Dads May Soon Be Able To Breastfeed Their Babies Naturally

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Dads May Soon Be Able To Breastfeed Their Babies Naturally

Although men can't get pregnant, in a few years, they could be able to help mothers who are struggling to breastfeed their babies.

Well, that's the plan.

Marie-Claire Springham, a product design student at Central Saint Martin's in London, is working on a "chestfeeding" kit that allows men to "grow milk ducts."

"I was trying to create an empathy tool, something that could really help when a mum was struggling to breastfeed and could help a dad be of practical use," she told Sun Online

But there's a catch.

Did you know men can lactate?

Both males and females have glands that can produce milk.

This organ, called the mammary gland, develops when a female goes through puberty, but for men, the gland doesn't mature to that level.

While men don't produce enough of the right hormones to produce milk, it doesn't mean that it's impossible.

Males have the necessary parts to help their partner to breastfeed, all they need is to boost the production of the right hormones.

That's where Springham's chestfeeding kit comes in...

The product has yet to be tested, but here's the idea: Men can buy a kit that has all the necessary hormones for them to produce milk.

Progestin, which is a form of the female sex hormone progesterone, will help to stimulate the glands.

Men will also need domperidone, which is given to mothers who have trouble breastfeeding to encourage the production of prolactin, a hormone that produces milk.

Springham said she also included oxytocin, a feel-good hormone, to make it easier for milk to flow.

Fathers would inject this formula while they're partner is pregnant so that when the baby comes, they're ready to breastfeed.

But there's a possible side effect to all this...

bra
Man boobs is usually caused by an imbalance of the hormones testosterone and estrogen. Max Pixel

According to the Sun Online, along with the hormones, the kit will be equipped with a pump and "the male equivalent of a maternity bra."

Since the production of milk in the breast causes the skin and tissue to stretch, men may grow "man boobs" that can reach up to a B cup.

The good news is that this side effect won't last forever, and eventually their breasts would shrink back to normal.

Don't expect to see this product on the market anytime soon! Many more tests need to be done to ensure its safety.

Now the real question is, would men try it?

One Twitter user is absolutely against the idea of men breastfeeding.

And a lot of people seem to agree with him.

However, one user is on board with the idea.

[H/T: The Sun Online]

What's your opinion about "chestfeeding kits?" Are they a good idea?

Moojan has been a writer at Shared for a year. When she's not on the lookout for viral content, she's looking at cute animal photos. Reach her at moojan@shared.com.