Breastfeeding

[Flyndaran]

I don't think that anyone can be "wrong" in what disgusts them. It's a subjective/asthetic opinion not based on objective facts.

Is it wrong for the squeamish to find earthworms, cockroaches, and fly larvae disgusting? If so, why? If not, then why not? It's opinion.

[powerboy]

Whenever I see a mother breastfeeding her child, I do not think anything of it. Will I look? Yeah. Will I stare at them? No. I happen to find womens breasts to be sexual. But I do know that they serve another purpose

[katie kaboom]

I wonder though, were women given breasts to be used as a sexual tool and it just so happened that another function of them became to feed the woman's baby or were we given breasts specifically to be able to breastfeed and the sexual part came along later?

[Sylvia727]

If you look at other mammals, you will see that their teats are strictly for feeding. The primary sexual characteristics are the reproductive organs and nothing else. Breasts are one of many secondary sexual characteristics. I suspect that breasts became an erogenous zone because of their heightened sensitivity and association with fertility.

[Flyndaran]

Other primates' breasts are small and flaccid when not pregnant or breastfeeding. Humans just happen to appear pregnant or breastfeeding even when not "with child".
Yes, women's breasts engorge somewhat at that time, but the difference is much less noticeable than any other primate.
It's just one of the many aspects of our species evolved to hide fertility.

[fireheart17]

In all honesty, in all the times I've seen women breastfeeding, they've moved their top a little to the side so bubs can get to the breast. Yes, they have expected a certain amount of staring, but with the exception of one minor incident, nobody's been arrested for it.
I've seen worse-a lady changing her kid on a bench right in front of me at work. Seeing a lady breastfeed her kid? No problem, provided the child is at an age where he/she doesn't rely entirely on milk (seeing a 4-year-old kid on breast is a bit :s) Seeing a lady change her kids nappy? Ick.
And the arresting incident I mentioned above was in the complex where I work, a lady was breastfeeding her kid-in the parenting room mind you-and was subsequently questioned by security. Australia's a bit more refined than America in terms of breastfeeding, but we still have problems with it for some reason. Not to the extent mentioned above, but still...:S

[tabbyblack13]

The thing is that some women behave like this.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/...04/detail.html

[Boozy]

That's not a breastfeeding issue, that's a bad driving issue.

[tabbyblack13]

But she is using breastfeeding as an excuse for her bad driving. I don't mind breastfeeding but when you use it as an excuse to do drive with your kids head next to the airbag while talking on a cellphone. That's when it goes too far.

[AFPheonix]

It's still not a ding against breastfeeding any more than a single bad driver who happens to be female equates to all female drivers being bad.

I'm sorry that she may have had to spend more time if she stopped and fed her kid, but I think the peace of mind knowing that she wouldn't squash her kid's head like a grape against the steering wheel in the event of a crash would be worth it.

[PepperElf]

Re - breastfeeding while driving.

Screw the "public" part... There's a reason why it's freaking illegal to hold a child in the front seat while the car is in motion. If you crash you CANNOT hold on to the baby. The baby WILL go through the windshield.


And in the driver's seat?... ok maybe not the windshield... perhaps the steering wheel or air-bag will snap the kid's neck first.

so yay for the cops giving her a ticket.


and um.. breast feeding WHILE on the phone and driving?
what was she using to steer? her freaking knees?

seriously she needs to get her priorities straightened out.

if the baby is that freakin hungry... the pull the F over and feed him... you don't NEED to do it while the car's in motion.

[fireheart17]

Some to many women will have orgasms while breastfeeding, and people still have the audacity to claim that breasts aren't inherently sexual?

I apologise for the necrobumping of this, but I thought I'd address this, now that I've gone and looked at it thoroughly.

There is a biological reason for women who might derive pleasure from breastfeeding. Sucking on a nipple (whether to arouse someone or for bubs to get food) releases one of the hormones into the bloodstream (it's either prolactin or oxytocin) and it's the same chemical that is released when you're aroused. So basically by bubs suckling on the breast, it can arouse women.

[Nyoibo]

I'm guessing prolactin, oxytocin is usually released by orgasm.

[linguist]

I'm guessing prolactin, oxytocin is usually released by orgasm.

they actually work together. prolactin stimulates milk production, while oxytocin stimulates the contraction of smooth muscles along the milk ducts and causes milk ejection. without oxytocin breast feeding wouldn't happen (along with a whole lot of other bodily functions).

[Bright Star]

Breasfeeding is natural. It's a part of life. Nothing wrong with it. BUT I do have problems with it when breastfeeding women are forced to go into a bathroom to do that. A bathroom wasn't designed for that. Breastfeeding has NOTHING to do with elimination. You don't eat a meal in a bathroom, right? & neither should a baby feed from a breast in there either.
IF a woman is going to do that then she needs to do it in a place that's quiet, comfortable & away from prying eyes cause there are a lot of creepy people out there who'd love nothing more than to stare at a woman breastfeeding her baby. & then those same creepy people would complain that she's being "provacative".
There's a time & place for everything.