Breastfeeding is part of a woman’s sexual and reproductive life. Today we share the fantastic collaboration with psychologist and sexologist Elena Crespi, who uncovers why some women can experience an orgasm while breastfeeding. A taboo subject that we know worries some mothers, and in this article, they can find some answers in her explanation.

Pleasant sensations in the nipple. A slight tingling. There, down there. In the vagina. Some slight contraction. Orgasm? Yes, orgasm. And all this swirl of sensations while a baby is latched to the breast, breastfeeding.

Does this shock you? Well, don’t let it shock you. It’s normal.

Often, when we hear about breastfeeding, we normalize pain. “It’s normal to have sore nipples for the first month.” Not at all. Breastfeeding should not hurt. We need to improve the breastfeeding support that mothers receive when they are pregnant or when they give birth from the healthcare professionals who give care. That’s true. But we won’t talk about that now. We will talk about what no one is talking about: the pleasure that breastfeeding can bring. And not only emotional pleasure… we are talking about physical pleasure.

Yes. Some women have an orgasm and pleasurable sensations while breastfeeding their children. And it may sound strange. And it does sound strange because almost nobody talks about it. But in breastfeeding, as it should be, without any pain, the sensations that the body has to awaken are pleasurable. And that has nothing to do with sex or any kink that might cross someone’s mind. But let’s look at it:

Someone sucking at the nipple, a moment of relaxation with the baby, focusing on the emotional sensation of well-being produced by being in that situation at that precise moment. And nipples are not insensitive (quite the contrary), and the body is connected to the head… When these and other situations come together, the body wakes up and produces sensations… it receives many stimuli that are pleasant and responds in many parts of the body, and yes, at the genital level, it reacts as well. And this is the most natural thing in the world.

Many women might feel confused when their body begins to create such sensations. They rarely talk about something like that, so they relate a sexual sensation in a very maternal moment, and that doesn’t make sense to them. But I would recommend that you don’t link this with the pleasure you are having when having sex alone or with your partner… Simply understand that your body is responding with feelings of pleasure to a moment of connection with your baby, with your body, and with yourself. Not all sensations of pleasure that we label as sexual, have to have the implications that we give them. Sometimes, it would be simpler to recognize that the body can produce pleasure in many moments, and breastfeeding is one of them.

I say it, and I will repeat it as many times as necessary. It is pleasure. Pleasant sensations. But nothing else. There should be no prejudices or fear. The body responds when certain situations happen.
In conclusion, no one should be frightened if, while having their baby latched on to their breast, they have an orgasm or have pleasurable sensations in their genitals. It is natural. It should be normal. Breastfeeding can be pleasurable. Breastfeeding should not have to be painful.

Elena Crespi Asensio

Psychologist. Sexologist. Couples therapy. Perinatal Psychology
www.ElenaCrespi.com