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Here’s a new question I wish to put to the community. For several days, I was struck by one of those horrid colds that keeps you awake at night – headache, coughing, sneezing. Like most people would do, I used the typical remedy of doses of Lemsip, with my two feline pets also keeping me warm and cosy. But in hindsight, I wonder if some people here might have tried another potential cure.
I’ve heard the claim that breastfeeding can boost a young child’s immune system, either reducing their vulnerability to certain ailments, or sometimes partially curing them if they do become ill. My experience with ABF has been limited to dry nursing until now, but that alone has proved to relieve stress and fatigue.
So – for those of you who may have experimented with it – could ABF help to combat physical distress? Either through the medicinal effect of nature’s milk, or a ‘mind over matter’ effect of suckling itself?
Breast milk contains antibodies to germs that the lactating woman has been exposed to and has immunity to. Breastfeeding mothers are naturally inclined to sniff their babies’ heads and that tells her body about her baby’s health. Her breasts then produce milk according to her baby’s requirements.
I don’t know to what extent this applies to adult nursing relationships, but certainly in my case, I used to love stroking my partner’s head, brushing my lips on his forehead and planting little soft kisses on him whilst he was suckling. I suspect I took in his natural scent as well, albeit unconsciously. He didn’t have any colds etc during our ANR, although we didn’t see any milk, he was audibly swallowing and burping afterwards during the time we were having 2 sessions per day. It relaxed him and helped him sleep better. He looked healthy, with plenty of colour in his cheeks.
I suffer from chronic pain, anxiety and depression and I also have ADHD. My symptoms of all of those reduced considerably during the entire duration of the ANR and the pain often disappeared completely during our sessions. We didn’t live together, although we often stayed at each others houses overnight, and I really struggled when we were apart. If I ever have just one partner again, I will be careful to make sure I don’t put myself in that position again, where I’m physically dependent on someone who can’t be there. This is why I don’t want to induce lactation without a live in partner. You live and learn. I don’t regret a thing, it was amazing, nothing has ever come close to that bond for me and I’m glad to have experienced it.
To summarise, it has health benefits all round and I would definitely encourage all those inclined to try it, if you find a compatible partner and be careful because it’s not just antibodies that are transmissible via breast milk, it’s infectious diseases and drugs, so proceed with caution.
During the ANRs I have had the health of my partner was better than mine, but I suffered less allergies and I really was so much healthier including reactions of other sensitivities, it seems that I was producing more immune proteins that I needed so ANR really helped regulate my system. My previous partners rarely got sick and I saw improvements on memory and them becoming more focused as well. Overall is good for both parties.
I also had the experience of far fewer body aches and pains, improved mood, better and more restful sleep, and overall greater contentment and happiness when I had a live-in ANR partner and was nursing 3-4x per day. His experience was the same.
There’s nothing like it, is there Yogi? It’s a whole different lifestyle. I couldn’t have a relationship without it now I’ve experienced that, I’d rather stay single.
@rob87, though the context is “a powerful medium of communication between mothers and their babies”, you may be interested in the following article, especially how breastmilk content is adjusted dynamically:
@rachyj
No kidding. Once you’ve had it, nothing else compares. Just wish it was easier to find a partner for this kind of relationship.
Thanks for sharing this fascinating article. I was aware that breastmilk can change over time, but not to such radical extents as this, let alone so rapidly in response to a sickly suckler! Truly the human breast is a magical wonder, and I’m humbled to have experienced even a small part of those amazing powers myself.
Many thanks to everyone else who has given their insights into this question. Just to clarify, though: have these mutual health effects been confined to lactating relationships, or do similar results come from dry nursing only?
You lost me at God design 😳
Yeah, me too. I’ve been spoilt now lol, got unrealistic expectations I think 😭
@Rob87 a mother’s breastmilk immunity provided to an 8-10 pound infant and provision of all their nutritional needs, is not comparable to an adult male. If there are any medicinal remedies, it is slight at most. Consider the facts. A small infant obtaining 100% of their nutrition from their mother, and an adult male, weighing 20x more and nursing for occasional enjoyment…..the numbers just don’t support any real benefit. Could there be something minor? Perhaps, but it hasn’t been studied. If it’s there, it would be minimal at most.
The real benefit of nursing is the interaction, the intimacy, the bond, the “mind over matter” benefits. Enjoy nursing for these real and actual benefits. Milk is not necessary.
@flowrgardn I completely agree with you on the key benefits of nursing. I value those above all else in an ANR, so I myself desire nothing more than dry suckling. I began this topic to learn from others about their experiences, not necessarily to try the same things myself.
I have long thought that the body builders and fountain of youth seekers were smoking the hopium pipe, regarding the miracles of adults consuming breast milk. There is no scientific proof.
2 of my lactating friends have nursing relationships with their wives.
friend 1’s wife never got sick for a 3 year period while nursing. My friend was asked to work out of a different country for 4 months. During that time, her wife got sick 3 times.
Friend 2’s wife has autoimmune issues. So long as she’s able to nurse her flare ups are kept to a minimum. She (the wife) alleges that breastmilk had a better effect for her than 4 other medications that she had had over the course of her life.
I think even in smaller quantities compared to total caloric intake, the impact is huge. It is like a long term low dose medication in my opinion (pure speculation, I am not a scientist).
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