Adult lactation means breastfeeding of an adult partner or re-lactation for primarily erotic reasons. Depending on the context, other terms are used such as adult suckling, adult nursing, adult breastfeeding, Adult Nursing Relationship (ANR), or nursing couple(s). The scientific-sounding terms Milk fetishism or Lactophilia as well as paraphilia (in this context) are incorrect according to the definitions of ICD-10 and DSM-IV. In scientific terminology, these would be disorders – the diagnoses of which should be based on precise criteria. One non-exclusive element of said criteria is that an individual is suffering from such a disorder. Therefore Milk fetishism or Lactophilia should also be avoided in colloquial speech.[1]
Breasts, and especially nipples, are highly erogenous zones (both for men and women). One hypothesis assumes that during evolution, those women prevailed who were motivated by physical pleasure to nurse their babies in the best possible way. The same holds true for the lips, also erogenous zones where pleasure may have lead to "kiss feeding", in which mothers chew food before passing it on to the child.[2]
Because female breasts and nipples are normally an important part of sexual activities and perception, it is not surprising that couples may proceed from intensive kissing of the nipples to actual breastfeeding. In lesbian partnerships, mutual breastfeeding has been regarded as a familiar expression of affection and tenderness.[3]
In its Sunday issue of March 13, 2005, the London daily The Times gave a report of a scientific survey (comprised of 1690 British men) revealing that in 25 to 33% of all couples, the male partner had suckled his wife's breasts. Regularly the men gave a genuine emotional need as their motive.[4]
Beyond these, there exist hardly any reports or investigations. Nevertheless, from European Middle Ages a multitude of subliminally erotic visionary experiences of saints have been passed on in which breastfeeding plays a major role. One prominent example is the Lactatio of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux[5]. Generally speaking this was a rather strong taboo, and it can be concluded that an adult man suckling for milk is in contradiction to well established images of masculinity.
Unintended milk flow (Galactorrhea) is often caused by nipple stimulation and it is possible to reach normal milk production exclusively by suckling on the breast.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Breastfeeding - How Breast Milk is Made
Knowing how the breast is made and how it works to produce milk can help you understand the breastfeeding process. The breast actually begins developing in the first few weeks of gestation, before birth. But the mammary gland, the gland that produces milk, does not become fully functional until lactation begins. When a woman's breasts become swollen during pregnancy, this is a sign that the mammary gland is getting ready to work. The breast itself is a gland that is composed of several parts, including glandular tissue, connective tissue, blood, lymph, nerves, and fatty tissue. Fatty tissue is what mostly affects the size of a woman's breast. Breast size does not have an effect on the amount of milk or the quality of milk a woman produces.
Milk is secreted from the alveoli cells. When the alveoli cells are stimulated by a hormone, they contract and push the milk into the ductules and down into larger milk ducts underneath the nipple and areola. When the baby's gums press on the areola and nipple, milk is squeezed into the baby's mouth. The nipple tissue protrudes and becomes firmer with stimulation, which makes it more flexible and easier for the baby to grasp in the mouth. In the diagram, you can see that each mammary gland forms a lobe in the breast. Each lobe consists of a single branch of alveoli and milk ducts that narrow into an opening in the nipple. Each breast has about seven to ten lobes.
The Role of Hormones
Hormones play a key role in breastfeeding. The increase of estrogen during pregnancy stimulates the ductules to grow. After delivery, estrogen levels drop and remain low in the first several months of breastfeeding. The increase of progesterone during pregnancy also causes the alveoli and lobes to grow. Prolactin, also called the "mothering hormone," is another hormone that is increased during pregnancy and adds to the growth of breast tissue. Prolactin levels also rise during feedings as the nipple is stimulated. As prolactin is released from the brain into the mother's bloodstream during breastfeeding, alveolar cells respond by making milk. Oxytocin is the other hormone that plays a vital role because it is necessary for the let-down, or milk-ejection reflex to occur. It stimulates the alveoli cells to contract so the milk can be pushed down into the ducts. Oxytocin also contracts the muscle of the uterus during and after birth, which helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth. The release of both prolactin and oxytocin may be responsible in part for a mother's intense feeling of needing to be with her baby.
Milk is secreted from the alveoli cells. When the alveoli cells are stimulated by a hormone, they contract and push the milk into the ductules and down into larger milk ducts underneath the nipple and areola. When the baby's gums press on the areola and nipple, milk is squeezed into the baby's mouth. The nipple tissue protrudes and becomes firmer with stimulation, which makes it more flexible and easier for the baby to grasp in the mouth. In the diagram, you can see that each mammary gland forms a lobe in the breast. Each lobe consists of a single branch of alveoli and milk ducts that narrow into an opening in the nipple. Each breast has about seven to ten lobes.
The Role of Hormones
Hormones play a key role in breastfeeding. The increase of estrogen during pregnancy stimulates the ductules to grow. After delivery, estrogen levels drop and remain low in the first several months of breastfeeding. The increase of progesterone during pregnancy also causes the alveoli and lobes to grow. Prolactin, also called the "mothering hormone," is another hormone that is increased during pregnancy and adds to the growth of breast tissue. Prolactin levels also rise during feedings as the nipple is stimulated. As prolactin is released from the brain into the mother's bloodstream during breastfeeding, alveolar cells respond by making milk. Oxytocin is the other hormone that plays a vital role because it is necessary for the let-down, or milk-ejection reflex to occur. It stimulates the alveoli cells to contract so the milk can be pushed down into the ducts. Oxytocin also contracts the muscle of the uterus during and after birth, which helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth. The release of both prolactin and oxytocin may be responsible in part for a mother's intense feeling of needing to be with her baby.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Breastfeeding - Human Milk Banks
Ideally, breast milk comes from a baby's own mother. But when this is not possible, you can give your baby breast milk from donors (other women's breast milk), which provides the same precious nutrition and disease fighting properties as your own breast milk. If your baby has special needs, such as intolerance to formula, severe allergies, is failing to thrive on formula, is premature or has other health problems, he or she may need donated human milk not only for health, but also for survival.
There are several reasons why a mother may not be able to breastfeed her own baby:
* In a premature delivery, a mother's milk supply may not become established enough to provide milk for her baby. Sometimes the stress of caring for a very ill infant prevents the milk supply from developing.
* A mother who delivers twins or triplets might not have enough milk supply to nourish all of the babies.
* Some medicines taken by the mother for a health problem, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can harm a baby.
* A mother might have an infection that could be spread to her baby through breastfeeding, such as HIV or hepatitis.
* A mother might have a health problem that prevents her from breastfeeding or makes it impossible for her to produce milk.
Breast milk from donors is stored in human milk banks. At this time, there are only six human milk banks in the United States. While the number of infants and children who depend upon donor milk for health or survival is small, their numbers are greater than is the supply available from these milk banks.
Human milk banks screen the donors, and collect, screen, process, and dispense donor human milk. Because babies who use donor milk are not related to the donors, every possible step is taken to ensure the milk is safe. And the milk is only dispensed by a prescription from your health care provider. The prescription must show how many ounces of processed milk are needed per day, and for how many weeks or months. The milk bank also needs your name, the baby's name, and your address and phone number. Then, you or your health care provider can contact a milk bank to order the milk. If the milk bank is close to you, you can pick up the milk there. If you live out of the area, the milk bank can ship the frozen milk in coolers every few days.
The cost of donor milk is about $3 per ounce. Sometimes there is another fee for shipping. Most health insurance companies cover the cost of donor milk if it is medically necessary. To find out if your insurance will cover the cost of the milk, call your insurance company or ask your health care provider. If your insurance company does not cover the cost of the milk, talk with the milk bank to find out how payment can be made later on, or how to get help with the payments. A milk bank will never deny donor milk to a baby in need.
There are several reasons why a mother may not be able to breastfeed her own baby:
* In a premature delivery, a mother's milk supply may not become established enough to provide milk for her baby. Sometimes the stress of caring for a very ill infant prevents the milk supply from developing.
* A mother who delivers twins or triplets might not have enough milk supply to nourish all of the babies.
* Some medicines taken by the mother for a health problem, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can harm a baby.
* A mother might have an infection that could be spread to her baby through breastfeeding, such as HIV or hepatitis.
* A mother might have a health problem that prevents her from breastfeeding or makes it impossible for her to produce milk.
Breast milk from donors is stored in human milk banks. At this time, there are only six human milk banks in the United States. While the number of infants and children who depend upon donor milk for health or survival is small, their numbers are greater than is the supply available from these milk banks.
Human milk banks screen the donors, and collect, screen, process, and dispense donor human milk. Because babies who use donor milk are not related to the donors, every possible step is taken to ensure the milk is safe. And the milk is only dispensed by a prescription from your health care provider. The prescription must show how many ounces of processed milk are needed per day, and for how many weeks or months. The milk bank also needs your name, the baby's name, and your address and phone number. Then, you or your health care provider can contact a milk bank to order the milk. If the milk bank is close to you, you can pick up the milk there. If you live out of the area, the milk bank can ship the frozen milk in coolers every few days.
The cost of donor milk is about $3 per ounce. Sometimes there is another fee for shipping. Most health insurance companies cover the cost of donor milk if it is medically necessary. To find out if your insurance will cover the cost of the milk, call your insurance company or ask your health care provider. If your insurance company does not cover the cost of the milk, talk with the milk bank to find out how payment can be made later on, or how to get help with the payments. A milk bank will never deny donor milk to a baby in need.
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