Possibly because childbirth has historically not been under the control of the medical profession, there are many important experiences of childbirth and postpartum that haven’t made their way into the medical literature.
Many women who breastfeed have the experience of feeling aroused, and even having an orgasm, while breastfeeding. But because this is something researchers haven’t studied, and it isn’t a regular part of the education of mothers-to-be, many women experience this and then feel silent shame or guilt, as if there is something wrong with them. But there is a very clear reason for the experience and women neither need to feel shame or embarrassment about it which is caused mostly by a lack of information.
Oxytocin is a hormone that stimulates ejection of milk from the nipples, and its release is triggered by breast stimulation. But oxytocin is implicated in many other physiological processes. It is involved in contractions of the uterus (both during childbirth and during orgasm), as well as being associated with the feeling of relaxation and satiation following orgasm.
It is thought that this is the reason that breastfeeding may produce feelings of sexual arousal and orgasm. And the experience is far from rare.
In a 2000 study of breastfeeding women, 40.5% of the participants reported feeling sexually aroused at some point during infant suckling. 16.7% reported being aroused frequently during breastfeeding.
Source:
Avery, M.D., Duckett, L., Frantzich, C.R. “The Experience of Sexuality During Breastfeeding Among Primiparous Women.” Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health Vol. 45(3), 2000: 227-236.
