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Posted by Barbara Gibson Apr 27, 2007 |
Several weeks ago a poster, glendragon, started a discussion about males who lactate. Many visitors to the site (myself included) have been intrigued by this idea.
Most of us know (or have heard tell of) at least one dad that is an active, hands-on parent. He rolls up his sleeves for diaper changes and bath-time, hair brushing and meal prep...whatever needs to be done. But when it comes to nursing, mom is on her own because even if dad has the desire, he doesn't have the ability.
Or does he?
In his 1995 article, Father's Milk, Discover Magazine author, Jared Diamond writes ..."We've known for some time that many male mammals, including some men, can undergo breast development and lactate under special conditions...Lactation, then, lies within a male mammal's physiological reach."
Diamond goes on to note hundreds of documented instances of male lactation among male prisoners of war during World War II. The phenomenon is not only noted among men, but also non-pregnant women.
Lactation has been observed among males and non-pregnant women with and without medical intervention. In cases of medical intervention, subjects had been exposed to hormones that resulted in lactation. Where hormones were not introduced, subjects induced lactation by stimulating the nipples. Nipple stimulation encourages the release of hormones associated with lactation.
Does all this mean that we should start setting up nursing centers for dads or expecting them to encourage their offspring to latch on for late night feedings?
Probably not, according to Diamond, it just isn't in the genes.