Interesting to note that although
women remain incredibly protective
of revealing their breasts, the breasts
have actually become less essential
tools in sexual performance as measured
by erotic video material.
From around 1965, it became more permissible
in European cultures for women to expose
their breasts on beaches and in film and
theatre. Exposure was aligned with youth
and sophistication. Women became more visually
daring. Clothing was also more revealing.
Since 1990, there has been a social tendency
to cover the breasts, partly due to the
realisation that the risk of breast cancer or skin
cancer is increased by exposure to bright
sunlight.
Exposure of the navel became fashionable in
2000, but not the breasts.
Emphasis on the shape or size of breasts has
also diminished. A smaller, more natural profile
is promoted, for example i models and in leading
movie stars. Breasts are less the subject of
male jokes than in the mid century. For some reason,
they are very private, but less central to the
female armoury.
With pregnancy, it fascinates me to see how the
private treasures of the female anatomy become
delegated to child bearing and rearing. As a male,
it is mysterious to me how the mammary organ
translates into a feeding tool. How its sexual
appeal is dissolved into a mechanical and semi public
function.
The following is taken from http://www.breast-pump.info/manual_breast_expression.htm
Manual Expression - Pros and Cons
Breast feeding one's child is the best gift that a mother can give to her precious bundle of joy. The milk coming from the mother not only feeds the child's hunger on the spot, but also builds up antibodies and nutrients in the child's body that prepares it to face the rigors of life in the years to come. The complex and still mysterious constituents of nature's best food act as a shield against the germs and diseases permeating in the air, not only when the child is at its most vulnerable, but also when the child grows into an adult.
No wonder, then, that healthy mother's milk is now prefered any time over formula milk. To the extent, that, working moms would gladly trade in - as much as their circumstances permit - their productive hours for a few quiet moments expressing their milk to be fed to the child. It is not uncommon to find mothers beautifully balancing demands of work with the nutrition and care needs of the child.
Breastpumps - one of the most practical inventions for both the working mother and those who face special breastfeeding conditions - are a handy tool that enable the mother to overcome any guilt feelings of having to be away from the child when the latter needs her the most! The breastpump has become such an integral part of the post-natal kit over the past two to three generations, that it is now unthinkable for mothers, who cannot directly breastfeed their child, to be able to do without it.
There are times, however, when manually expressing milk is a better, or the only option available. And, - surprise! - there is no cost associated with this technique. The basic first activity that one has to do upfront, is to find a quiet place where one can relax, and prepare oneself physically and mentally, so that the flow of milk is automatic and smooth. When the breasts appear to be full and soft, cup one breast in the hand, with the thumb above and just slightly behind the areola. The other fingers may be pressed against the tissue below the nipple. Push the breast back, and squeeze the thumb and fingers together. When the fingers are rolled forward, pressure starts shifting from the back of the breast towards the nipple. This stimulates the milk ducts to release milk through the nipple. Feel your breasts all the time: you can, with consistent practice, even identify the particular duct where milk is still available, and apply suitable pressure on the exact spot such that milk is drained out. This sequence is to be repeated on both the breasts, after working on one breast for about three to five minutes. The milk thus produced can be stored in just the same way as when a breastpump is used.
When is manual expression advantageous? Well, the primary reason that can be cited these days, is when the regular breastpump is facing some problem. Also, manual expression gives mothers an absolute control over the speed and comfort with which they can produce milk. They can, as described above, actually feel the ducts where pressure needs to be applied to generate milk. Since the exercise involves no automation, the mother knows exactly when to stop expressing. A breastpump, on the other hand, works in its own pre-programmed way - with a rhythmic suck-and-release mechanism that is unmindful of the breasts' actual condition.
When is manual expression actually harmful, or not workable? The immediate reason that comes forth is when the breasts are engorged. In situations when milk has not been expressed for a longer period of time than usual, milk starts getting accumulated in the ducts, and not finding an outlet, swells the ducts and the surrounding tissues. In extreme cases, hardening of the breast around the areola may take place, which is known as "engorgement". In such a situation, touching the breasts by one's hand might be quite painful. Deploying hospital-grade pumps in such circumstances is a good remedy in such cases. The market is full of models that address this very condition quite remarkably.
Another reason when manual expression might not work is when the nipples are flat or inverted. Usually, there are tissues beneath the skin that pull the nipples back, or restrain them, such that manual expression is hindered. A breastpump, again, comes in handy in such a circumstance.
It is the mother's judgement and wisdom to decide when and where to go in for manual expression, and when to deploy a breastpump. Afterall, who knows the child better than its mom?
