I breastfed my HUSBAND

Rachel Bailey and her partner found a different way to feel connected

Some women feel close to their partner by going for romantic candlelit dinners, others crave physical touch. For me and my husband Alex, it’s something a bit more unconventional – breastfeeding. You’re probably reeling in shock, but actually, it’s had a hugely positive effect on our relationship and helped us find an even deeper connection.

It began on a holiday with Alex’s family in 2017, when our daughter Aria was just a year old. Alex and I had been together for five years and also had a son, Troy, then two. We’d left the kids at home with my parents and the cruise was a well-needed rest away from toddler tantrums.

I’d pumped enough milk for Aria before leaving, but my breasts quickly became engorged with the milk Aria wasn’t there to drink. Rummaging for my breast pump in my suitcase on the first day, I started to panic as I realised I’d left it at home.

Desperate measures

I knew I couldn’t go a whole week without expressing my breast milk. But with no pumps on board the ship, I was running out of options. That’s when Alex’s aunt made an outlandish suggestion – maybe he could drink my milk.

At first, I was shocked and embarrassed at the prospect. Just imagine! Alex, a grown man, being breastfed by his wife – it was unheard of. But as my breasts grew more painful, I worried not only about the pain ruining my holiday, but about developing an infection, too. In the confines of our cabin, Alex and I discussed his aunt’s idea again, and how desperate I was due to the pain I was in.