I realize that very few women fall into this category: dating while lactating. (Ah, yes, that was quite an experience, let me tell you…)

At BabyCenter.com this week, I’m asking for breastfeeding mamas to speak up.

You see, I’m writing an essay for a forthcoming anthology called Got (Breast) Milk: The Pleasures, Pains, and Politics of Breastfeeding, (Harvard Common Press, Spring 2009). I want to know: if you’re breastfeeding, how do you you feel about your breasts? Are they for baby-only? Are they off-limits to the man in our life?

One mama who recently weaned says that her partner “was very willing: to share her breasts with the baby…. “He feels secure about his place.”


But another mama says that her man “was freaked out about the ‘leaking’ aspect of things. “

Yet another mom says that her breasts are off-limits: “We had an intimate moment recently when I wasn’t wearing a bra and he was a little weirded out…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I realize that the number of women who breastfeed and date simultaneously are probably few and far between. (If you are one of them — like I was — do tell!)

I’m curious…. about how women feel about their breasts when they’re intimate. Feel free to post on BabyCenter.com anonymously!

BTW, this cover of Babytalk magazine in August 2006, which features a nursing baby, offended many readers. How do you feel about it?