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
and not only that this is why we have caned mike for infants on market this is child molestation no matter how you look at this with her she is nasty and should go to jail for she is dusting
Sherlyn she was feeding children whos family couldnt afford canned milk... who were probably starving and that was the most nutritous thing they ever ate... I think it is a wonderful thing that she had a chnace to do that and if I did I would too... I wasnt educated enough to know BF my DS for more than two months because after that I just couldnt take the pain anymore (he had a horrible time latching on because I was always SO full) but I know more now and will def. BF my next one as long as I can (hpoefully a year)
I have breastfed all 6 of my kids over the past 23 years. My youngest is 1 1/2 and so I am still BF, although not as much. I never knew about the Oxytocin, to tell you the truth. That's a new one to me, although it makes sense that it's something that naturally occurs to make it so women will want to contnue to bf. I think it skipped me too though. LOL!
The only time it felt good to me, physically, is in the beginning, when I was so engorged I couldn't wait for her to feed so I could get some relief. But after about 5 to 6 months, the days of milk-engorged breasts were over and now, even though I am still producing, it is at a greatly diminished capacity.
More power to her though if she still finds it pleasurable. It's a win-win situation.
@Sherlyn Oleson - be careful of that slippery slop you are treading. To say this is no better than sexual predators and what they do is quite dangerous. First off, it's not the same thing. The experience may be pleasurable for certain women, but not sexual. Secondly, the child is in no way traumatized or stigmatized by the occurence. Big, big, BIG difference. In fact, it only further nourishes the child. Children have been bf since the beginning of time. Thirdly, you start talking about women who are bf other people's children is a crime, then all mothers who bf become suspect and the act of bf will continue to have a terrible stigma attached to it.
I think Salma said "addicted" to emphasize how much she was into it.. I enjoyed it while it lasted and it di provide me a nice feeling. Every mom experiences it differently. Did miss it for a while after baby was weaned.
SHARING IS CARING.
I nursed all four of my children, it only hurt when I was doing it wrong. I don't believe Salma is "addicted" to nursing. It's only considered weird, sexual, and addicting in our country. Where everybody thinks that formula provides all of an infants needs the same as nursing. But truth is its only second best. Meant and designed to be used only when nursing isn't an option. Everywhere else in the world its completely natural, not standoffish to nurse. Rather the belief is it's weird to think an artificially produced powder from a lab and feeding it through a plastic bottle would be equally as "filling" to a child as a mothers touch.
I regret not breastfeeding!! I was young early 20's and did not understand it was going to hurt pretty bad at first. My mom was an ob/gyn nurse for 20 years you would think she would have explained to me instead of just telling me to quit breastfeeding.