So, for the record, I am not ‘sympathetically lactating‘. And don’t think anyone is 🙂 APRIL FOOLS! Although by the sound of it I don’t think many were fooled. Which is a good thing cause a friend at work recently asked me how that study with our twins is going (see last year’s post here: http://bit.ly/g1hujT).

Anyway, I had great fun putting this together while also feeling really uncomfortable with it all, powering through all sorts of hesitation. Should I actually be taking a picture of me shaving my nipple? Well of course I should! Special things to Jessica for taking the fake breastfeeding photo and for the sleeping baby (Netta or Bailey?) who posed for it. Now I get to see how long it takes to regrow chest hair, something I’ve always wondered.

For the record, here are the past three years of April Fools posts:
-Last year, 2011, we wrote about a study we volunteered for where a camera was attached to each of our newborns heads 24/7. And we made an especially hilarious little video to boot.
-In 2010 I posted about a DNR-led child hunting expedition with my nonviolent son, complete with ripping out and eating bloody deer heart.
-In 2009 we posted about a horrible name for our as-of-yet-unnamed son Lewis.

Today I spent a good chunk of time deleting comments off my Facebook post as to preserve any believability of my silly scheme. The deleted comments shall live forever below, followed by other comments no deleted. My favorite is from Kate, who apparently believed it for a good chunk of the day….

Jeremy Entner wrote: “Best April Fools Story yet! Ben Garvin is my hero!!!”
Dennis Lien wrote: “What’s the date today?”
Jim Graham wrote: “Nice! (Still, I have to confess that the April 1 thing finds me raising an eyebrow…)”
Erin Harley-Tsongtaatarii wrote: “Hmmmm…whether this is true or a product of today’s date, it’s awesome :)”
Kimberlee Whaley wrote: “Hey it’s April 1st!”
Deb Parker wrote: “You had me for about 27 seconds. Good job!”
MaryJo Sylwester Webster wrote: “Hilarious!”
Laura Yuen wrote: “Hmmm …. I think the season is upon us. This is too trippy, even for you, Ben.”
Kate Grossman wrote: “You completely had me for about four hours. Told my husband about it and everything . . .”
And from Katy Miller, an actual lactation export, who posted on our blog: “Be sure to let me know if you need any lactation support. Can I have pics, maybe even some videos for my breastfeeding class?”

Lastly, here are the posts I didn’t delete:

Andy Boss: You are such a weirdo!
Deb Parker: OMG … That is weirdly awesome.
Todd Melby: You are a brave man!
Brandi Jade Moore: Wow…that is amazing! I’m curious about the milk…is it just like breastmilk, or more like colostrum? Can you produce enough to pump? Do you risk getting engorged? Does feeding help ease the joint pain? So many questions! Did the male species regularly breastfeed at some point in our history…I’ve always heard jokes about why men have nipples, and this would explain it.
(Love this one!) Ian Bicking: You are an inspiration! Is this something you think can be learned?
Lena Cicha: I’m with Brandi…is this evolution at work or a reignition of a long disused function. Thank you for your bravery in sharing this!
Charles Rex Arbogast: Wow…….Wow…
Bob Parker: Reminds me of a joke in the old National Lampoon issue on racism; they were making fun of Martians as a new demographic to poke fun at:
“What do you call a Martian breast-feeding its young? Daddy.”
Brian Longley: Thanks for over-sharing…
Laura Scher: Wow, brave man for sharing this beautiful gift. Your girls are so lucky, the bond with them will be amazing!!

I’m reluctant to talk about this but in some ways think it’s better to be completely honest rather than try to hide what’s happening. And in truth I’m almost proud of it. As some of you may know I’ve been experiencing a good deal of joint pain lately. I actually had to take an entire week of work off last week and have been prescribed pain medication, physical therapy and rest. As it turns out, I’ve been undergoing a hormonal shift caused by an extremely rare condition–‘sympathetic lactation’.

Some background first. From an article about the condition at the Human Lactation Center at UC Davis: …’Sympathetic lactation’ has been reported in even rarer cases. ‘Sympathetic lactation’ refers to the late-stage development of the dormant male mammary glands as a response to a breastfeeding mother.”

Obviously I’ve been around a lactating mother for the better part of six years (Jessica!). Last week on Friday I had a few tests performed at the University of Minnesota Riverside clinic. They quickly concluded that yes, I was indeed ‘sympathetically lactating.’ But what I was producing wasn’t as rich in nutrients as normal breast milk, nonetheless it was milk. At one point there were three doctors in the room checking me out in a sort of “this is so cool and weird” sorta way. Apparently it’s extremely rare.

This whole situation is understandably making Jessica a little uncomfortable. Ever since Arthur was born I’ve watched her breastfeed. It always seems magical to me, a chance for mother and baby to bond and feel a certain absolute closeness. The UofM doctors asked if I would be willing actually try breastfeeding. They’re hoping to publish my story in a scientific journal (I’m gonna go worldwide!). 

This is likely TMI but I had to have the area around my nipple shaved:

The doctors suggested first trying breastfeeding in the middle of the night when the girls were most sleepy and least likely to notice the difference. It actually hurt and didn’t work at first, but eventually she latched and it worked beautifully. 

It’s been a week since this all started I’ve continued to nurse periodically, sometimes even during the day. Netta and Bailey seem less confused and, surprisingly, it’s been a fascinating and wonderful thing for me. What a gift it is to be able to breastfeed and feel that closeness, that warmth and milkiness. I hope to continue breastfeeding even after Netta and Bailey are weaned, hopefully as a wet nurse to cute little orphans babies.

APRIL FOOLS!!

Jessica reads Captain Raptor and Space Pirates to an captive audience. It’s actually a pretty exciting book.

Art and Si look at a Where’s Waldo book together.

Tonight art’s friend si is sleeping over. the first time for both kids. we’ll post a couple more photos later.arthur was so incredibly excited at the idea. Surprisingly they went to sleep (in the same bed!) without a hitch.