It has been interesting, though, to see how things have evolved. Breast feeding does not, exactly, make me feel sexy! We'll see how things change going forward.
Well, I think the myth that this particular ad is trying to dispel is the objection to breastfeeding on the grounds that your husband won't find you sexy anymore. Once you've started, the reduced sex drive isn't usually a barrier to continued nursing. It's your body's natural way of making sure you don't get pregnant again... both pregnancy and nursing significantly depletes your body's resources. It's possible to overcome or outwait the libido drop... it DOES come back, and with a vengeance! ... but you only get one chance to nurse your kiddo.
You know, its not that so much, and J has been a trooper. Its more that my breasts are not responding the way they used to, and i'm not sure how i feel about that. They used to be my go-to erogenous zone. Its actually been one of the more difficult aspects of breast feeding for me. (Which may tell you how much of a positive experience it has been in general.)
This is true... you definitely "toughen up" while nursing. Sensitivity does return, but probably not to the original prepregnancy state (just as birth changes other significant parts of you). Still... you won't feel like a binky forever; when your body feels ready to get pregnant again, believe me, you will definitely notice an increased response from those zones again!
Actually, my experience was the opposite. My nipples were never erotically responsive until I nursed Les Dudes. Something about the nursing woke them up -- on a good day these days I can come from nipple stimulation alone.
For me, while I was nursing, I totally was NOT interested in C interacting with my breasts in a sexual way. It took me almost a YEAR after I stopped nursing to be remotely interested in them being sexual and not maternal objects. This feeling was totally unexpected to me. And quite the bummer for C since he was in no way turned off by breastfeeding. *sigh*
I hate to play the grinch, but that ad kinda icks me out. My breasts *weren't* for sexual play while I was nursing-- because I didn't want them to be, they just didn't feel sexy. If they are for other women, that's great. But it's just so "the total woman", like "great news! you *can* satisfy all the other members of your family with your body! so no excuses now, girls!"
I see your point; I had read the ad in a different light (but the comments at the site said made a similar observation). Did you read my response to mh75?
I *do* wish they'd used an older baby's hand in the ad, though. It's really when my kids got to 18mo or 2y that the girls started feeling like themselves again.
(Heh. My kiddo came running in for his morning nursing session as I was writing this!)
Yeah, I read your conversation and my experience is similar, after he got older and after he weaned, I totally got my breasts back. But it's the tone that bugs me. I saw their disclaimer about "baby steps", but it seems to me what they're saying with that is "it's more important to us that women are exhorted to breastfeed than that they are rhetorically given autonomy over what to do with their breasts". And while I think breastfeeding is spiffy keen, that's not a priority ordering I share.
Ah. Yes, I could see how that interpretation could be made. I was viewing it from inside the woman's head: e.g., feeding your babe and having orgasms aren't exclusive (not GIVING orgasms). But with our societal association of "boobs=look good to guys" instead of "boobs=feel good to women," most people probably are going to see it the way you've laid it out.
Never having had boobs that any guy would look at and get excited, this wasn't my first assumption. Thanks for explaining your POV.
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Date: 2008-05-05 04:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2008-05-05 05:38 am (UTC)In the meantime, i suppose its a good excuse to explore new things.
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Date: 2008-05-05 07:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2008-05-05 12:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-05 01:30 pm (UTC)I *do* wish they'd used an older baby's hand in the ad, though. It's really when my kids got to 18mo or 2y that the girls started feeling like themselves again.
(Heh. My kiddo came running in for his morning nursing session as I was writing this!)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-05 01:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-05 01:52 pm (UTC)Never having had boobs that any guy would look at and get excited, this wasn't my first assumption. Thanks for explaining your POV.