So you pick something silly to the point of being somewhat obnoxious that a mother might do (over the top birthday party), then without explaining how that specific thing is the cause of maternal depression, you conclude that it is. Then, because the thing is silly and obnoxious, you conclude that the problem of maternal depression is self-inflicted, and, I think the implication is, a little silly? Good heavens, what a straw man! Not to mention non-sequitur!

Did you consider any of the other contributing factors? Maybe you are not a mother, but did you read those mentioned in the article, or other letters? Physical and emotional isolation is a big one. Everything from our country's geography/city planning to the sociology of the modern nuclear family contributes to mothers spending most of their time inside their home, alone. If they need a break, they have to locate, schedule and pay a sitter. This necessarily can only happen on select special occasions, instead of having a village/extended family who watch the children on and off throughout the day. Compare that: one break a week, or month, or even less often, to several per day. Mothers of newborn children could very easily go a week or longer without ever seeing anyone except her children and spouse. The psyche is not designed for such isolation, just at the time when new and overhwelming pressures and stresses are being experienced.

Maybe you should give these types of pressures a little consideration before dismissing others' suffering out of hand so callously.

So, it is ok with you if Mulsim women get abortions? I'm a Christian, and I just want to make sure I have my save/kill marching orders straight.

Actually, the part about me being Christian is true. And Flip dear, you're making me reconsider like no atheist antagonist I've ever debated with has even come close to doing. Nice work, brother. Way to spread the Good News!

WOW. Just wow.

That is just too erotic a part of a wife's anatomy for it to become a mere birth canal.

Yes, heaven forbid that a woman's body be transformed from a fancy male vibrator equivalent into a 'mere' miraculous creator and giver of life! Heaven forbid a woman use her body to achieve astounding accomplishments, instead of just being nice for hubby to look at. Wow.

When I read just the title, "Breastfeeding: Bad for marriages?" I was actually nodding in agreement and curious to read more. In the beginning, breastfeeding was a common source of bitter conflict between my husband and I. Other new moms I commisserated with at the time reported similar conflicts. But these had to do primarly with the impossibly arduous schedule to be maintained when breastfeeding a newborn. Every 2 hours, 24 hours a day-- NO breaks. Husbands, seeing how literally impossible this schedule is to maintain, out of concern for their wives, think the wife is doing something wrong. How can impossible be the norm?!--a logical enough conclusion. They will suggest letting the baby cry, or skipping feedings for bottles, not understanding from the mother's perspective that her body will not allow it. Whether it be her hormone-crazed state that makes hearing the baby cry the worst most horror-inducing sound imaginable, or the simple fact that her breasts will be engorged if she skips a feeding, making the skipping for a bottle scenario unworkable. So when the wife angrily turns down all the husbands attempts to separate her from the newborn, yes, I can understand he may feel some jealousy.

Wasn't there an article in Broadsheet recently saying that women succeed in breastfeeding more often if husbands have taken a brief class explaining how it works. I think this would also allieviate the conflicts other new moms and I experienced. At any rate, over time they resolved themselves as my husband became more educated, we found ways to manage the schedule better, and the baby started sleeping longer.

As to the actual physical sexiness of watching a wife breastfeed, my husband found the idea of it to be quite a turnon. Much like many men are turned on by, say, watching women professional beach volleyball players. Seeing a woman's body executing at the height of its performance potential, is a turn-on for many men. I don't know what's wrong with that author.

"YearlyKos Is Sponsored By One Of The Most Popular Left-Leaning Blogs, The Daily Kos ..." (Lawrence Mower, "Dean Urges Bloggers To Seek Political Office," Las Vegas Review-Journal, 6/11/06)

Way to go, Sherlock! They've got the nice official citation there and everything. How many hours did you spend on Google, and calling deep background sources, to figure that one out?

I think racists and sexists subconsciously know this. Notice how they are constantly reminding people verbally of their status. They don't have to say anything negative, just addressing people using "boy," etc.

I didn't mean to say that "boy" isn't negative, just that they don't have to say, "boy, you are stupid" since the 2nd part is implicit and subconsciously triggered in the victim. Hope that was clear...