Hmm, I'm a Lactation Consultant, so I could go on about this all day, It isn't supposed to hurt. Many women need professional help, in the form of a Private Practice LC (NOT the ones in the hospital, who only want to get you out of there in 15 minutes.) Private Practice Lactation Consultants work IN the Community, they don't fly by your hospital room for 3 minutes, tell you to "keep trying" log you into their book and then go home. PPLCs actually will spend hours, or days, or even weeks working with you until the problem is solved, IF it takes that long.

There is more to just "benefits to the baby." Reduces the death rate in infancy by 50%, protects children from at least 15 different types of cancer until after THEIR menopausal or senior years. Reduction of allergies and sensitivities. Possible up to 12 Point IQ boost to the baby, girls who are breast fed are more protected against breast cancer, women who breast feed can lower their cancer risk by up to 85% in their lifetimes. Less diarrhea in the babies, less ear infections, less GI and respiratory infections, reduce chances of diabetes and high cholesterol in the child's adulthood. As I said, I could go on for days. It's a biological imperative. Only about 0.01% of the female population is completely unable to breastfeed, sore nipples, if they DO happen, if attended to right away can be remedied easily. (and more than 80% of women who DO NOT use bottle or pacifiers in the early months NEVER get sore nipples)

Aside from that 1 in 1,000 to 2,000 women who actually, physically can't, those who DO manage to breastfeed (yeah, the first few weeks are difficult for many, like ANYTHING WORTH DOING) the rewards are immeasurable.

Swing over to La Leche League Site or KellyMom Breastfeeding site for more info.

It's really not "gross" and there is a hell of a lot more to it than "Better for the baby." Good luck in your quest. less

I wish I had known you before I had my babies.

With #1, I tried breastfeeding and pumping in rotation (by recommendation of the LC) to help bring in my milk...(c-section) After 2 weeks, my milk just didn't come in. I wasn't aware of Milk Thistle or any of the other supplements, or even Reglan until I was about 6 months into the bottle feeding process. THAT being said, it was a huge disappointment to not get to have that experience with kid #1.

With kid #2, it was a scheduled C about 2.5 weeks before my due date. Based on previous experience I was a BF-only mom in the hospital, and when I got home started taking supplements ASAP. When she was about 2 weeks old, she became dehydrated because my milk still hadn't come in and I was told I HAD to give her formula. I still continued to pump to stimulate lactation and tried putting baby to breast. Once my milk came in (because MAN those supplements WORK!), about 4-5 days later, baby wouldn't latch, and so I was pumping and putting it into her bottles, and she would spit out my milk.

I gave up. Frustrated and dejected. Ah well. They're both healthy girls and that's really all that matters, but I wish I had known people like you during that time in my life. less

I need an "other" too.

Not a sexy act to me, but whatever floats your boat, I guess...

But like P'Gell said, it will hurt... and not in the sexy nipple clamp with a suction cup type of way... but more of the "HOLY FUCK THIS IS PAINFUL HOW DO WOMEN DO THIS FOR THEIR BABIES?!" type of way. less

Well, as a rule, you don't necessarily do it for yourself. Most women do it to fulfill a need, in the best way possible, for the children they chose to bring into the world.

Despite the fact that it also has health benefits for the mother, like less cancer, less Depression, enhanced bonding and the knowledge that you fed your child with your own body.

Some people are willing to put in the effort, even if they can only do it for a few short weeks or months, and for some of them, it takes enormous effort. Yet they do it anyway. There's a lot of selflessness in this act of creating food for an infant with your own body. In the end, it really isn't FOR the mother. A little, but most of the benefit is for the mother. Some people are willing to do things for others, even if someone else reaps most of the benefits.....some aren't.

{shrug} less

I also wanted to add that a breastpump feels NOTHING like an infant or an adult mouth at a breast. They only generate suction, not any actual nipple stimulation. IMO, there is really nothing arousing about breast pumping. I've done it because my babies had to have MILK while I was not able to be with them for short periods of time.

In the years when I am not nursing, I have never even thought about picking up any of the pumps in my house and using them. I don't see it as fun, just necessary if your baby needs milk and you can't be with them, or your supply is low and you need to increase it.

Your mileage may vary, but crappy cheap pumps WILL cause harm to your breasts, please keep that in mind. I've seen circular deep bruises, the size of the pump flange, from cheap pumps which did permanent damage to women's breasts. NOT a good thing to do to your body. less

Having been hooked up to a hospital-grade breast pump every 2 hours around the clock while my oldest child was a newborn, I can say from experience that no, it does not sound the least bit sexy to me. It made me feel like a dairy cow. But to each his own. less