For as long as I have understood breastfeeding, I have understood that there is a stigma attached to the act. However to say I understand breastfeeding may be an overstatement; perhaps like Maori mothers who rarely choose to breastfeed their children, I actually understand very little.
Breastfeeding began hundreds of thousands of years ago, when humans like all other mammals, fed milk to their young. As far as I can gather, there is no definite known history as to the first act of breastfeeding; and this is what puzzles me. At what point during these hundreds of thousands of years ago, did Adam call over Eve and say ‘Hey Love, get that their baby up your tit, that’ll be something.’? And it is this lack of information that takes me to a very dark place of incestuous and paedophilic thoughts…According to the website Mothering From The Heart, breastfeeding greatly benefits the health of newborn babies and their mothers. Naturally produced breast milk gives a baby a large amount of essential nutrients and antibodies. Breastfeeding has even been linked to reducing the risk of colic, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), child diabetes, and protecting children against meningitis and asthma. Mothers themselves benefit from a smaller risk of breast, ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancers. But how people, HOW was this discovered? Are you telling me that back in year X, no one saw this act occurring for the first time and thought WHAT THE DEVIL, THERE’S A MOTHER OVER THERE FORCING HER CHILD UPON HER NAKED BOSOM! Without either party knowing the mother or child were (going) to benefit from the nursing, was (could it not be seen as [plain] child abuse) it not seen as plain child abuse?
Comedian Linda Sharp wrote a piece for the website breastfeeding.com, a mothers perspective on the big question: to nurse or not to nurse? At one point Sharp was breastfeeding in a mall when a young boy came and sat right next to her and began watching intently. She promptly asked the boy if he had purchased a ticket for the show. The boy was young, adolescent perhaps, and was probably marvelling over seeing some real live breasts, other than his mothers, for the first time. He was probably rather excited and totally unaware of the mother child bonding that was supposedly occurring. Sharp also touched on the idea that there are some people who believe there is an element of sexuality related to the act of breastfeeding. NOT A CHANCE in Linda’s mind, and to quote: “Honestly, have those people who think there is something sexual about the nursing breast, ever SEEN one? I can think of nothing farther from a turn-on!”
In 2002 the New Zealand Ministry of Health issued a report on the statistics of breastfeeding in New Zealand. The report showed that Maori and Pacific Island mothers had a consistently lower rate of breastfeeding when compared with Europeans (whoever they are!). This is an interesting fact given the governments societal bombardment of campaigns to support and promote breastfeeding in New Zealand during this time, specifically targeted at the Maori and Pacific Island communities. The report suggested that the possible reasons behind this low rate of breastfeeding mothers included difficulty establishing breastfeeding within the first 6 weeks, perception of inadequate milk supply, and returning to work quickly. Or is it possible that Maori and Pacific Island woman just prefer to keep their sexual hot spots separate from their hungry children? That seems more than fair enough to me!
Talking of sexual hotspots, I came across the website HOTmilk in my research. This site is dedicated to providing pretty and sexy lingerie for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Now this really messes with the idea of sexuality being associated with breastfeeding. Sure I get that a woman wants to feel sexy to boost her confidence, and sure after having your vagina ripped open from the size of a pea to a watermelon you might be struggling to get the spark alive between yourself and your partner BUT what sort of effect does it have on a child for his/her first memory to be of his mother ripping off a leopard print frilly number and exposing her giant bosom for him/her to suck upon. Trauma much?
And with all these questions in mind, I happen upon an article of the Australian Government planning to edit legislation to protect breastfeeding mothers from discrimination and sexual harassment. Ah ha! Sexual harassment you say? Now who is their right mind is sexually harassing a woman with her breasts out and baby suckling in tow? Fans of incest or paedophilia perhaps? I absolutely do not agree with anyone being discriminated against based on sex, age, religion, sexuality or job for that matter; nor do I think breastfeeding woman should be discriminated against; NOR do I believe that my opinion OF breastfeeding should be discriminated against. But lets take a moment to really analyse those who do sexual harass a breastfeeding mother in public, therein lies the men who go home and night and jump in bed with their sons or daughters while mothers out at prayer group.
Or are these paedophilic males just trying to bond with their children like the breastfeeding mother does? Is it just that they struggle to see where the line stops when it comes to sharing sexual organs with babies? I’ve heard before that men wish they had the opportunity to bond with their children like the mother does...BUT WAIT! MEN CAN BREASTFEED! Yes, fear not my male readers, you too can have your child suckling upon your nipple (note - I suggest those of you from Mediterranean parts of the world shave first, you don’t want your first male breastfeeding attempt to end with baby choking on a fur ball). A male of 38 from Sri Lanka was able to breast feed his two daughters after his wife passed away. Oh yes, according to a local Sri Lankan doctor, it is possible for the male species to make milk also, so long as the prolactine hormone is hyperactive. You can see from the links on my delicious site that there are more articles I have looked at to form the foundation of my blog, and this really is only a small chunk of the sites around! But I beg you to take a moment, and see this mother child bonding from a different point of view. Perhaps this will help: Next time your out to lunch with your mother, imagine sucking on her breast right there in the middle of the restaurant, or on your fathers nipple if he is there. Feel good?
REFERENCES
Why is breastfeeding so important? Mothering from the Heart. (2010). Retrieved September 2nd, 2010, from http://www.motheringfromtheheart.com/Benefits.htm
Sharp, L. Got Milk? (n.d) Retrieved September 2nd, 2010 from http://www.breastfeeding.com/lighter_side/lighter_side_stories_got_milk.html
HOTmilk Lingerie for pregnant and breastfeeding women. (2009). Retrieved August 23rd, 2010 from http://www.hotmilklingerie.co.nz/
New Zealand’s breastfeeding rates. (2000). Retrieved August 23rd, 2010 from http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/0/B2C10FF5E960E1EDCC256DC10077C608
Breastfeeding discrimination move mooted. (2010) Retrieved August 23rd, 2010 from http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/breastfeeding-discrimination-move-mooted-20100507-uh65.html
The history of breastfeeding. (2010) Retrieved August 23rd, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breastfeeding#History_of_breastfeeding
Fact: Men can breastfeed. (2007). Retrieved August 23rd, 2010 from http://www.thethinkingblog.com/2007/08/fact-men-can-breastfeed.html
I think this topic is a prime example of things you shouldn't think about too much! This will absolutely revolt me next time I see a pregnant lady...or a baby...or my father. So thank you!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you touched on the origin of breastfeeding, and I found that line of thought very interesting. It's a shame there isn't an account somewhere of the first breastfeeding occurrence.
An interesting comment you make about the acceptability of a woman placing her breast in her baby's mouth, yet it being criminal for a man to do anything of the sort. I guess this comes down to basic well-being of the child, as opposed to society's culture?
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ReplyDeleteControversial topic! I like your attempt to look at the origins of breastfeeding but I find it odd to think that someone would document this occurence. If we go back to natural instincts, we humans are animals and perform daily functions on animal instinct - and yes that includes sex. On the same note one could argue how did Adam figure out to reproduce with Eve? Or how do many sheltered and conservative individulas know how to one day procreate?
ReplyDeleteBreasts were there first and foremost to feed ones offspring and second for human pleasure - particularly for male pleasure - and therefore I do not find the idea of brestfeeding repulsive or 'incestuous'.
In fact, if it weren't for our modern medical advances and the convenience of baby formula in a tub, how else would one nourish a newborn?
On a scientific note, as Jen mentioned, breast milk contains essential nutrients required for an infant - which is so beneficial that there are even women who donate breastmilk to infants whose own mothers cannot feed them.
Personally, I find that it is latter day society that has perverted the notion of a mother feeding her child through an oversexed and perverted mass culture.
Ok, Jennifer. BE A WRITER, you gotta get your memoirs out there, the way your pose an arguement is truely inspiring and you could probably make me believe anything.
ReplyDeleteI was breastfeed, and now I feel a little sick! lol
But I'm on the fence of whether its right or wrong. I think when practiced in private (at home) and not the middle of the mall or sitting on a park bench, it's absolutely fine. For those of coarse who choose to do it.
I will NEVER breastfeed. ouch.
Plus, men who breastfeed should be shot. I can't understand that AT ALL.
Love it! You have real talent as a writer Jen, I really enjoyed your blog and cracked up throughout. You raise some very interesting points too... I had no idea men could breastfeed!! WOW. I'm unsure at this stage how I feel about it but I have been educated nonetheless! I think I will choose to breastfeed my future baby as opposed to the bottle, but I AM a sucker (excuse the pun) for punishment so if my child is a chomper I may have to reconsider. Well done and I shall see you in class! x
ReplyDeleteMen can breastfeed!? Uuuummm... well now that I have that extremely wierd thought out of the way...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lusy on this one. I can't say that I find breastfeeding revolting or incestuous. Its a natural part of life. I think that perhaps in this modern day and age where there are other less offensive means of feeding a baby, people struggle to think why a mother would subject a child to suckling on her naked bosom. The baby hardly knows what's going on so I don't believe they could take offense. They're just hungry, ALL THE TIME!!! I know this from the little munchkin sitting on the couch next to me (my little brother,don't freak out). But sometimes breastfeeding mothers do take it to the extreme. Not everyone in a resturant wants to see boobs hanging out with a baby attached while they slurp up their soup. This may be why there is such a revolt against breastfeeding mothers. There are ways to be more discreet.
Interesting thoughts on the origins of breastfeeding. Never thought about it myself. YOU ARE HILARIOUS JEN:)Just saying.
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ReplyDeleteScrew the topic - your writing gave me lolskies.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, don't screw the topic, cos that's brilliant too.
Speaking as a man, which is the preferred gender of my perspective, breastfeeding is a thousand times more awkward for male onlookers than for women.
Spare a thought people. Do we overcompensate by making a big show about the fact that we're NOT looking? Intently wander over to the candy stand and fondle a Snickers until the elephants in the room have been covered up?
Or do we nonchalantly throw a blatant gaze your way, as if to say "You're cool with it, I'm cool with it - TWENTY FIRST CENTURY MAN"
Gosh, I don't know, nature is cruel.
I'll be over here with my Snickers.
Breastfeeding… in public? Hmmm I’ll have to agree with Lusy and Kirsty. I don’t find it revolting in a sense that it is taken place somewhere slightly confined and perhaps more suited for mothers and babies for the sake of other adolescents and adults who are ‘wonderers’ or ‘pryers’ looking or over-looking the fact that there is a women with naked breast for all to see. From my perspective, its simply unethical to stop breastfeeding in public. If the child is hungry then the child is hungry.
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