My wife and I have 6 month old twins which are obviously a lot of work. Last week she came down with a bad cold and was laid up in bed for a few days during which I took care of both her and the twins completely by myself (I was cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, bottle feeding, doing bath time, putting them to bed, you name it).
While she was on bed rest, she kept telling me to drink her breast milk because it would have antibodies that could prevent me from getting sick (or at least lessen the severity of the cold if I did get sick). To be honest that just seemed weird to me and it was a line that I didn’t want to cross, even if it did mean I might catch a cold.
Well, now my wife is feeling better and I’m unfortunately feeling worse. I’m doing my best to help out around the house and with the twins but obviously I’m not operating at full efficiency. The thing is, she’s mad at me for not drinking her breast milk, saying that this situation was entirely preventable. I sort of get where she’s coming from, but 1) I don’t think that’s a fair expectation to have of me and 2) there’s really no guarantee I wouldn’t have gotten sick anyway (both the twins got sick and they were drinking her breast milk).
So what do you think guys? AITA for not drinking my wife’s breast milk?
What is with this weird obsession with husband’s drinking their wife’s breastmilk? I don’t want to kink shame, but it seems pretty weird
Nursing mother here, I would never expect my spouse to drink my bodily fluids. Provided your wife is usually reasonable, I would chalk this up to a postpartum stress induced frustration.
NTA it’s fine you don’t want to drink breast milk. I’m a mom and was repulsed by the thought of drinking my own breast milk lol. She can’t force you to drink it. You’re still helping her with the babies and house and that’s what matters.
NTA. You don’t have to consume things you don’t wanna consume, whether or not it’s safe.
NTA for not drinking it to prevent getting sick, it wouldn’t have done anything to help you anyway. There are no proven studies showing any health benefits of adults drinking breastmilk.
NTA. I’ve nursed 2 children and the thought never even crossed my mind that my husband should drink it too. That’s a really weird thing for her to get mad over. The milk is for the babies!
NTA
That’s not how immunity works in fully grown adults. The reason infants can get some immunity from breast milk is because their own immune system and digestive system are not fully developed. Adults with functioning immune systems don’t receive the same benefit from breast milk because we have a fully functioning immune system already working.
This. Breast milk is only useful as an antibody booster for the first six months we are alive. After that, it is just milk.
The wife just needs to accept that a respiratory infection is very easy to catch in the same household, and it now her turn to take care of everyone while OP recovers.
NTA
There is no solid scientific evidence showing that breast milk helps with illness in adults (sources: [Dr. Dyan Hes](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/ny-doctor-coronavirus-children-probably-have-covid-19/), [Dr. Arik Alper](https://www.yalemedicine.org/specialists/arik-alper), [Dr. Christine Greves](https://www.orlandohealth.com/physician-finder/christine-carlan-greves-md/)). They’re highly specific for INFANT needs, and are pretty much useless for adult illness.
Furthermore, breast milk can TRANSMIT some illnesses (source: [Dr. Christine Greves](https://www.orlandohealth.com/physician-finder/christine-carlan-greves-md/)).
You had a boundary, you have every right to say no. It would not have made any difference for you
NTA
Breast milk does contain antibodies that help protect infants whose immune systems are still developing. For adults who already have a fully developed immune system any potential boost would be minor – meaning that breast milk does not prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu.
The situation wasn’t preventable.
I wouldn’t drink my own breast milk so I see nothing wrong with you honoring your own boundary about this. It’s not as if you’ll be sick forever.
Not how it works. Adults already have fully mature immune system. It would not benefit you in the same way as an infant. Infant has a limited immune system before 6 months so therefore the breast milk is much more relevant if it is available. Adults also have higher stomach acid that would break down the enzymes in a way that it won’t in infants.Your wife is wrong in that it would have protected you.
With this said, I don’t know if it is the wises move to go “I told you so” to your wife with 6month old twins. It is probably exhausting and she wanted an easy solution to the problem. That the milk itself should gross you out might have hurt her feelings.
NTA, and breast milk doesn’t work like that. But every breast feeding propagandist online will tell you it can cure cancer.
Okay that’s enough Reddit for today