I saw a funny post of a conversation between a husband and wife. The wife was pregnant, and she had texted her husband to let him know that she had found out that men can also breastfeed. So, she wanted him to get his nipples ready, because he was going to be doing his part.
While I realize this was meant for comedic effect, my curiosity got the better of me. Could men actually breastfeed? I mean we do have nipples after all. Well, technically men can in fact breastfeed. The male breasts have milk ducts, mammary tissue, and oxytocin and prolactin - the hormones responsible for milk production. Apparently, there have been reports of men breastfeeding during extreme situations for hundreds of years, but it requires extensive stimulation and time...and it's uncertain if the milk produced is of the same quality as that from a woman.
Regardless, I will not be lining up to offer up my nipples to our baby. While I realize that it allows mothers to develop a bond and closeness to the baby that I won't naturally have, I think I'll find other ways to bond with the baby. Ways that don't involve having someone chomping on my sensitive parts!
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