So now we know why Salma Hayek was going around willy-nilly breastfeeding orphans. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, right?) Of course it was to help save a baby -- of course! -- but Hayek also claims she was addicted to breastfeeding. She couldn't help herself, she didn't want to stop, and she kept telling herself "just one more week," but it kept on going. I actually have no idea when (if?) Salma stopped breastfeeding, and if her addiction continues, but I do find it incredibly hard to relate. Even though I know she's not the only one out there that seriously loves breastfeeding -- outside of the benefits it offers your child.
A good friend of mind confessed to me one time that she got a bit of a high while nursing. "It feels good," she said, "even if that sounds weird." At the time I was pregnant, so I had no idea what she meant. Still, it seemed like a side benefit, really, since I was so confident I would be breastfeeding with ease the moment my infant was laid on my chest.
Well we all know about the best laid plans, and so naturally breastfeeding was a gd nightmare for me and my preemie. The only feelings I ever had while breastfeeding were, "Jesus H this hurts. This hurts worse than my c-section scar and the post-c-section constipation combined. Please god, make it stop." Between that and the bloody nipple situation, there was no way I was going to get addicted to the bf'ing.
Breastfeeding does release oxytocin (although I somehow missed this benefit), so if you're grooving on your breastfeeding time, it's totally understandable. So perhaps Hayek was simply addicted to the drug rush. Therefore, it seems completely reasonable (and not at all bizarre) that some people -- not all, clearly -- get a little extra something-something when they're letting down. Sadly, I was not one of those lucky few.
Were you addicted to breastfeeding?
Image via poisonli/Flickr
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Comments 45
I might have been a year ago...but now breastfeeding a 2 year old that is fighting the whole weening process...I am NOT addicted and there is no high for me. At this moment in time I am not sure I will breastfeed full time my next baby because this child #3 has drained all breastfeeding joy from me. But before that I LOVED it and everything about it-heck I was proud of the yellow poop diapers my milk created.
I have breastfed all 5 of my kids so far, getting ready to nurse my 6th in a few days.. but addicted, NO.. I only do it because it's naturally what's best for my babies, And of course, I'm too lazy to bottle feed.. lol...
Addicted ...hell to the no I wasn't. I was so glad when we finally stopped and switched my son to a bottle. Best day of my life! But if she's addicted to breastfeeding and wants to feed orphan children, power to her, that's a beautiful and wonderful thing to do.
I loved it when my son was small, he was so darling latched on, such a sweet face. Oh, and I made lotsa milk, so the relief in the beginning was huge, it felt so good not to be heavy!
But then we hit one year old. And I wanted to stop. My son nursed, still, all the time. He just liked it. He would demand it, nurse for a split second, then release to coo and gurgle at me, try words out, and then if I tried to put it away, he'd scream, my husband would yell, and I'd leave it out. I swear I spent like, ten hours a day with a tit hanging out, just to keep the kid happy and the husband from yelling. At a year and a half I was considering a masectomy. At two years, we were trying hot sauce and lemon juice to make him stop!
Finally, at 2 yrs and 3months, mommy fibbed, and told him the milky was broken, all gone, never to be seen again! Now that, that was releif! LMAO!
I enjoyed brestfeeding. I can say I got a little rush during feedings but I just assosiated it with the pride and happiness I felt for my daughter. It wasn't powerful enough to addict me. I allowed my daughter to ween herself, When she was 22 months old she was ready and so was I. I don't know if I could feed a child that wasn't mine. I found the process very inimate and bonding so it would break my heart to give the baby back! :-)