please. It has nothing to do with age. I breastfed at only just 17- because I was, and saw my mum do it so it was normal. Nothing to do with age and I doubt there's many 16yos on this site.

I couldn't do it either as I don't like the thought of it. But it certainly isn't because I believe they are for men. Says allot about the way you think to be honest OP as you just presume that's the reason why lol.

I get what you mean I think.

We're so detached from a lot of things these days are are conditioned to see some natural things as repellent (any body hair thread on Mumsnet has plentiful examples of this!). I think social conditioning has a large part to play in how we react to 'natural' things.

As far as breastfeeding goes - I don't like the idea of doing it either. I would try and perhaps I'd feel differently but the I just don't like the thought of doing it. It's totally illogical I know (and I'm usually all about the logic).

I didn't enjoy it but my baby loved it and it felt like the health benefits and convenience outweighed any discomfort I felt.

@Veryverycalmnow that's totally your right. And how would you like it if someone came along and told you that you were ridiculous, childish and weird for having that view?

People are allowed to feel how they feel.

I didn't think it was gross but I didn't fancy it either. I just felt like they were my boobs and I loved how they looked so I didn't want a baby to ruin them 😂

I did change my mind in pregnancy though and I actually enjoyed breastfeeding them. I did think it felt like nice way to bond with baby. It didn't work out for us both times though. My milk never came in first time and I had to give up after about 7/8 days. Second time baby was rubbish at feeding and after I had given up I was told she had a tongue tie.

[quote gailplattshairbrush]@Veryverycalmnow that's totally your right. And how would you like it if someone came along and told you that you were ridiculous, childish and weird for having that view?

People are allowed to feel how they feel. [/quote]
I think people quite often try to imply breastfeeding weird and 'other' and maybe I haven't got the patience for another thread that may discourage new mums from using breasts for their intended purpose by calling it gross, repeatedly.

I haven't got the patience for another thread that may discourage new mums from using breasts for their intended purpose by calling it gross, repeatedly

That is not what this is.

I haven't got the patience for people who try and shut women up because they don't like their own personal opinion about their own bodies.

@Getyourarseofffthequattro

I haven't got the patience for another thread that may discourage new mums from using breasts for their intended purpose by calling it gross, repeatedly

That is not what this is.

I haven't got the patience for people who try and shut women up because they don't like their own personal opinion about their own bodies.

I am just putting my opinion across. Don't try to stop me expressing mine!

Why do you find it gross then? It makes absolutely no sense from a biological point of view that women should find BFing unpleasant. The species wouldn't have lasted very long. There has to be another external reason.

@lawofdistraction

Why do you find it gross then? It makes absolutely no sense from a biological point of view that women should find BFing unpleasant. The species wouldn't have lasted very long. There has to be another external reason.

Yep

That was supposed to be in reply to geryourarseofffthequattro

@lawofdistraction

Why do you find it gross then? It makes absolutely no sense from a biological point of view that women should find BFing unpleasant. The species wouldn't have lasted very long. There has to be another external reason.

I have no idea it's just the way it makes me feel. It's a horrible sensation and it just made me feel gross.

Just because it makes no sense doesn't mean it doesn't happen

There doesn't HAVE to be another external reason at all.

@Veryverycalmnow you're presenting your opinion as fact! It's not!

If you've internalised the reason then you're bound to think there isn't one. Do you have similar problems with eating, drinking or breathing? Sleeping? Walking? Probably not.

@lawofdistraction

If you've internalised the reason then you're bound to think there isn't one. Do you have similar problems with eating, drinking or breathing? Sleeping? Walking? Probably not.

I mean none of them are really comparable at all, are they?

THIS is what's wrong with the world. People telling women how they should feel and explaining how there must be a reason, even if they don't think there is why they feel the wrong way.

It's not progress. It's the opposite.

Why can't we be uncomfortable with something and do the alternative and that be the end of it?

I don't feel like I need someone on the internet to tell me there must be something wrong with how I think.