Overflowing: A Lesbian Lactation Story

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Emma, who gave birth to Alex when she was 24, said: “I did struggle to breastfeed at first. I had wanted a home birth but it was quite traumatic and we ended up in hospital. Timing is also important. “If a couple chooses to co-feed, it is important to start prior to the birth of the baby. It can take some time to induce lactation,” Weber says. “A couple should reach out to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant or other qualified lactation support person [e.g., your OB-GYN or medical provider] to begin the process, which starts with a health history and establishing goals.” When I read about the pure joy it brought others, I was desperate to seek out a partner to share an emotional bond with,” she said. I’m not opposed to telling people but I don’t think many others would understand. I don’t think my Mother would grasp the idea — but I wish I could tell the world.” (Now she has). Emma Shardlow Hudson still breastfeeds her five-year-old daughter Alex, left, and often does it tandem with her son Ollie, right Credit: Kennedy News and Media

“Why my wife and I chose to co-breastfeed our baby” - Flo

When Max was first born, Amy wasn’t as comfortable feeding him as she is now. She’d felt uncomfortable at first but slowly gained the confidence to be able to do it in public. You can also talk about it with them, I can let him know if my breasts are feeling sore or if I’m feeling touched out and need to say no or ask him to wait until later. Smoking – according to some studies, regular tobacco smoking is more prevalent among lesbian adults than heterosexual women I have breastfed Max for five years, and he breastfeeds now a few times a week, but neither of us have decided to stop nursing yet,’ she said.Emma has had more positive reactions to breastfeeding in public than negative but admits it is the negative reactions that have put some of her friends off doing it out of the house. Objectively it’s a natural human function, but subjectively people have their opinions on it – none of which are relevant to me. Emma said her husband Stuart is happy with her still breastfeeding their daughter at five Credit: Kennedy News and Media

Erotic lactation - Wikipedia

It’s been difficult to distinguish the difference between nurturing and sex,” Ms Mulford explained. “Although it’s so beautiful and peaceful it’s also erotic. It’s been hard to get through the first few nursing sessions without being tempted to have sex, but each time it’s getting easier.” People have lots of different views on breastfeeding, whether it’s how long to do it for or where to do it. Emma, from Grimsby, Lincs, said: “It’s one of the biggest achievements of my life for sure, being able to nurture a child with my own body.It’s a completely selfless thing to do, but it’s probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life too. Cancer screening – studies have consistently shown that a lower percentage of lesbians receive mammographies, pap smears and colonoscopies compared to other women. Liz Margolies believes this is due in part to financial problems, and a belief by the lesbian that she will not be welcomed – either because of a perceived fear or due to previous experience. Alex usually breastfeeds once in the morning and once in the evening and while the little girl can go days without milk she will always want some when she needs comforting. Brad goes to the gym because it makes him feel good about himself knowing he is in shape and living a healthy lifestyle. He also tells me all the time that he does it for me because he wants other women to feel jealous of what I have,” Ms Mulford said. A MUM who still breastfeeds her five-year-old daughter before and after school every day claims her milk is so good it has stopped her children getting ill.

Breastfeeding Relationship: Jennifer Mulford Adult Breastfeeding Relationship: Jennifer Mulford

The four most commonly quoted risk factors used in recent research that focused on lesbians and cancer risk include: She’s continuous because it’s not just for the milk - but I do think she’ll stop soon, she’s heading that way." Alcohol consumption – alcohol abuse, and/or heavy regular drinking appears to be more common among lesbians, compared to other women, according to some research Liz Margolies, who lives in New York, imagines what it must be like for a lesbian who lives in a small town, is diagnosed with cancer, and seeks out support groups, only to find that all of them are aimed at heterosexual women. Ms Mulford expects it will take about two months for her milk to come in, but once it does they intend to carry on for as long as they can.Weber agrees that if you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community and would like to explore co-feeding, then it can be really beneficial to speak to an LGBTQ+-inclusive doctor. “There is certain terminology that may be preferred by the parents and things to take into consideration, such as the body dysmorphia that can occur with inducing lactation,” she says. “It would also be beneficial for the couple to have a team of professionals that can provide gender-affirming care throughout the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period.” While inducing lactation, you may also experience feelings of gender dysphoria; having a health care provider who understands this and can support you is key. For Nina and Logan, there were two immediate benefits to co-feeding. “Inducing lactation was really hard. I don’t want to make light of what was quite a medical process, which could be time consuming and very frustrating,” says Logan. “However, we did it together. We prepared to be parents together, and we fed our baby together. Co-feeding has given me the joy of feeding my baby from my body — something I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do.” The couple needed to induce lactation by dry-feeding and pumping her breasts every two hours, just as if she was feeding a baby. Bodyweight – lesbians are said to be more likely, on average, to weigh more than other women of the same age and height

Lesbian girl touching the breast of her girlfriend. Two hor

Alex is in reception class at school but to Emma's knowledge she is the only child who still breastfeeds. When it became clear that I’d be the only one able to carry a baby, I was scared that Logan would feel shut out from the process,” says Nina. “Just the thought that she’d be able to feed Mason too really excited us.” She’s always been a comforted baby and wants milk when she’s upset, but I do think there’s a lot about the antibodies which is really good for her. The decision to breastfeed or chestfeed is a very personal one. Every baby is different, so it’s important to do what feels right for your body, your circumstances, and your family. Weber highlights that no matter how you choose to feed and bond with your baby, what’s most important is to find what feels right for you and your family. “Co-feeding doesn’t have to be all or nothing,” she says. “If the non-gestational parent is not able to establish a full milk supply, any amount of milk they can provide the baby is beneficial.”The couple hope to get married, but they have ruled out having children together. They both have children from previous relationships. Pregnancy and breastfeeding – it is likely that a higher percentage of heterosexual women will breastfeed during their lives, compared to lesbian women. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk. Liz Margolies mentions that lesbians are less likely to become pregnant and have children before they are 30 years old (apparently, getting pregnant to full term before 30 years of age reduces cancer risk). The breastfeeding bond is something that Emma has inherited from her own mother, who breastfed her children until each was two years old. Apparently that old phrase, ‘If you’ve got nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all’ doesn’t apply to breastfeeding. It’s not happened often which is amazing. I have friends who don’t breastfeed in public anymore because they’re that scared, which is horrible.