OCD Action

Maz2006
Member

Hiya,

Im a newbe to the forums and just wanted some opinions really. My partner and i would like to start a family in the future and often get onto the subject of breastfeeding. Im the one with OCD and im worried about breastfeeding as i think i may feel pleasure from it in a sexual way and this would make me feel that im a 'p'. My thoughts towards managing this is that i would not breast-feed so to avoid any risks of these thoughts/ feelings and the impending self-torture that i know would follow...

I experience intrusive thoughts and feeling/ thinking that im in some way a 'p' is one of them.

What are peoples thoughts/experiences on this?

Regards.

Mon Sep 5 2011 18:59:54 #
aishah
Member

Hi,

The thought that you are a 'p' is just that, a thought. I think the only way forward is to face it head on and go ahead and breastfeed if you think that's best for you and baby, if you are able to cope with the anxiety that it may cause you. From my experience the more attention you give your thoughts, the stronger they can become and by facing them they get weaker in time.

I know how distressing and strong intrusive thoughts can be as I suffer from them on a daily basis, but through therapy I have now gained more confidence in myself and don't get so frightened of my thoughts anymore.

Are you having treatment for your OCD at the moment or have you had in the past?

Bridget

Mon Sep 5 2011 21:12:19 #
Ratwomble
Member

I thin Bridget is absolutely right. Carry on. It is just a thought.

David

Mon Sep 5 2011 21:57:07 #
Maz2006
Member

Hiya,

Thanks for your replies. Ive had CBT in the past and currently on Fluoxotine. I find the meds do help but cant seem to imagine life without them which worries me.

Maz

Tue Sep 6 2011 5:51:48 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hiya Maz -

I would agree with the previous replies - go ahead. Don't let your particular type of OCD overrule your most beautiful wishes. Moreover, I think it is well possible that, when the time will have come, you'll be so full of feelings of love, care, and motherhood itself, that your nasty OCD thoughts will dwindle to background, or zero format. And you'll have 'good hormones' by then - I mean molecules called neuropeptides, which prepare and enable one to do what's necessary, with enormous tenderness.

Byebye, Cuthbert.

Tue Sep 6 2011 8:23:04 #
Unregistered

Hi Maz2006

I agree, if you want to breastfeed then you should give it a go. The thought of breastfeeding used to make me quite uncomfortable before having a baby but I successfully breastfed without any problems at all, it all seemed quite natural when it came to it.

The only thing I felt I should highlight is the importance of trying to make sure you feel as well as you can before trying for a baby as there is a risk that ocd can worsen during pregnancy (I'm genuinely sorry to tell you such rubbish news) but then ocd can also improve too so it's swings and roundabouts, I guess there's no way of knowing for sure. I don't know if it was different for me as my ocd was based on contamination fears, but my ocd became much worse during pregnancy and postnatally but it really might just be because of my type of ocd as I was frightened that a contaminant would hurt my baby.

I understand what it is like to have ocd and want a baby as I have nearly weaned off of my Clomipramine so that I can give myself a period of time medication free, make sure i'm feeling ok and then try for another baby.

If you take a look at the following link you can see some info on a study into ocd during pregnancy:

http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/impact-of-pregnancy-childbirth-menstruation-on-onset-or-exacerbation-of-ocd

I truly feel really bad putting a downer on what should be an exciting time in your life but I just felt I ought to let you know what i'd found out, just to have knowledge of it and be prepared.

Tue Sep 6 2011 9:27:35 #
Tess
Member

Hi maz
Welcome to the forum and I agree with all the others, go ahead and breastfeed, it's the best food for a baby, it's 100% natural, it's what you want to do and it will establish a very special close lifetime bond between you and your baby. I suspect the fear that you may find sexual pleasure from breastfeeding is unlikely to match the reality. I actually found the feeling of the milk flooding in slightly painful - and definitely when teeth started to grow. Babies are not respectors of delicate nipples, you will know if you have a hungry baby attached and certainly sexual pleasure never came into it for me.

Tue Sep 6 2011 9:53:04 #
Unregistered

Thankfully I was one of the lucky ones and didn't get the painful bit, doesn't sound very nice!

I also want to add that I don't want you to feel down about my comments, I just want to make you aware that already having ocd it is worthwhile just keeping an eye on it and being prepared for any possible changes. Personally I am just getting on top of my contamination fears beforehand and having tactics in place to try to fight it should my ocd rear it's ugly head again during another pregnancy!

Tue Sep 6 2011 10:12:33 #
LynsWeeble
Member

Hi Maz
I just wanted to add 'go for it' and repeat that thoughts are just that and breastfeeding is totally natural. Most women I know suffer pain at first anyway so I think that's all you'll be thinking of or concentrating on getting it right.

As for pregnancy, breastfeeding and OCD I managed to breastfeed my second son for 1 year without worsening OCD and my third child for 17 months with worsening OCD so nothing is predictable. We can't let OCD dictate.

Best of luck x

Wed Sep 7 2011 16:30:45 #
Tess
Member

Lynsweeble, that is truly deserving of the Achievements section.

Wed Sep 7 2011 17:38:46 #
ocdinusa
Member

I say give it a shot, but don't try to stress out about it too much. It is strange how an area of the body you may consider erogenous becomes functional. I thought I would have arousal issues, but I did not. Also you can pump the breast milk and bottle feed if that is more comfortable for you. Best of luck.

Wed Feb 29 2012 4:43:49 #